Wow Thank you all for reviewing/favouriting and following this story I really appreciate it. Also really sorry about the wait for this chapter things came up and I didn't really have much time to sit down and write until recently.
I in no way own PJatO or HoO
WARNING: This story contains drug and Alcohol abuse as well as other topics which some people might find offensive. This Chapter in particular focuses on drug abuse so please be warned.
Enjoy.
"Ahh" beryl says lifting young Jason onto her knee. "My little golden boy."
"Hi mummy." Jason says with a toothy grin.
Beryl smiles down at him. "My only child."
Thalia stands in the corner of the room.
Jason lied to Percy.
It's plain and simple; he had lied to the man who if anything was more like a brother then a friend.
The truth was Thalia wasn't telling him she wouldn't be able to make it to dinner, rather it was the opposite. Thalia was coming to dinner and was simply giving him a heads up that she would be telling both Zeus their father and Hera their step mother that she would be visiting Luke's family for a week before she leaves to go to Florida State.
Luke's family was a controversial subject with their own family; in fact Luke was a controversial subject in their family. While Thalia loved him and Jason befriended him Zeus and Hera despised the boy claiming that he was a terrible influence in their dear sweet Thalia.
Jason almost told them it was the other way around but figured that he probably shouldn't. He was only just starting to gain the trust he wanted with the older girl. She was finally starting to see him as more of a friend and brother compared to a monstrous tiny humanoid who used to eat staplers on a whim.
Really he was just looking for an excuse to skip out on the meal. He hated it when his family fought, and they did so frequently considering they had four people with massive tempers and stubborn personalities all living under the same, rather large, roof.
He considers calling Piper or Leo asking them to join him, except Piper had banned all communications with him past 5:30 because she needed time to study and was not spending her summer locked away in a classroom, Leo on the other hand was rebuilding an old car from scratch and wanted it finished by the summer holidays so he could 'pick up chicks, with his super fly wheels' plus the boy was working at the scrapyard every Thursday evening till 7.
Jason sighs and runs his hand through his hair, he turns briefly tempted to call Percy back and try to change his mind, but then again Jason didn't want to get Percy grounded for skipping out on his chores.
"Dammit." He groans finding no other option but to head home and face the blaring trumpets of a verbal third world war. "I can't wait till I move out."
Heading towards his car Jason groans in frustration. He sighs as he scoots into the seat and places his hands on the wheel.
The drive home is short as Jason hopes for some kind of miracle and that Thalia will not bring up Luke and his family, he really can't be bothered dealing with any new drama, especially family drama, he has had enough of that to last a lifetime.
Sure he knows why she is doing it. She needs backup and he is the only other person in the house that doesn't hate Luke. He doubts if there is anyone his parents actually do like to be honest, they seem to have it out for everyone they meet. Particularly boys who date their daughter.
Pulling into the driveway Jason gets out of his car and groans once more.
Thalia is sitting on the front door step and is staring at the lawn looking lost. "Percy says hi." He greets knocking the older girl on the head with his bag.
Thalia glares back at him and rubs the back of her head. "Glad to see you actually arrived." Thalia says standing up from her seat she stretches her back lazily. "I thought you would ditch again and go to Legions instead."
Jason smirks. "Well I thought about it." He shrugs. "But I figured after last time you would need some help."
Thalia sighs with a pout.
Last time Thalia had confronted their parents it had been before Easter when Zeus had offered to drive the two down to visit their mother in a Psychiatric hospital just a few hours' drive from their home. Thalia had blatantly refused even after Zeus had demanded that 'it was only right they visit their mother.' Honestly Jason didn't really mind, he actually wanted to see his mother again.
Thalia however had refused outright and had almost caused world war three in their house almost overnight. And German Thalia was invading French Zeus' personal secrets and had almost caused a break on the front of Zeus and Hera. Their father had spent the week sleeping on the couch and even Jason was looked at with contempt from Hera.
Thalia had almost won that battle and she probably would have too if Hera hadn't found her stash of alcohol when cleaning out her room when the two were at school two days later.
Jason however could only blame Thalia for that, if only she had cleaned her room when they were asked on the weekend then maybe she would have gotten away with it.
"Well then let's get this show on the road." Thalia say clapping her hands together, a strong steely look comes across her face but her eyes still look lost, like she is thinking about something else.
