Chapter Twenty-Seven - Thalia
“HEY STRANGER, I haven’t seen you since you left your party. You’ve always been one for the dramatic side of things,” Vera teases behind me.
“What do you want?” I ask flatly. I don’t have the patience for this today. I don’t think I would have the patience any day.
She has the nerve to look confused. “Are you okay?”
I laugh in disbelief, turning back around. She knows exactly what she did.
“I guess whatever bug crawled up Bash’s ass went up yours too,” she mumbles under her breath. Vera doesn’t say it quiet enough to where I don’t hear her. I really, and I mean really, want to hit her. Violence shouldn’t be the answer, but it’s tempting.
“My problem is that you have no boundaries,” I retort quickly. She grabs my shoulder to pull me back around to look at her.
“Care to explain?”
“Do you?” I demand, yanking my shoulder from her grip. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see Chris approach us.
“Ladies, as much as I enjoy a good catfight, let’s not do this here,” he says, pulling me away. I roll my eyes, letting him before I say something that further escalates everything.
“What about my coffee?” I protest as he drags my ass out of the store.
Chris pushes the coffee from his free hand into mine. “Drink that. I haven’t touched it. Your squabbling with Vera distracted me and everyone else in there.”
I take the coffee and take a short drink, stopping once I feel the scalding temperature. “Thanks.”
“You look like shit.”
I pull my hoodie closer around me. “I didn’t need you to come and pull me away. I can fight my own battles.”
Chris’s mouth ticks upward into an amused smile. “Believe me, I know you can. I was afraid to see what would happen to Vera if another person turned against her publicly.”
“What do you mean?”
“Right, you left your party early. Well, whatever argument you and Bash had—sorry, I’m assuming that’s what happened after he went out to get you. That’s usually how parties go with both of you there.” I glare at him, unamused by the joke. Chris isn’t wrong, but that’s not the point. He puts his hands up in surrender. “Sorry, not funny. He went off on Vera when he got back inside. Told her ‘fuck you, get out.’ Then Owen kicked everyone else out after Bash stormed off.” He’s watching me, baiting a reaction, and I keep my guard up. New information doesn’t change anything.
“Thanks for the rescue, but next time, leave me there.”
~
“Do we have to go to the game?” I ask Blake, toying with the material of the jersey I’m wearing over my hoodie.
She’s annoyed, probably because this is the fifth time I’ve asked the same question. “Yes. We’ve established that we’re going. I promised Owen we’d be there, and since when have you missed a home game?”
“Since Sebastian plays on the team too,” I reply shortly. I grab a white and blue beanie to match Duke’s colors, pulling it onto my head. “It’s cold outside, I don’t want to go.”
“You’ve made it very clear you don’t want to go. Penelope’s not here to tell you to suck it up, so I’m telling you to suck it up and get over it because we’re going,” Blake declares, smiling, even if her words make me want to punch her.
I miss Penelope. She left a few days ago, and I’ve been moping around the entire time. It sounds terrible, but with Penelope here, I could distract myself from how much I miss the friendship and comfort I got from Sebastian. There’s no distraction now, so I’m reminded of how mad and hurt I am every time I run into him around the apartment.
To say I’ve been a bitch would be putting it nicely. It hasn’t just been directed at him, if that makes it better. I’ve also been snapping at Owen and Blake. Pretty much everyone who has tried to talk to me since dropping Penelope at the airport. I want to blame it on my lack of sleep, but at this point, I can’t.
Running into Vera at the coffee shop we used to frequent freshman year didn’t help matters either.
Since I’m technically a team photographer, we’re let onto the field’s sidelines with the other photographers. I stuck one of my old cameras and spare badge around Blake’s neck so she didn’t have to sit alone in the stands. My parents are here, but things are questionable between her and Owen, so I’d hate to subject her to that line of questioning.
“It’s cold,” I complain again. Blake shakes her head, keeping her focus on the field.
“Don’t be such a baby.”
I have to give her credit; she has balls. Maybe it’s because she broke up with Thomas, but I think she had them all along. “Well, I wouldn’t be a baby if I didn’t have to come.”
“No, you’d still be miserable and pissed off. You are taking it out on everyone, and I’m personally tired of being your verbal punching bag,” Blake snaps back. I cross my arms stubbornly, falling silent while we wait for the team to come out.
