9. Cookie Jar

"Thalia," she said, mostly out of courtesy. She turned back to her homework and tried to finish the last five questions.

"Nice name," Leo said, leaning against the chair, extending his legs and crossing his arms.

"Sure," Thalia muttered absentmindedly as she wrote down the answer to question #23.

"Yeah…" Leo said staring out into space. "I just switched schools a few weeks ago," he said, desperately trying to start a conversation with the dark haired beauty. But he was failing miserably.

"So, uh… what are you in detention for?" he asked, looking at her expectantly. Thalia didn't bother answering. She just wanted to finish her questions, because right after that she had to start her project for English class. She was determined to keep her grades up, despite the fact she had to walk three dogs after detention, clean the house again, babysit for a three year old at 8 and finish her report on Shakespeare when she got home.

"You don't talk much, huh?" Leo continued. Thalia slammed her pencil down and sighed in frustration.

"I'm a little busy right now. Please, just leave me alone," she burst, as she picked up her pencil again and finished scribbling down her answers. Leo bit his lip.

"Do you need any help with that?" he said, craning his neck to get a better look at her homework.

"No. I'm good," Thalia said, closing her book. Leo pursed his lips. Thalia was so close to just walking out of the classroom without finishing her sentence. This kid was just so annoying. She shoved her materials back into her bag and rested her head on it.

"You coming to detention tomorrow?" he asked hopefully.

"If I say yes, will that make you shut up?" Thalia mumbled, not bothering to lift her head. She was tired and she still had a lot of work ahead of her. And that was just for today.

"It does actually," Leo said happily as he pulled his bag onto his lap. Thalia rolled her eyes. She could tell Leo was just exploding to talk. She could see from the corner of her eye his constant shaking of the leg and his fumbling with his pencil; disassembling it and reassembling it as pulling a lever. Thalia let her heavy eyes close.

Next thing she knew, there was a loud pop next to her ear. She jumped up, fell to the floor and hid behind the desk, panting. Her heart beat racing at a million miles per hour.

"Whoa, you okay?" Leo asked, setting down his Biology book.

"Hey! No slamming books!" Mr. Bong yelled, before he swiveled his head back to his game. Leo nodded and came around the desk with a look of concern. He tried to help her up but she swatted him away.

"I'm fine," she growled, as she stood up and fixed her shirt. Her hands were shaking and she hid them in her pockets so Leo wouldn't see them.

"I didn't mean to scare you," he said.

"I said I'm fine," Thalia snapped. Leo held up his hands in a sign of surrender.

"Okay, well, detention is over," he said grabbing his bag and book.

"Thanks," Thalia said sharply. She grabbed her bag and stomped out of the room. She couldn't believe she had jumped like a little girl all because of a book. She stopped in the hallway and leaned against the wall. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. I'm okay. I'm okay. It was just a book, nothing more. She regained herself, lifted her head and walked back to her apartment.

She walked into her bathroom and let warm water run over her hands. The water relaxed her. She brushed her teeth again and brushed her hair, pulling it up into a messy bun. She changed into a pair of shorts (mostly because the dogs she walked were very friendly and prone to shedding), a black Green Day t-shirt and converse.

She walked into the kitchen and grabbed something quick to eat. She sat at the island eating a bowl of Apple Jacks when her mother comes in, dragging her feet on the floor. Thalia doesn't even bother making conversation with her anymore, she just watches as her mother stumbles around, trying to find things with half open eyes.

She opens the fridge and pulls out some leftover pizza. She throws the box onto the counter and opens it. She stares at it for a second, before she gags and runs to the trash can with a hand clamped over her mouth. She bends over it and barfs really loud and really disgusting. She falls to her knees, her arms over the sides with her head resting on her arm. Thalia sets down her bowl and walks over to her.

"Mom?" she asked, touching her shoulder. Her mother looks up at her and then hurls again. Thalia quickly grabs her hair, as she pukes into the trash can. The smell of her puke almost made Thalia want to gag, but she swallowed the vomit seeping up her throat. Her mother was panting as she slid against the counter, her body slouching.

"Mom, are you okay?" Thalia asked, grabbing a hand towel hanging over the stove and wiping away her puke from the corners of her lips.

"I'm fine," she said coarsely.

"Damn right you are," Thalia muttered, as she grabbed her mother under her arms and pulled up. Thalia couldn't believe her she was dragging her mother to the couch because of a stupid hangover. She hoped other children didn't have to deal with this. She dragged her to the couch and set her down.

"I told him not to leave you," her mother said, fixing her head in the crook of the couch's armrest. She locked her big blue eyes with Thalia's, but it seemed like it was just a hollow shell of her mother, because her eyes seemed almost blank. "He said he'd love you forever. He lied."

"I know Mom," she said, as she grabbed a blanket and placed it over her mother. "Just get some sleep."

Thalia glanced at her watch and realized it was time for her to be heading out. So, she threw her dishes into the sink, grabbed her keys and bag and left the apartment. She walked for about twenty five minutes, until she reached her destination. She pressed #3 and without hesitation, they buzzed her in. She walked up and knocked on the Robinsons' door. It swung wide open and a golden retriever knocked into Thalia, almost making her fall.

