Memories

XCV

BURNING PILE

'All my troubles on a burning pile
All lit up and I start to smile
If I, catch fire then I'll change my aim
Throw my troubles at the world again'

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Neil and Thalia were accepted onto the same team that season. Thalia had wanted to play with Kevin, but it wasn't an option at the time. She was okay with that; at least she was able to play with her brother.

On their first game of the season, the two were asked to do the after game press. The PR team clearly hadn't seen either of the siblings deal with press before. It was a nightmare every time, and this was no different.

'Thalia, is it true that you had the opportunity to play with Matt Boyd this season but turned it down?' a reporter asked. Thalia frowned and shook her head.

'No,' she said. 'And I have no idea where you got that idea from. If I had the chance to play with Matt over Neil, I would any day.' Neil stepped on her foot and Thalia only smiled, knowing it was all in good fun.

'Neil, what's it like, still playing with your sister? Is it different than being co-captains?' 

'Sure, it's different,' Neil said. 'But you may forget I captained the Foxes by myself for a season before Coach Wymack made Thalia co-captain.' He smiled. 'But Thalia and I know each other very well and it's fun playing with her on the court, and different being with other people.'

'Thalia, is it true that you and Kevin Day got married this summer?' a reporter asked. Thalia knew this could be her time to fuck everything up. They hadn't told the press that they were married, and Thalia wasn't wearing her ring tonight. She simply frowned, looking confused.

'Kevin? No,' Thalia shook her head. 'No, I married Aaron Minyard this summer.' the reporter looked shocked, as she should be. Inside, Thalia was laughing at her reaction - the world's possible reaction, really. 'Aaron may have left the Exy world behind years ago, but we've kept close.'

As more reporters began to ask about that, Neil wrapped it up and practically dragged Thalia to the locker room. The rest of the team were changing, and even the coaches weren't in the room. Neil spread his arms wide and stared at Thalia with an incredulous look on his face. Thalia smiled widely.

'What the fuck?' Neil said. 'You realise everyone's going to see this? Kevin's going to see this?'

'I know,' Thalia said, trying not to laugh. 'I should be expecting a call from him about this soon.' One of the female teammates came out of the changing room in her sweats and jacket.

'Hey, Thalia,' she said. 'Your phones buzzing from your bag.' Thalia thanked her and she went back in the room. 

'See?' Thalia said. 'Neil, calm down, it's just a joke. You know that. Kevin knows that. He'll get over it, it's funny.' Neil sighed and Thalia passed him to get her things and take Kevin's call.

He left her texts; WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU?! and THALIA, YOU'RE SO ANNOYING SOMETIMES which Thalia smiled at and responded to calmly.

When she was in her car after the debrief and everyone else had left, she called Kevin.

'Sometimes I question why I asked you to marry me.' Kevin sighed from the other line. Thalia laughed and looked out her front window.

'I love you too, Kev,' Kevin hummed on the other side of the call. 'Did you guys win your game?'

'Yes,' Kevin said. This was comfortable for them. They were good at this. 'I saw your game. You played good. Neil too.'

'If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have the hots for my brother,' Thalia joked. Kevin gagged and she laughed.

'I may be bi, but I have standards, Lia,' Kevin said, making Thalia laugh louder. 'Besides, if I tried to go after Neil, Andrew would kill me.' Thalia hummed in agreement.

'Fair enough.' she looked around. 'Listen, I have to go. I love you and I'll talk to you tomorrow yeah?'

'Okay,' Kevin sighed. 'It's only been three weeks but I already miss you.'

'I miss you too.'

'Love you,'

'Love you too.'

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Headlines immediately emerged; The Power Couple we all Know and Love, Gone for Good? and Aaron all Along? Being some of Thalia's favourites. She called Aaron on her way home, just in case he wanted her to get rid of it, but he'd simply laughed and said it was fine. That he found it funny.

'Life as a doctor is depressing, Thalia,' he'd said. 'I need something like this in my life.'

'You literally have a wife and two daughters.' Thalia counter-argued.

'Exactly.' Aaron said and Thalia smiled, shaking her head. 'It's fine, Katelyn knows it's a joke, too. I'll talk to you later, Thalia.' then he hung up.

The PR team went absolutely berserk at the attention they were getting because of Thalia's joke. They wanted to set up a meeting between Thalia and the press to explain everything, but she shut that idea down immediately.

'Hey, what if you and Andrew started badmouthing each other in front of the press,' Thalia said, sitting on the kitchen counter of her and Neil's apartment. They'd decided to share to save costs. 'I mean, not that you don't already, but I can see the headlines already.'

'Mm,' Neil said, stirring his coffee. 'And what's that?'

'The Josten-Minyard Rivalry,' Thalia said, using hand gestures. She smiled at her brother. 'Eh? What do you think? I can give Francis in the PR team a tip if you like.'

'But what if some people think they're talking about you and Andrew?' Neil countered.

'I don't badmouth Andrew in front of the press,' she said. Neil raised his eyebrows and kept his mouth straight. 'I don't, and neither does he.'

'I wouldn't think he'd badmouth himself, Anne,' Neil said. Thalia stuck out her tongue at him, not having anything to throw and being afraid the coffee would spill on him.

'You know what I mean,' she said. Neil hummed to himself and took a drink of his coffee. They moved on from that conversation, but Thalia could tell Neil was thinking about her point. It would be funny. Very funny.