Memories

XLIX

HOSPITALIZED

'I've never known how it feels to break
Stuck in the waiting room thinking for goodness sake
Don't wanna be the one to comfort no more
I wanna be the one on the floor'

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Thalia had no means of communication to the outside world, and when the season started up again and she was playing on the court, it was difficult to stay out of the way of the press. The day of her first game as a Raven, Thalia went out to get some things.

"I'm going out," she told Riko as the team were sitting in the hall for lunch. "I'll be back in a couple of hours."

'Ravens never go anywhere alone," Riko said. He put on that smile Thalia knew meant 'I'll kill you and make it look like an accident if you don't go along with what I say' and held his hands out. "Come on Nathalia, you should know this by now." She knew better than to correct him on her name, but sighed reluctantly.

"Fine," Thalia huffed. "Roberts, you're coming with me." she turned on her heel.

"You know he doesn't swing your way, right Nathalia?" Riko said. She spun back around and glared at him. Out of the corner of her eye, Thalia saw Dean looking uncomfortable between Dan and Gracie. 

"I don't want to fuck him." she said. "He's the only person in this place I can stand." she turned to him and pointed towards the door. "Come on." Dean looked around to his teammates before realising there was no point in trying to get out of it and stood, following Thalia to the door.

She didn't have a car, so Roberts handed her the keys to his and got in the passenger seat. "This is probably one of the nicest cars I remember sitting in." she said as the engine roared to life. "Wait no, scrap that. I stole a few way back that were nicer than this, but it's definitely an upgrade to what I'm used to."

"Nice to know you like my car." Dean said. "Now drive it or I will." she rolled her eyes and pulled out of the parking lot. Technically, Thalia didn't have a driver's license, but she'd stolen enough cars to know how they worked. She drove fast in the direction she thought was the closest gas station, and when they got there, she didn't hesitate stepping out. Roberts followed and they went inside together. She slung an arm over his shoulder and they walked through the aisles looking for the dye.

"What colour should I do next, Dean?" Thalia asked him. 

"Why do you want to dye it?"

"Because my natural hair colour is coming back," she said, pointing to her roots. "And do you know what being a ginger would do to my public appearance?" he didn't comment on her words, instead, he turned back to the dyes and contemplated for a minute or so before reaching over and picking one up.

"This should do."

"Really? You think mint green is better than red?" Thalia said. Roberts looked sheepish and went to put it back but Thalia shrugged and took the box out of his hands. "I'm open to new ideas."

They headed to the counter and Thalia asked for a pack of cigarettes as well. The cashier eyed her and asked if she was old enough to be buying things like cigarettes. Thalia grabbed Dean's arm and put on a fake smile. "It's for my boyfriend here." the cashier didn't look convinced, but added the pack to her things.

Once they were out of the store, Dean huffed what could have been a laugh. "I thought you didn't want to fuck me."

"Only in your dreams, Roberts." Thalia said as she got in the car and lit a cigarette.