26. Stupid & Immature

She did her homework and quickly got ready for bed. She just didn't want to stay awake and deal with reality any longer. She could only escape temporarily, but that was better than nothing.

She hadn't seen her mother since she stormed out, but she had heard her sneaking back into the apartment a few minutes ago. She didn't go out to meet her. She just sat on her bed, brushing her wet hair as she stared in the mirror. She didn't want to bother with her mother anymore today.

A million thoughts were swimming through her head as she stared blankly at her reflection. She was thinking about things she didn't care about, things she was naturally curious about and things that were really messed up. Things like, why was Cindy so against her? Or why did her father leave her? What was wrong with Leo? (not that she cared a whole bunch). Would the baby be a boy or a girl? What name would she give it?

She sighed and threw herself back against her pillow. Why is life just so freaking difficult? There's no way to win. You end up dying anyways, so what was the point? Annoyed, she slid under the covers and nuzzled against her pillow. If life was a gift, she wish it came with a warranty.

She closed her eyes, trying to relax enough to fall asleep. An hour or so later, she fell into darkness. She was just standing there, enjoying the sweet and beautiful silence, until there was an incredibly loud pop. She screamed and collapsed, hitting her head against something soft and squishy. She slowly sat up and was afraid to look at what she'd fallen on. Breathing heavily, she turned and fell backwards at the sight. It was her.

Her eyes and mouth were open and her white T-shirt was drenched in scarlet blood. Thalia scrambled backwards, too shocked to stand up, turn tail and run. Her hand hit something and when she looked it was another body. There were dead bodies of her everywhere.

"No, no," she whimpered as she scrambled up and ran. In her hysteria, she didn't realize there was someone standing in front of her until she slammed head on with them. She fell down, a little bit dizzy. A man, who had been standing in front of her, squatted down to look at her eye level. He smiled evilly.

"Run," he said, his voice sounding ghostly. Fear coursing through her body she sprinted away, only to fall off a cliff. Her body flailed helplessly and her scream echoed through the darkness. She jumped up with a gasp and sweaty palms. Seconds later, her alarm went off. She quickly turned it off and rested her head on her knees. Her heart was pounding and her hands were shaking. Relax, it was just a nightmare.

She got ready for school, trying to keep her mind busy with other unnecessary thoughts. She walked into the kitchen, looking for something simple to eat for breakfast, when she glanced into the living room and saw her mother curled up on the couch, rocking back and forth. She glanced at her watch, making sure she wouldn't be late for school, and walked over to her mother.

"You okay?" she asked. Her mother looked up. She had mascara running down her cheeks and her lipstick was smudged.

"Why do you care?" she said lowly.

"I didn't say I did," Thalia replied. Her mother looked away and stared blankly at the TV. Thalia turned to leave when her mother spoke.

"He said he loved me," she said. "He said he'd take care of me, but all he did was screw me and disappear the next day."

Thalia shifted her feet, a little bit uncomfortable, but she stayed silent, ignoring the fact she could say "I told you so" because she can't count how many times she had told her before that you can't trust people, but somehow she wouldn't get the same satisfaction out of it now. Her mother stayed silent for a while, as if she was reminiscing that night.

"Men," she said in disgust. "You can't trust them." She looked up at her daughter. "Never trust them, Thalia. All they do is lie," she said. But instead of twisted motherly advice, it sounded as if she was warning her. And Thalia didn't like it. Had she seen her with Percy? Is that what she was implying? Her mother stood up and looked at Thalia evenly.

"I have to go," Thalia said. She walked towards the door and grabbed her bag.

"I saw you," her mother said. Thalia sighed. "Stay away from him, Thalia." Thalia gritted her teeth. Without saying another word or sparing a glance, she left the apartment, struggling not to slam the door. She was angry. Her mother can barely keep her life under control and she tries to control Thalia's. But having her mother tell her to stay away from Percy only made Thalia want to disobey her more. She glanced at her watch. They still had about ten minutes before school started.

She pulled out her phone and called him.

"Hello?"

"Hey Percy," Thalia said.

"Wow, I thought I couldn't be surprised, but I was mistaken," Percy said playfully. Before Thalia said anything else, she wondered if what she was doing was a good idea. Her mother's voice echoed in her head again: Stay away from him, Thalia.

"Do you want to go out this weekend?" Thalia asked. Percy must've been eating, because he suddenly made a choking sound.

"You're asking me out?" Percy asked in surprise.

"Yes, take it or leave it, Percy. I haven't got all day."

"Uh, yeah, sure."

"Good. This Saturday. There's a little restaurant two blocks down from where I live. Meet me in front of my apartment building," she said.

"Yes Mrs. Bossy," Percy said. Thalia rolled her eyes.

"7 o'clock, Percy. Be sharp," Thalia said. She hung up and walked into her school. It was probably stupid and immature to act out. Something she thought she was way past, but her mother still got under her skin. And it felt that doing what her mother didn't want her to do was a way to get back at her.

Okay guys, thanks for the reviews in the last chapter :) I hope this one came out well and if there's any spelling errors, let me know. And I hope you guys enjoy this chapter too. Let me know what you think ;)