Memories

LXXXIX

WITHOUT ME 

'Found you when your heart was broke
I filled your cup until it overflowed
Took it so far to keep you close
I was afraid to leave you on your own'

⥎
⥐

Thalia collected her things and headed outside, waving her arm for a taxi. She told the woman the address and they pulled out of the airport. Thalia looked out the window of the car. She hadn't been here in a few months. The last time she'd visited Kevin had been at Christmas break. Now the Foxes were five weeks away from finals, and Thalia needed a break. Co-captaining with her brother was a difficult thing to do, especially when Neil was as controlling during practice as Kevin.

"Thanks," Thalia said, handing the cabbie her money and getting onto the pavement. Thalia sighed as she looked up at the apartment building. Kevin didn't know she was coming. It was surprise. She headed up the stairs and unlocked the door quietly with the key Kevin had given her.

Thalia shut the door behind her and placed her bag on the ground. She looked around and frowned when her eyes landed on a womans' handbag. Kevin wouldn't. Thalia knew he wouldn't. There had to be a reasonable explanation for whatever this bag was doing here. 

Thalia walked into the living room and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. She frowned and spun around quickly when footsteps approached the room.

It was a woman, much taller and a few years older than Thalia. Older than Kevin, even. She looked at Thalia with a shocked expression that turned to surprise and happiness. Thalia was more confused and angry than she'd been moments ago.

"You must be Thalia," the woman said happily and loudly. She held out her hand for a shake, and Thalia hesitantly took it. "Kevin said he wasn't expecting anyone else this weekend."

"It was supposed to be a surprise," Thalia said quietly. "Where is he?" the woman looked behind her and called Kevin's name. Thalia almost didn't want to see him. Her heart was clenched and her fingernails cut crescent moons into her palms. Kevin came down the hallway and stopped when he saw Thalia. She was grinding her jaw and looking at him angrily.

"Thalia? What are you doing here?" Kevin asked. He moved forward, but Thalia took a step back. Kevin looked between the two women and opened his mouth. "Oh my god, Thalia, no. It's not like that." he stammered and held up his hands. The woman widened her eyes, too.

"Oh, no, absolutely not," she said. She turned back to the hallway. "Richard!" she called. A man came out of the spare bedroom without a shirt on. He scratched his head as he made his way down the hall. Everything suddenly made sense. The woman turned. "I'm Thea, and this is my fiancé, Richard. Kevin agreed to let us stay here for the weekend. We needed a place to crash while we were in town. We're travelling cross country before the pros start and I have to be back in New York." Thalia let out a breath and her jaw dropped a little.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," she said to Thea. Then Thalia turned to Kevin, who still looked shocked that Thalia would ever think he'd cheated on her. She felt embarrassed and guilty, and just wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

"We'll let you guys talk." Thea said and smiled again, though this time it was smaller. "Nice to meet you, Thalia."

Thalia rubbed her hand over her face and sighed. "Kevin, I'm sorry." she said. He wouldn't meet her eyes. "I didn't mean to assume...I just saw the bag and thought the worst. I think this long distance thing is taking its toll on me," Thalia laughed dryly.

"It's okay," Kevin said eventually, looking up and smiling. "I missed you too, Lia." Thalia smiled and walked over to hug Kevin. "I love you, you know that, right? I'd never cheat on you."

"I know." Thalia said. "I love you too." 

The two walked over to the kitchen and Kevin put the kettle on to boil, pulling out two mugs and the milk. Thalia jumped up onto the bench and watched Kevin work.

"Thanks," she said with a smile when he handed her the mug of tea. A distant memory from years ago sprang into her mind and Thalia chuckled. Kevin raised an eyebrow.

"What?" he asked. Thalia shook her head.

"I was just remembering the first time I had tea at Fox tower," she said. It jogged Kevin's memory and he laughed too. "If I remember correctly, you said 'I wanted to see the bitch that wanted ins on my liquor stash'," Thalia laughed. "You hated me." Kevin hummed and placed his cup down on the bench beside Thalia. he stood in between her legs and rested his hands on her hips.

"And now you're the love of my life," Kevin said. Thalia rolled her eyes but her smile grew wider. She leaned down to kiss him gently on the lips before pulling away and taking another sip of her tea.

"And we're both four years sober," Kevin hummed again and took a drink of his own tea.

The two chatted away about things that mattered and things that didn't. Eventually, Thalia looked up at the clock and saw that it read eleven thirty. She'd gotten in at eight.

"I'm tired from the flight up," she said. "You want to go to bed?" Kevin nodded and put the mugs in the dishwasher before carrying Thalia into his bedroom and putting her on the bed, closing the door with his foot. Thalia's things were still out in the living room, but she was too tired to care. She pulled off her jeans and shirt and bra, and picked up an oversized t-shirt from the floor and pulled it over her head. When Thalia lay down on her side of the bed, Kevin was already in, shirtless and wearing only grey sweats.

She lay her head on Kevin's chest, and he wrapped his arm around her back. For years now that had been her replacement wall. She no longer needed to sleep with her back pressed against paint or wallpaper as long as she had Kevin with her. However, in the dorms at Fox tower, she often slept with her back to the wall because it was familiar, even though she trusted Andrew and his family, Neil, and Robin, who'd moved into their dorm the day after they'd taken her to Columbia.

"You're still coming down for the championship game, right?" Thalia asked quietly. Kevin hummed a yes. "Even if we don't get in?"

"Where's this coming from?" Kevin asked, but Thalia didn't answer. He rubbed his fingers up and down Thalia's back under the shirt. "Of course you'll make it." Thalia didn't say anything, only moved around a little to get more comfortable, and closed her eyes, falling asleep in safety with the one she loved.