6. Son of the President

When she opened her eyes, she was still in the hospital. She sighed. She had hoped it was all just a dream, or nightmare in her case. But it wasn't and feeling the IV that had been jammed into her hand made it more real. Then she realized, if it wasn't a dream that would mean- but he wasn't there.

"Figures," she mumbled, as she shifted in her bed, pulling at the flimsy paper dress they had her in. She hated it. It was too loose and too drafty. She needed her clothes. The door opened, but instead of the doctor, it was Percy. To put it plainly, Thalia was confused.

"You stayed here?" she asked surprised. Very seldom did someone actually stick with her, especially someone who barely knew her.

"Of course," he said, setting the tray he had been holding on a little white table. "Breakfast in bed mademoiselle," he said, as he pulled the table closer to her. She sat up and looked at the food in surprise.

"Don't call me that," she said, but Percy just ignored her and sat down in the chair. She looked at the tray. There was a glass of orange juice with pancakes covered in syrup and French toast. The smell filled her nostrils and she couldn't wait to dig in. She was simply famished. She hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday.

"You know, it wouldn't kill you to say thanks," Percy said sarcastically as he stared in horror as Thalia quickly devoured the French toast in a total of two bites. "That just can't be possible," he said, as Thalia embarrassedly cleaned off the sugar powder from her cheeks.

"Sorry," she mumbled with her mouth full.

"No, no, please, continue," Percy chuckled. As Thalia ate her pancakes she kept glancing at him, wondering what he wanted. No one stayed around and brought you breakfast without asking for something in return.

"I thought hospitals had crappy food," she said, taking a mouthful of pancakes.

"Ah… you see, I never told you, but I'm the son of the president, and no son of the president gets crappy hospital food," Percy said. Thalia actually laughed and her eyes widened at the sound coming out of her mouth. No way. She didn't actually just laugh at his lame joke, did she? To ignore what had just happened, she stuffed her mouth again with another forkful of pancakes.

"So, why'd you stay?" Thalia asked, swallowing the last of her pancakes. Percy looked almost confused by the question.

"Why wouldn't I?" he replied. Thalia looked at him. She was about to say something when Sally walked in.

"Oh honey! I am so glad you're okay!" she said, as she walked over and wrapped her up in a hug. Thalia didn't hug her back, mostly because she wasn't used to it. She couldn't even remember the last person she had hugged.

"Thank you Mrs.— Sorry, Sally," Thalia said, forcing a smile.

"That's better!" she said, as she sat down in the other chair where the doctor had sat the night before. Thalia spent the next fifteen minutes trying to avoid and not answer questions Sally was throwing her way.

"What school do you go to?" (thankfully, Percy and her didn't go to the same school, which she was relieved about)

"Where's your dad?" (Thalia gritted her teeth and politely said he "wasn't in the picture anymore" and refused to give any more details about how rotten her dad really was)

"Do you have any siblings?" (easy answer: thank god no)

"What's your favorite subject at school?" (Thalia knew what she would've answered in the past, but she had given it up years ago, so she just said Greek)

Suddenly, the doctor, Mr. Higgins, walked in.

"Good morning Thalia, you seem a lot better today. Do you feel better?" he asked, giving her a warm smile.

"Like I could run a marathon," she replied, which was true. She felt a thousand times better than last night. Okay, maybe that's exaggerating it a little bit, but she did feel better. Then, the doctor instructed her on the things she shouldn't do for a few weeks and things she should do and if anything else occurs to come to the hospital immediately. Thalia reluctantly accepted it. She hated living the way others told her to, even if it was for her own good.

"Well, your mother is signing you out. The nurse will come in then, and give you your things and you're on your way out," Mr. Higgins said nicely, before he turned and left.

"Thanks. Oh, um, what about the man?" she asked. Mr. Higgins stopped at the door and turned to her.

"They caught him trying to use your mother's credit card at an ATM. You're safe," Mr. Higgins said, as he gave her one last smile and walked out the door. Minutes later, a nurse came in gave Thalia her clothes.

"Thanks," she awkwardly muttered as she grabbed the clothes. She was about to stand up, when she remembered the stupid paper dress.

"Um… could you guys step out, please?" Thalia tried to ask nicely. They both stood up and left without saying anything and Thalia walked to the bathroom, her feet touching the cold floor. She changed into her clothes. She turned in the mirror and she stared at something in her shirt. There was a hole a little bit below her right breast. She touched it and her finger touched the bandage they had put over the wound to keep it from getting infected. So that's where the bullet went. Suddenly, Thalia felt everything she had kept at bay all night.

She slid down the wall of the bathroom and softly cried into her hands. Even though there was no one around her, she felt embarrassed that she was crying. She was fine. She should be, but she wasn't. She felt the muscles in her stomach cramp and a lump in her throat formed. She could taste the saltiness of her tears as they slid down her cheeks and onto her lips.

Her mother was so stupid. What possessed her to bring a stranger to their house? Her mother's mistake had almost cost her, her life. Thalia sighed and laid her head against the wall.

"I'm okay," she whispered, wiping the tears away. "I'm okay." She stood up shakily, and cleaned her face. She took a deep breath and left the hospital room.

Percy, Sally and her mother were sitting in the waiting room. Sally was talking to her mother and Thalia sighed. God knows what her mother was rambling on about. Thalia walked up and Percy was the first to stand up, a little too eagerly.

"Well, I'll be heading home now," he said. "Call me if you need anything."

"Sure," Thalia said, with no intention of ever calling him. She could handle herself. She didn't need anyone's help. Sally stood up next.

"Well dear, we should be off. I start work in two hours. I hope you feel much better," she said, as she gave Thalia another hug. They both left, Percy giving her one last look, before they disappeared. Thalia's mom stood up and Thalia didn't even want to look at her. She stormed out of the hospital and walked towards the car.

"Thalia wait!" her mother called after her.

"Look at that, you actually sound sober," Thalia shot at her. Her mother looked down ashamed.

"Thalia, I am so sorry," she said, offering Thalia a hug, but she took a step back. Her mother put her hands down awkwardly.

"No you're not," Thalia said. "You say you are, but a few hours down the road, you're in the bottle again."

"Thalia, please—"

"I don't want your apologies," Thalia said firmly, as she opened the car door and slid inside. She couldn't believe her mother had the nerve to ask for forgiveness. It infuriated her.

Thanks a lot to all my reviewers :) Your reviews mean a lot! So, I hope you like this chapter. If you don't, tell me why and if you do, tell me why! ;D I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter :) Oh, I found out Thalia's mom is actually a blonde, but let's pretend she has a black hair, k? :P Thanks!