Sparks Fly

Chapter 24

Thalia

I felt horrible lying to Leo. I just wanted to hold off on telling him until I was for one, sure I was actually pregnant and two, I knew what I wanted to do about it. It was just a big decision, a baby. I never really wanted one but now that I have the opportunity, the thought began to swirl around in my mind. All the scenarios filled my brain, giving me a headache. Some were good and some were bad. One thing is for sure, I did not want a pregnancy like Annabeth or Piper, theirs were horrible. 

There was a knock at the bedroom door. "Thalia?" called Leo from outside. He didn't like leaving me in here alone. He thought I was a danger to myself which by the way was ridiculous. I am perfectly sane as of now, I just had a tiny mental breakdown yesterday which is understandable given my current condition. 

Leo and Jason were also very concerned when I told them I couldn't fight anymore. They thought something was wrong in my head, that I was too scared. The truth was, at the moment, I couldn't risk two lives anymore. 

I knew one thing was certain, I didn't want to loose this baby. 

"Come in" I said, getting off of my bed. Leo walked in, he looked stiff, almost sad. "We're here" he said softly. I nodded, walking past him but he grabbed my arm. "I just want to make sure you're prepared okay?" he asked, concern in his eyes. I smiled, "I'm okay, really I am. I need to be there with Jason" I urged. Leo let go of me and I walked to the front of the bus.

Jason was standing there, staring out of the window. His face was dark and he looked both angry and sad. I walked up behind him, taking his hand in my own. Jason looked down at me. "Are you ready?" he asked. I nodded, looking out of the window. 

Our small house stood there. The paint had faded, weeds filled out yard, shutters and boards were falling, the roof sagged over the porch. A small "For Sale" sign stood by the sidewalk, the date on it read "2005". There was a scorch mark on the sign, probably from Zues. 

"Lets go" I said. As we walked out of the bus and to the house, memories filled my mind. To the left was my bike, it was rusted but the streamers on the handle bars still sparkled. The houses's once sky blue color was now a faded grey. I took a deep breath, then Leo took my other hand. I had both of my boys with me, I was going to be okay. 

Jason was first to step onto the porch. The steps creaked as he walked. The swing moved back and forth slowly. The whole place gave off a creepy seriel killer, haunted house vibe. Here, I remembered the day I ran away, I had tripped running down the stairs. I scrapped my elbow but just kept running. 

Jason looked up at me, "Tell me about this place, I have very little memories" he said. I smiled, turning towards the swing. "When you were little, I used to swing you back and forth on the swing. Mother used to sing with me as we swung you, it was one of your favorite games" I said. Jason let go of my hand and walked over to the swing. 

He touched it then looked up at me. Leo squeezed my hand, letting me know he was still there. "And these?" Jason asked, hurrying to the pink handprints on the floor across the porch. "You put those there" I said with a chuckled, remembering. "I was painting a project for school and you fell into the paint and got it all over the porch, mom freaked out at first but then she too fell into the paint. We all laughed and had a paint war" I said. 

Jason ran over to the front door way, putting his hands on the small notches there. Jason was like a kid in a candy store, asking so many questions and was so excited. But it wasn't the same for me, I would only tell him the good stuff, I didn't tell him how after our paint war, mom realized that she had to go to work then she screamed and hit me. I didn't tell him that sometimes, I would find mom late at night on the swing drunk, throwing beer bottles at the house.