Memories

LXXI

WHEN I'M SIXTY FOUR

'Send me a postcard, drop me a line
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away'

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Thalia and Neil bandaged their arms back up again for dinner, and Thalia put on another nice dress that had Kevin muttering how much he loved it. Thalia didn't know why he was doing it, or how he made her want to cooperate by taking it off, but it almost scared her. She'd never had sex before because she wanted to. It was always because someone else wanted to, and what Kevin was doing was almost similar to how the other people had acted. She knew he wasn't doing it on purpose, but Thalia kept her distance from Kevin at dinner.

When they got back, Kevin stopped her outside the cabin and asked what was wrong. She explained, and Kevin apologised. Thalia smiled and kissed his cheek. Kevin would never hurt her. She knew that. He'd never force her to do anything she didn't want to do, and Thalia thought that was why she was so scared - the thought that he would hurt her if she did what he wanted. 

Everyone split up when they were inside, Dan and Matt going somewhere together, Nicky and Aaron headed to the spa with Renee and Allison, Neil and Andrew went into the kitchen, and Thalia and Kevin curled up together on the sofa reading books. Thalia had her legs over Kevin's lap and leaned against the armrest, while Kevin had his feet up on the coffee table. It was comfortable, and Thalia wondered whether they'd be doing this, years from now, in their own home. It was ridiculous to think about the future when Thalia's life was a roulette wheel, but she couldn't stop herself this time. A future with Kevin in it. With the Foxes as her family. Her messed up, broken family that had chosen each other. It made Thalia happy.

Thalia was tired after waking up and talking to Aaron last night, so she went to bed first, with the others not far behind her, by the sound of their footsteps. She woke with a start when Kevin entered the room, but settled when he got in the bed and wrapped his arms around her.

Thalia woke to a buzzing sound. She squinted in the dark and saw the dim light of a phone on the bedside table. Kevin had turned in his sleep, so she climbed over him to get her phone. The caller ID was one she'd never seen before. Thalia's heart raced in her chest as she pressed the pickup button. "Hello?" she whispered, trying not to wake Kevin. "Who is this?"

"Thalia? Oh thank God," a voice Thalia hadn't heard in a few days said frantically. She widened her eyes and stepped outside of the room into the hallway. "I wasn't sure if you were even still alive. Riko's gone around telling the Ravens you're dead. We didn't believe him of course - oh, right, sorry."

"Gracie? It's like, two in the morning. What's wrong?" Thalia asked. Her mind was trying to wrap itself around the being awake and hearing Gracie's voice part, and when she said the next thing, Thalia thought her head would explode. "He did what?" Thalia was already heading down the hall, still listening to Gracie ramble on about their problem. "Shit," She stopped in her tracks for a moment before continuing her journey. "Kicked the bucket? Well, that was earlier than expected. Sorry, I shouldn't be joking." Thalia quietly opened the door and headed over to Renee's bed. She was curled around Allison, but a single touch on the shoulder woke her up. Thalia jerked her head to the outside of the room, and Renee got up. 

"Gracie, stop the bleeding, that's the only way things can get better until I get there, okay?" Thalia said. "Alright. I'm going to have to call you back, but just keep pressure on the wounds, okay? Okay. You'll all be alright, just tell Dan not to get too emotional, or there won't be any coming back from this if he doesn't make it. Sorry Dan, but if I can't get there fast enough, he might not." Thalia hung up and quickly explained the situation to Renee. 

"Okay, I'll go get the keys to the Maserati. You get the things we'll need." Renee said. Thalia nodded and they split up. The two girls met up again at Andrew's car. Renee put the keys in the ignition and started driving. It would be a long drive to West Virginia, but if they could save Thalia's friends, it would be worth it.

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With some help from Renee's mother, Stephanie - who Thalia remembered very well from their one meeting - the two girls were able to get hold of Gracie, Dean, and Dan. They'd explained to Mr Andritch, Edgar Allan's president, that Kengo had just died and that he had two choices - he let all three involved go, or get the press involved in the school. He'd been surprised to see Thalia, but even more surprised when Dean had been carried out by his boyfriend and best friend to Andrew's car. Dean was badly injured, and there was no way he could have survived if Renee and Thalia hadn't got him to Abby.

"Let me drive," Thalia said. Renee hesitated for one moment before handing the keys over. Thalia gripped the steering wheel and told everyone to hold on. Thalia never took her drivers test, and the FBI gave her one without asking if she had. So to say her driving was shocking was probably an understatement. But the only reason she'd driven in the past was to get away from people. So her driving was fast, and not law abiding, but it was efficient, and got them to Abby's quicker than Renee would have. 

When the two made it back to the cabin on Sunday morning, they explained everything. How they'd talked to Andritch, picked up Gracie, Dean and Dan, and delivered the three of them to Abby, where Dean was now being treated. 

"Where's Kevin?" Thalia asked. Nicky jerked his head upstairs. "Thanks." She headed up to the bedroom and knocked before entering.

It was a mess. There were three bottles of whiskey empty on the floor, and Kevin was messed up in his sheets. The blinds were closed and the lights were off. Thalia walked over to him and sat on the edge of the bed. She put a hand on his arm and Kevin sat up immediately. His eyes were red and there were bags under them. Thalia pulled him into a hug that Kevin returned. 

"I'm sorry for leaving you like that," Thalia whispered. Kevin was crying. His whole body was moving up and down.

"I don't know what's going to happen to you now that Kengo's dead," Kevin stuttered out. "What if Stuart can't make a truce with Ichirou?" Thalia pet his hair.

"It's all going to be okay, Kevin." Thalia said, though she'd been having the same thoughts. "I'm going to be okay." She wasn't quite sure that was true, though, and had a feeling things were only going to get worse from here.