Jason shrugs it off and together they step into their home.
Jason has seen Zeus angry on multiple different occasions, however this time Zeus looks more furious than angry, like he is contemplating wiping out the planet.
Thalia has her arms folded over her chest, her phone clasped in one of her hands as she stares across at her father.
"No." Hera grunts shaking her head, she looks at Zeus who is still staring down Thalia. Jason taps his fingers on his thighs smiling awkwardly. "I will not allow it. So long as you are living in our house that boy and his, family" she says in disgust. "Are not welcomed nor to be mentioned in this household."
Thalia doesn't even look at Hera nor acknowledge her, something that is really unsurprising.
"I'm going."
"No." Zeus growls back.
"Dad-" Jason tries placating but he is shut up almost immediately by the look Zeus gives him. "Luke isn't that bad." He mumbles to himself.
Zeus ignores him and instead looks back at Thalia.
"You're being stupid." Thalia growls she takes a step forward and Jason wants to scream out a warning to her as his danger signs go off in his head.
Hera slams her fist on the kitchen counter. "No. That boy and his family are no good." Hera cries shaking her head. "That boy's father-"
"Luke." Thalia replies back there is iciness in her tone. Jason prepares himself to leap in front of his sister in case his step mother leaps over the counter and attacks the girl. "That's his name and his family are the Castellans." she stops and looks directly at her father now. "And who knows one day I might even be a Castellan."
Heras cheeks turn red and Zeus looks like he is about to have a heart attack.
"That's it go to your room." Zeus screeches he flings his arm out knocking an apple out of the fruit bowl it falls onto the ground and squishes.
Thalia chews her tongue for a moment and continues to glare at the two before stomping out of the kitchen; her studded military boots can be heard on the stairs. Jason flinches when the door slams shut.
"That girl." Hera grunts looking across at Jason, she smiles tightly. "You won't turn out like her will you, my precious boy." She smiles genuinely then and Jason feels a little awkward at the attention.
Zeus takes his eyes off the archway and looks across at Jason, Zeus doesn't smile, he simply looks at his son passively. "No my boy will get into Harvard and study political law and marry into a family that isn't filled with criminals."
He walks towards Jason and pats the young man's head. Jason smiles tightly in response, inside his inner voice is screaming curses condemning his father and stepmother.
"Spaghetti for dinner?" Hera asks pulling out a can of tinned tomatoes.
"I fucking hate them!" Thalia growls pacing her room. "I fucking hate them both." She growls, beside Jason Thalia's phone dings. It's Luke.
"You don't mean that." Jason replies, he doesn't mean it because part of him hates his parents too, sure all they want for them is a life filled with happiness and prosperity but Jason and Thalia don't exactly want to study politics or law nor marry someone for the benefit of their family.
"If I had a gun." Thalia screeches walking towards her desk she opens the draw pulling out a box of cigarettes and a lighter. Jason frowns. "I swear to god I can't wait to get out of this stinking hell hole." She walks towards the bed and sits down next to her brother. "I'm just sorry I have to leave you here." Jason watches as Thalia pulls out a stick, she brings it to her lips and lights it.
"I will be fine." Jason mutters watching his sister take a long puff. He frowns again as she pulls the butt from her face. Jason takes it out of her hand and stares at it disapprovingly. "You really shouldn't smoke." He says he moves to butt it out on the desk but stops midway and takes another look at it before he brings it to his lips.
He takes a long drag and coughs twice. It tastes terrible and leaves a burning sensation in his throat and lungs, he hands it back to Thalia still gagging at the taste.
"You get used to it little bro." She takes another drag and exhales. "With all this Stepford shit around us, this will be your only rebellious teenage act." She shrugs and rubs his shoulder eyeing her wardrobe with a smirk. "Well one of them, but this is the most legal."
Thalia's phone goes off again. "You gonna get that." Jason asks looking back at the phone. Thalia doesn't answer simply takes a longer exhale before getting up off the bed and walking towards the wardrobe. "Thal's?" He watches her as she opens the door and rifles through piles of clothes, shoes and a pile of Knick knacks that Jason has only seen after relatives come back from overseas trips.
After a few moments Thalia pulls out a large shoe box covered with pictures of movies, celebrities, friends and weird quotes most of which look made up.
