20. Boulevard of Broken Dreams

"Well, thanks for the pay Sally. I've gotta be going," Thalia said, as she shoved her pay into her bag.

"Already?" Sally said, as she set up the kitchen table for dinner.

"Oh yeah, I have to get home," Thalia said, as she slowly backed away towards the front door.

"You should hang out for a while," Percy said, as he noisily munched on a blue cookie; crumbs piling up on his lap. Thalia glared at him. She had stayed here long enough; waiting for her clothes to come out of the dryer. She didn't need to spend any more time than necessary.

"Mom will be worried about me," Thalia lied and Percy raised his eyebrow. He probably knew she was lying, but she couldn't be sure. She bid a farewell and quickly made her way out the door before either of them could stop her. A warm breeze wrapped around her as she walked down the sidewalk. With every passing week, the climate was getting warmer and warmer. Summer would be around the corner before she knew it. And so would graduation.

Thalia shuddered. She still had no idea what she was going to do with her life. She didn't have enough money – or support – to go to college, so all she could do was probably find some job at a fast food restaurant and hope for the best; though the best was at least a job at a retail store. Thalia sighed. If her parents hadn't turned their backs on her, she would be thinking about what college she was going to, instead of what fast food she was going to work at. She pulled out her headphones and pulled them on, blasting up her music as she walked through New York.

She swayed as Boulevard of Broken Dreams played on repeat. She could feel the beat seep into her bones and the music ring inside her head until it pummeled every other thought and left her singing along silently to the words that kept her from losing her mind. She mouthed the chorus as she stared at the cracks and stains on the sidewalk, her hips swaying a little more than they normally would when she walked.

She walked into her apartment to find her mother munching on cashews at the island in the kitchen. She didn't stop to greet her, she just walked into her room and lay down on her bed. It was already five o'clock so she pulled up her backpack from beside her bed and pulled out her homework.

"My shadow's the only one that walks beside me. My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating," she began to sing softly as she wrote down some questions for history class. Her foot started to swing to the beat, until she closed her eyes during the solo. She took a deep breath.

"I walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams. Where the city sleeps… And I'm the only one and I walk a- my shadow's the only one that walks beside me! My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating," she sang a little louder, until she could feel the music coursing through her veins. She jumped up from her bed, the length of her headphones straining to reach her, until they slid off her ears and wrapped around her neck.

"Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me –" she stopped when she heard her voice ring out through her room and she covered her mouth. She looked in her mirror and slowly sat down. Her breathing grew a little heavier as the distant music blared out of her headphones. When was the last time she had really sung? It had been so long ago, she couldn't even remember. Her throat felt weird as she pulled her knees up and held her head between them.

"Thalia?" she heard her mother call out hesitantly as her door slowly creaked open. Thalia's head snapped up to look at her mother.

"What?" Thalia asked a little bit irritated, wondering what her mother wanted.

"Was that – Did you – Did you sing?" she asked, surprised, but the slightest bit hopeful. Thalia suddenly felt guarded.

"No," she lied.

"Oh, okay," she said, before she glanced at Thalia one more time and left. Thalia wondered what that was all about, but she quickly pushed it out of her mind as she scooted back into her bed, pulled her headphones back on and finished her homework.

Thalia opened her eyes to blinding sunlight. She moaned as she covered her face. She was lying down with her head on the opposite side of the bed and her calculus textbook on her stomach. She sat up and blinked a few times to get her bearings. She looked across the room, squinting her eyes at her clock; 9:34 AM. At least she didn't wake up too late.

She threw her school stuff off her and followed with her morning routine of taking a shower, brushing her teeth and eating breakfast.

She was sitting on the couch eating some fruit loops when her mother stumbled into the living room. She was about to sit down when she whimpered.

"I have to pee again," she almost cried as she dragged herself back into the hallway. All righty then. Thalia finished watching an episode of 48 hours and walked to her room to change into a different set of clothes. She was due to walk the Robinsons' dogs again today. She changed into a light blue tank top, blue jeans and black and silver Reeboks. With a satisfying stretch, she left the apartment calling out a "bye" out of courtesy.

Fifteen minutes later, she arrived at the Robinsons' building. Thalia pressed the buzzer and without asking, they opened the door. She walked up to their apartment and knocked on their door.

"Morning Thalia!" Mr. Robinson greeted her.

"Good Mo- oof!" Thalia slammed against the wall as Rusty jumped out and knocked into her. After she regained her breath she grabbed his head and started scratching behind his ears.

"You must've gotten bigger!" Thalia cooed as she passed her fingers through his golden fur. She heard a loud yap and turned to see Pink scratching at her ankles.

"Wow, they are hyper today!" Thalia exclaimed as she made use of both her hands and scratched both their heads.

"Oh yeah, we couldn't take them out yesterday afternoon. So they've been cooped up all afternoon, night and morning," Mr. Robinson chuckled.

"Oh, you must be itching to run!" Thalia chuckled as she ducked away from Rusty's lolling tongue. There was another high pitched barking and coming out from behind Rusty was Ziggy, their Chihuahua.

"Hey Ziggy!" Thalia said as she picked him up and rubbed his head. She looked up.

"Is Mrs. Robinson here today?" Thalia asked. Mr. Robinson cleared his throat.

"Sorry, is Luna here today?" Thalia chuckled.

"Not right now. Luna's cousin had an accident yesterday and we had to cancel my birthday party and move it to today. Would you like to come?"

Thalia mulled it over. She had called them to let them know she wasn't coming when Sally had called for the babysitting. She had wanted to come, since they had celebrated her birthday once, when her mother had forgotten, and she wanted to repay the favor. She hadn't been able to yesterday, but today was promising. Besides walking their dogs and doing a quick grocery stop, she was free for the entire day.

"Yeah sure, what time?"

"Two o'clock."

"Yep, I can make that," she said, as she gathered the dogs' leashes in her hand.

"That's great! I'll let Luna know!" he smiled, as he waved goodbye and closed the door.

Thanks a lot for the reviews guys! :D Makes me want to squeal sometimes, lol! Well, I hope this chappie came out well. Let me know what ya guys thought!

Disclaimer: I do not own the lyrics (italized) Thalia sang up top. It's Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day.

And the new photo cover of this story belongs to me! :)