Hearts' Desire

Chapter Five

Thalia's P.O.V.

I pace back and forth in the front hall. Tobin should have been back by now. What happened to her? I have a sudden, vivid image of my older sister lying in a ditch somewhere, bleeding out. I feel dizzy, and sit down on the couch for a moment, before grabbing a flashlight and heading for the door. As I reach for the handle, the door opens. Tobin comes in with a bloody nose and a black eye. I drop the flashlight and hug her tight. 

"Where were you?!" I ask. "I was so worried!" 

"Sorry." Tobin says. "Servando beat me up." my fists clench. 

"Hey, it wasn't all bad." Tobin says, grinning. "Alex broke up with him." 

"Tobin, that is bad!" I say. 

"How?" Tobin asks. "I can date Alex now!" 

"Tobin, think!" I say, sighing. "Servando will think you stole his girlfriend, and treat you accordingly." 

"Oh," Tobin says. "Right. Shit." 

"Let me clean you up." I say. 

"No," Tobin says. "You've done enough for me. I can take care of myself, sis." 

"But..." I start to argue. 

"No buts, ok?" Tobin says. 

"Why don't you go get dinner ready? I'll be down in a few minutes." 

"Fine." I say. I make dinner, and Tobin and I sit down to eat. 

"Thalia, why do you feel like you have to protect me all the time?" Tobin asks suddenly. 

"We're sisters." I reply. "It's my job." 

"But I'm the older sister." Tobin says. "I should be protecting you, not the other way around." 

"You do protect me, Tobin." I say. "If it weren't for you, I'd be in foster care, or worse, an orphanage. You've been protecting me from people who want to separate us ever since mom and dad died. Let me return the favor." Tobin sighs. 

"Fine." she says. "I'll clean up. You get ready for bed." 

"I'll help you clean." I say, and grab the plates before she can react. We wash the dishes together, then get ready for bed. I hug Tobin tightly. 

"I love you, Toby." I say. 

"Love you too, kid." Tobin says. "Now go to bed. I have a feeling tomorrow's gonna be tough."