"A memory box?" Jason asks with a raised brow. "I never thought you were sentimental." He smiles at his sister slowly.
Thalia shakes her head with a sly little smile. "Better dear brother, this is even better." Slowly she lifts the box open and smiles at the objects inside before walking towards Jason.
Thalia's phone buzzes again, this time Jason doesn't remind her he simply stares looking into the little box. His sister is grinning over him like a maniac.
"No." Jason says with a shake of his head. "You could go to jail for that." He looks back up at Thalia who is giving him her bitch face one that she has only ever seen used on him.
"That's the point." She adjusts the box so that it sits on her hand and with the other she pulls out the bag with a smile.
"Thalia." Jason warns scooting back a little.
Thalia does nothing simply smiles at the object.
"The cigarettes and the alcohol I can stand but," Jason shakes his head and stands up off the bed he looks down at his sister. "This is something else." He grabs the small bag out of his sister's hand and glares at her. To say he is furious is an understatement.
"Relax Jason." Thalia says snatching the bag back out of Jason's hand. "It just weed."
Jason almost rolls his eyes. "I can see that." He growls. "But that stuff is bad for you."
Thalia rolls her eyes and closes the box. "Yeah it makes me consume extra calories after each joint. But I think I am pulling it off."
Thalia's phone buzzes again.
"It's a gateway drug." Jason hisses, he moves to grab the bag back but Thalia is fast and simply takes a step back. Irritated and furious Jason takes another step towards her. "I can't believe you, after everything- after mum." He growls.
Thalia's back stiffens. She stares Jason straight in the eye and suddenly Jason realises his mistake.
"Thalia, oh god. I'm sorry-" he is silenced by Thalia's hand slapped across his mouth. She drops the box and pushes Jason onto the bed, she straddles his waist and glares down at him.
Jason can see a storm in her eyes.
"Don't you dare bring up that woman." She growls at his face. "You don't remember her, what she did, what she was like. But I do." Her voice is even and calm and that is perhaps what scares Jason the most. "So don't you dare ever compare me to her ever again." She hisses leaping back off the stunned man.
Jason pushes himself back up off the bed and rubs his jaw. Thalia's phone buzzes and this time Thalia picks it up from beside Jason's knee, Jason flinches thinking she is going to punch him.
Cursing silently she picks up the box and quickly shoves everything back in. She doesn't say a word to Jason as she does this and Jason doesn't say anything to her. Picking up her school bag she flings the contents all over the floor and shoves the box in as well as her pack of smokes. She pauses momentarily and looks towards her rubbish bin before stalking towards it and pulling out a half empty bottle of Jack Daniels.
Finally she looks back at Jason. "I'm going out."
"You're grounded." Is all Jason can say, Thalia doesn't answer him. Jason frowns. "How are you-"
A car horn beeps just out the front and suddenly Thalia is smiling again, Jason watches her as she walks towards the window.
"Try not to choke on your own vomit." He growls suddenly.
Thalia sits on the ledge of her bedroom window and looks back at Jason, her features are stone as she tells him to look the bedroom door behind him on the way out before she is trailing her way down the roof and leaping off the patio and onto the soft grass below like some sort of ninja.
Jason walks towards the window and contemplates locking it so that is sister will have to either break in or use the front door. He growls to himself instead and walks towards the bedroom door and locks it.
"Jason!" Zeus calls from downstairs.
"Yes dad?" Jason asks leaning over the stair railing. He hopes his father can't smell the smoke that lingers all over him, all though it is common knowledge that Thalia smokes in her room when she gets pissed.
"Have you done your political science study yet?" Zeus calls, Jason can't see him but his best bet is that his father is in his study.
Jason winces. "Just about to start it now." He calls back.
"Good boy." He hears faintly.
"Yes," Hera says from the same room. "Our golden child."
Jason walks to his room and almost slams the door; instead he closes it quietly and thinks about the cigarette he had shared with his sister.
"Thalia!" Zeus cries opening the door, Thalia comes bounding out of the living room her dark pigtails flying as she crashes into her father.
"Thalia!" Hera screeches emerging from the same room Jason asleep and resting his head on her shoulder. "I told you no running in the house!"
Thalia isn't listening though because her dad is home and she is far too happy to listen to that woman.
Not my best sorry, but still hope you enjoyed.