16. Mischievous

She came home to an empty apartment. Her mother was nowhere to be seen, but she must've left not too long ago, because a cigarette was still smoldering in an ash tray. Thalia sighed. She dropped her bag by the front door and started cleaning, occasionally cursing under her breath every time she thought of her mother's irresponsibility. She swept the floors with angry strokes, drowned the furniture in febreeze and pledge. She washed the dishes, the anger of her mother and Dr. Woodrow churning inside her, making her reckless. She finished drying a plate and as she moved it to the other side of the sink to let it dry it fell out of her hand. It crashed against the floor and broke into many jagged pieces around her feet.

"Dammit!" she sighed as she felt a stinging pain around one of her ankles. She looked down and saw a stream of blood rolling down to the heel of her foot.

"Just great," she muttered as she grabbed a paper towel and cleaned her ankle. She limped to the bathroom and looked for a band-aid. She stuck it on and sat on the toilet seat as she watched the band-aid slowly suck in the blood. She closed her eyes and sighed. Taking in a big breath she stood up and walked back to the kitchen to sweep up the broken plate. As she cleaned up, her anger slowly ebbed away. As if the plate had shattered along with her anger. She finished the remaining dishes and left to unload her secret stash of candles.

"Gonna have to get some more," she muttered to herself as she lit up the last candle. The sweet smell of vanilla and lavender swirled around her and she breathed in the sweet scent. Her muscles relaxed as the candles slowly burned away. The smell always made her feel like home; like nothing was wrong or would go wrong. She walked back to the living room and plopped down on the couch pulling her feet up onto the coffee table. By now, her anger was gone and she just rested, smelling the burning glade candles when she remembered something.

"Oh! My cocoa," she squealed as she jumped up and ran to the kitchen. Okay, so she wasn't a grown up all the time. She pulled out a small pot, turned on the stove and poured in the hot chocolate mixture. As it warmed up, she walked into her room and changed into a more comfortable set of clothing; short dark blue cotton shorts, a white tank top and purple socks. As she walked back to her cocoa, her phone rang with a text message.

Out 2nite. Wont come home – Mom

Thalia sighed. Guess I have the house to myself tonight. She finished her chocolate by dropping a few small marshmallows into it. As she walked back to the couch she grabbed the DVD of Ghost Rider and plopped it in. She grabbed a folded up blanket that rested on the love seat and curled up into the crook of the couch. The apartment was cool, because of the few windows Thalia had left open and the blanket kept her warm as she slurped her hot chocolate.

"This is nice," she sighed contentedly as she snuggled into her blanket. She was at the part where they had put Johnny Blaze inside a criminal filled jail when there was a loud sound that echoed through the empty building. Thalia yelped and fell to the floor, her body shaking.

"Why you gotta always slam the damn door like that?! No wonder the hinges are coming off!" a muffled voice sounded from outside. Thalia was panting as she stood up shakily. Her hands trembled and she grunted in anger and silent embarrassment. I have to stop jumping like that! Shaking off the scare, she sat back down and curled up again.

She opened her eyes to a room decorated in a warm late morning light. The TV was repeating on the menu of Ghost Rider and you could hear the honking of taxi cabs. She stretched and her feet kicked the other edge of the sofa. She shifted to lie on her back and closed her eyes again. Her body felt relaxed and rested and peaceful for the first time in moons. She yawned and slowly sat up and rested against the back of the sofa, her eyes half open. She looked around lazily as her scrambled brain tried to sort itself out before she was fully awake. Her eyes landed on the clock of the DVD player and her eyes opened wide.

"OH NO! I'M GOING TO BE LATE!" Thalia wailed as she jumped out of her comfortable spot and ran to her bedroom. It was 11:23 AM. She had less than an hour to get ready and make her way to Percy's apartment. She stood in front of her closet, looking for a set to wear, as she quickly disrobed. She grabbed a black t-shirt and a pair of jean Capri and threw them on the bed.

She ran into the bathroom, taking off the last of her clothes, and jumped into the shower. She washed her hair and rinsed off her body. She muttered under her breath as she jumped out of the shower, snagged a towel and plugged in the hair dryer. She ran into her room as she dried off her hair and started getting dress, bouncing against the walls as she struggled to pull her jeans up. She looked at the clock on her nightstand; 11:40 AM. Her phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered quickly; exasperated.

"Thalia, where are you? I need a ride!" her mother's voice came on.

"Find your own ride! I've got plans," Thalia said, hanging up, not wanting to deal with her mother's problems. She got herself into it, she can get herself out. Thalia finished getting dressed and dried her hair and ran out the door. She was halfway down the stairs when she remembered she hadn't eaten.

"Oooooh, I don't have time!" Thalia half whimpered, half complained as she turned back and ran out the door. As she power walked down the sidewalk, she finished buckling up her belt and slipped on her watch and studded bracelets. About ten minutes later, she arrived at Percy's building. She was about to press the buzzer when Sally burst out of the building, almost bowling Thalia over.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" she gasped, but when she realized it was Thalia she added, "Thank goodness you came! I didn't have time to call someone else!" she exclaimed.

"Sorry I'm late," Thalia frowned.

"Oh don't worry dear! We're all late at least once in our lives! Now, I've got to go! I'll see you when I get back!" the last part yelled as she started walking away. Thalia walked into the building and made her way up to Percy's apartment. She knocked on the door. A minute and a "be right there" later, the door swung open.

"Hey Thalia," Percy greeted mischievously.

I'm glad you guys enjoyed the last chapter and I hope this one's just as good! Thanks for reviewing guys :) Let me know how this one came out, and if I've got mistakes, let me know! :)