She’s not wrong.
I’ve been a bitch.
“I’m really sorry,” I say, looking at Blake apologetically. I have been awful.
She sighs and smiles. “It’s okay. I know it all majorly sucks. I know I wasn’t a peach when I broke up with Thomas, but I do know that you need sleep. I bet I could see your puffy eyes from space, Lia.”
I snort because I obviously know I need to sleep. If I could sleep, then I would! “I’ll be fine. I’ll try harder to not be such a bitch to you and Owen.”
Blake loops her arm with me, resting her head on my shoulder. “That would be nice. I’ve got your brother breathing down my neck, trying to figure out what’s happening with you.”
“How is that going?” I ask carefully. I’ve been stuck in my revolving world and have no idea where they stand together. “He’s liked you since you first came to the apartment. I didn’t know if you knew that.”
“Of course I knew. I’m irresistible.” She laughs jokingly, and I cling to the warmth her body provides. “So far, nothing’s happened. I don’t think I’m ready for anything yet. I want to stay friends for now and see where it takes us,” she admits slowly. I understand that.
Our conversation is interrupted as the team runs onto the field. I lift my camera to capture at least a few pictures so it looks like I’m here for a reason other than that Blake made me.
“Friends is good. I don’t think rushing anything is good for either of you,” I say, my heart stopping in my chest when I spot Sebastian. His presence outside of football is magnetic, but on the field, it’s irresistible. No matter how hard I try, I can’t look away from him. I don’t know what it is, but I think part of the reason is the respect his teammates give him. And why wouldn’t they respect Sebastian? He’s their captain.
Oh, Captain, my captain.
Blake catches me staring at him. I don’t bother trying to hide it. “Are you going to forgive him?”
I sigh, looking down at the little screen on my camera. “No idea. I do think I’m going to kick Vera’s ass one of these days, though.”
“Just let me know where and when,” Blake says, lifting her head to show me her grin. She’s a really good friend. I need to start being a better one to her.
~
I’m doubled over, laughing on my end of the couch while Blake giggles hysterically from her side. “And then—” I gasp for air, trying to finish telling my story, but I can’t get the words out.
Blake beams at me, pointing at the ceiling. “Thalia, are we flying?”
I shake my head, laughing so hard I can’t breathe. “No.”
She jumps off the couch, sticking her arms out. “I’m on a plane!”
I try to reach for her, but I fall off the couch. I land hard on the floor. “I fell off the plane!”
Now Blake is laughing just as hard as I am, walking down the hall only to turn around to run into the living room. “I’m flying a plane! I think I could be a pilot!”
I feel lighter than I have in days. Exactly like if I were flying. I should get on a plane right now. I flop back on the ground, staring at the ceiling. It does look like clouds if I squint my eyes the right way. The floor echoes from Blake stomping, and I lift my head to see her wearing sunglasses now. “Bro, I think these are X-ray vision.”
I lie back, closing my eyes to focus on the squiggles that appear. “Do you see these little lines when you close your eyes? It’s like worms of color in darkness.”
“I think we’re high,” Blake says, giggling. “And I don’t mean because we’re flying.”
“You’re flying. I’m falling. I do think you’re right that we’re high. You said we should only eat half, but I’m so glad we ate a whole one.”
“Can we do an outfit change? I want to feel like a movie star in first class. Do you have any outfits a pilot would wear? What exactly does a pilot wear?”
“No idea. I’m not a pilot. You know where my closet is, so go wild.”
I feel so relaxed I could sleep for days. Maybe that’s why I can’t sleep. I think my brain always works too hard. I gasp loudly, coming to a realization. What if I’m the one that’s uptight and Sebastian isn’t? I mean, he is uptight, but maybe I’m uptight too?
Blake comes out of nowhere and is pulling me up off the ground. “Come on. Let’s go find some new clothes.”
I stand, feeling quite unsteady on my feet. Are they still there? Can your feet fall off? I look down to check, relieved to see my feet are still there. She runs back to my bedroom, and I follow quickly.
The sneaky girl is in the back of my closet, pulling out clothes I wore to parties my first year. There’s a sparkly navy halter top, and it glitters like the night sky. It went with me to Paris, but I haven’t worn it in a while. Blake shrieks and throws it at me. “You have to put this on! Look at how it sparkles!”