"Oh dear, he will always think he's still a puppy!" Mrs. Robinson chuckled as she grabbed Rusty by the collar and pulled him off Thalia. Thalia laughed.

"Of course," she said, as Mrs. Robinson handed her the leash. Behind her, their Yorkie, Pink ran up and jumped on Thalia's legs.

"Thalia, my dogs absolutely love you. I mean, they aren't that fond of others. What did you do to them?" Mrs. Robinson chuckled as the dogs attacked Thalia's legs. Thalia shrugged, bent down and patted their heads.

"How are my puppies doing?" Thalia said, as Rusty licked her cheek. She looked up at Mrs. Robinson. "Where's Ziggy?"

"Tim took him to the vet. He was having some… intestinal problems," Mrs. Robinson said, trying her best to not use the word "diarrhea". Mrs. Robinson was always like that. She was the sweetest person ever and tries to avoid using words like that just out of courtesy. But don't let that fool you, she can have a real potty mouth when she watches football, but she was still the most adorable person Thalia has ever met.

"Poor thing, I hope he gets better," Thalia said, as she grabbed Pink and Rusty's leashes and started down the hall. "Be back soon!" Thalia yelled behind her.

"Take your time sweetie!" Mrs. Robinson said, as she snuck back into her apartment and closed the door. The Robinsons were the sweetest people Thalia has ever known, but they also had some bad luck. They had been wanting kids for years, but Mrs. Robinson was incapable of ever having kids, which is really sad considering how nice they are. Their kids would've loved them. And sometimes, Thalia wished they were her parents.

Thalia thought about the way her life would have turned out if her mom and dad weren't jackasses and drunks. If they had been the Robinsons. She would probably have cookies for breakfast and sit at the kitchen table while they scratched their heads trying to figure out her math problems.

She would be happy.

The dogs pulled at the leashes as Thalia took awkward long, stompy steps to keep them at a steady pace. They were turning a corner when Thalia's phone rang. She flipped her phone open.

"Hello?"

"Thalia! On your way back home, bring pineapples, please!" Thalia's mother demanded over the phone. Thalia rolled her eyes.

"Sure, anything for you," Thalia said sarcastically. Without another word, her mother hung up the phone. Thalia sighed and shoved her phone back into her bag.

"This sucks," Thalia breathed as she thought about how her mother kept using up her money. It just wasn't fair. After an hour, she walked back to the Robinsons' apartment. Like always, they quickly let her in. She ran up the stairs, Pink bounding up one step at a time, while Rusty was jumping over three.

She knocked on the door and Tim Robinson answered this time.

"Hey Thalia!" he greeted, as he held the door wide open. He was a pretty tall man, with very light brown hair and hazel eyes. He was wearing an almost white dress pants with a buttoned up light blue shirt.

"Hey Mr. Robinson," Thalia smiled. He turned his head and cupped his ear.

"Excuse me, what did you say?" he said, straining forward sarcastically. Thalia rolled her eyes.

"Tim," she chuckled.

"Now that's more like it! Come on in!" he smiled, stepping to the side and giving her way into their apartment. The dogs ran inside and onto Mrs. Robinson's lap as she sat on the couch.

"Ooh, my cute puppies! How was your walk?!" Mrs. Robinson cooed to her dogs as they jumped around excitedly. She then turned her head, her dark brown curls falling around her shoulders and smiled at Thalia. She stood up, shoving Pinky to the floor and walked over to the kitchen.

"You want a cookie, honey?" she asked, as she walked towards the fridge. Without even answering, she pulled out a plastic case of chocolate chip chewy cookies, pulled it open and offered it to Thalia. Mrs. Robinson loved to spoil her guests, and she rarely took no for an answer. She grabbed one and munched on it while Mrs. Robinson fished for the money in her cookie jar.

"Thanks," Thalia mumbled through the cookie crumbs falling from her lips.

"Oh, no worries dear. Here…" she said, turning. She licked her fingers and counted through the bills and handed Thalia twenty bucks. Thalia shoved it into her pocket.

"Thanks," Thalia smiled.

"So, how's your mother Thalia?" Tim asked, as he clapped Thalia on the shoulder and walked into the kitchen, planting a quick kiss on the back of Mrs. Robinson's head.

"Oh, you know… same as always," Thalia said, looking away from Mrs. Robinson's big brown eyes.

"Well, are you coming to Tim's birthday party?" Mrs. Robinson asked sensing Thalia's discomfort and changing the subject. Crap. That was this Saturday. Could she make it? Thalia bit her lip. She had a lot of work and she had offered to babysit for a couple.

"I'll try my best," Thalia said, forcing a smile. Mrs. Robinson was about to say something else when Thalia's phone went off again, but this time a message.

R u done yet? Dont forget wat I asked for! – Mom.

Thalia sighed.

"I've got to go," Thalia said sadly. She loved spending time with the Robinsons. They were like family to her. But of course, her mother tried her best to not let Thalia have one happy moment. Figures.

Sorry it took me so long to update the next chapter. I'm trying, but well, I got really busy suddenly. I'm not sure if this chapter came out so well, so let me know! Thanks for the reviews and favorites!