Memories

LXXXI

APOLOGISE

'You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around'

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The crowd was outraged at the Trojans' strategy, and the fact that they played with only nine players had lost them the game, but Thalia didn't care. It meant she got to face off with Riko in two weeks' time. She got to show him how much of an asshole he really was, and beat him at his own sport. She smiled at that, and ignored most of the cameras pointed in her face after the game.

The next Friday allowed for Thalia, Andrew, and the rest of their group to head to Columbia for the night. Thalia picked a long sleeved black dress that reached her mid-thighs and covered all of her new scars. Black seemed to be the dress code for going to Eden's Twilight, because everyone else also wore the colour.

They left late, because Neil, Kevin and Thalia wanted to watch the Trojans/Edgar Allan match. It surprised nobody that USC lost, though Kevin was still sad about it. Jeremy took their loss gracefully, and announced Jean's joining the Trojans next season. The reporter was stunned and Jeremy made a few jokes about how they'd have to help him get a tan. 

"Can you tell us why he's transferring?" The reporter asked.

"I can't get into all the details because it's not my place to tell his personal business, but I can say we're excited to have him. "Jeremy said. "I think we have a lot to learn from each other. Next year is going to be amazing. I think you're going to see a lot of changes across the board. We've all got to take another look at what we bring to the court."

Nicky reached for the remote and turned off the tv. "I've got a theory that Renee and Jeremy are long lost siblings. What do you think would happen if they ever joined forces?"

"They'd get murdered." Aaron said, standing from his place on the beanbag. "War's profitable. Nobody wants their world peace nonsense."

"You make it sound like you don't want their world peace nonsense," Thalia said. Aaron looked at her with a bored expression and a raised eyebrow. She shrugged. "You want to be working as field doctor?" Aaron stayed quiet and the six of them went down to the car together.

Andrew's new car didn't have a boot big enough to fit someone, so Thalia ended up sitting on Kevin's lap, and she wasn't exactly complaining.

They stopped at Sweetie's, and Thalia didn't miss the way Andrew didn't stop at the salad bar, where he usually picked up cracker dust. She frowned but didn't say anything about it, thinking they'd still get some from a waitress. It was only when Aaron was paying that he realised. "How many?" he asked after sifting through all the napkins on the table.

"Zero," Andrew said, bored as ever. 

"Zero?" Aaron repeated. "What do you mean, zero?"

"We're not getting any?" Nicky asked as if this was a foreign concept to him.

"Clearly, Nicholas. Now come on, we have a bar to be at and shots to drink." Thalia took Kevin's arm and left the others to bicker between themselves. Andrew and Neil followed them, and finally Aaron and Nicky joined them at the car. The ride to Eden's was silent, but Thalia didn't mind. It gave her time to focus on other things like what kind of piece she was going to make for her final assessment.

Andrew got a parking pass from Kevin and went around to the VIP area. The others headed inside, though Thalia leaned against a wall and pulled out her cigarettes. Because of the new rule she had to endure for a few weeks, Kevin stayed with her.