“I haven’t worn this in forever. I love this shirt.” I pull my shirt off to slip into it as Blake delves into my closet again. I stand in front of my mirror, turning so the sequins sparkle. I’m quite the sight wearing an indecent tank top with a pair of fleece shorts.
Blake pulls out a dress I don’t think I’ve ever worn, but it’s red and flowy. “If you don’t wear that, I will push you out of the plane.”
She lowers her sunglasses to look at me. “You wouldn’t dare. I thought bitchy Lia was going to go away since we’re high up in a plane. My X-ray sunglasses see right through you. You could never push me out of the plane.”
“Picture!” I grab my camera off the counter after Blake pulls the dress over the top of her other clothes. “Cheese!”
I throw my arm around her neck as I smile widely, and a flash goes off, temporarily blinding us. “Dude, do you think you have cheese?” Blake pouts, and I smile widely at her.
“We have cheese!” I run out into the living room to quickly turn into the kitchen when I run smack into Owen. Except he’s a lot sturdier than I am, so I bounce off him. He looks dazed, and I can’t help laughing. “Blake, your boyfriend is here,” I call out in a sing-song voice before erupting into giggles. I slide past Sebastian without a second glance to look for cheese. I am so hungry.
“What the hell are you wearing?” Sebastian asks in shock, and I shut the fridge to lean against the counter.
“Why? Do you like it?” I taunt as Blake comes from down the hallway.
She’s laughing, which causes me to laugh, and Sebastian looks at me skeptically. “Are you high?”
Owen’s too busy staring at Blake to notice. I bite my lip to keep from laughing, but I fail.
Blake sashays past him to swing her arm over my shoulder. “Bashy, doesn’t Thalia look hot in this shirt?”
“Great. They’re both high,” Owen grumbles as Sebastian unapologetically lets his eyes roam over every inch of skin he’s previously explored.Bold move in front of Owen, but I guess he’s too busy looking at Blake to see where Sebastian’s looking.
“We’re flying,” Blake corrects.
“Gummies. This is the best idea Blake’s ever had. Did you guys know she was a closet stoner?”
Owen looks shocked. “Is Thalia serious?”
Blake beams as she looks at him. “Well, you see. I’m not a closet stoner. I have a cousin living in New Jersey who comes to visit, and likes to leave me with a stash. I told Lia not to take a whole one, but she didn’t listen. Plus, we all know she needed to chill out.”
“Lia, you should get dressed,” Sebastian says slowly. Blake releases me to pull Owen into the living room. I don’t want to know what they’re saying right now.
I step closer to him, dropping my voice to a low whisper. “I am dressed. Besides, I thought you liked it when I wore fewer clothes, or was that only before? It’s not my fault you have a problem keeping your cock out of the cookie jar,” I hiss, enjoying watching how his jaw clenches.
“Thalia, enough,” he warns lowly, and I laugh again.
“You don’t get to say when it’s enough,” I snap before switching to French. “You lost that right when you screwed Vera.”
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out I brought Vera into it, even if he couldn’t understand what I said. Sebastian looks down at me; our height difference is clear right now. “We weren’t together. You’re telling me you didn’t fuck other guys after Louis? I know I screwed up, but don’t act like you’re innocent because we both know you’re not.” I almost forgot how sharp his words can cut. Deeper than his actions. I guess my face must reflect that because his chocolate eyes widen. They have no problem sobering me up quickly. “Shit—”
This time I don’t hold back, and I slap him. “Fuck you. Don’t you ever bring him into this again?”
He holds his cheek as Owen and Blake cue back into what happened over here. I stare at Sebastian with all the despise and hatred I can muster. “Thalia, what the hell?” Owen asks, his jaw hanging open in disbelief.
“No.” Sebastian grimaces, rubbing his cheek. “I deserved it.”
“You’re lucky I don’t break your face like I did his.” I’m fighting to keep the tears back. Too far. He took it too far. Vera was a choice he made, but Louis tried taking a choice away from me. It’s not comparable at all.
Blake is as shocked as Owen. I walk away from the three of them to lock myself in the bathroom as my tears fall. The shower is on full blast. I sit there long after the knocks at the door stop, and the water runs cold. Screw the water bill.