Evaporate

chapter one.

Thalia's POV

Once the school day is over, I fall into my normal routine of cleaning up, except this time it's rushed. I need to get home as quickly as I can. Once everything is neat and tucked away for tomorrow, a Tuesday, I go home. As soon as I get home, I quickly take my jacket off and rush to the restroom, needing to pee. After taking care of that, I head back to the kitchen, where Theo and Grayson are setting up for Theo's birthday party, that will officially start in an hour.

"Hello my loves." I smile and kiss Theo's hair and then Grayson's cheek. They shoot me identical smiles before returning to the preparations.

"Hi mumma." Theo stops messily icing a cupcake to hug me.

"How was work, babe?" Grayson asks, handing me some decorations to put up.

"A normal Monday, no one paid attention." I sigh and set up the banners with 'Happy Birthday!' and Theo's name and other small decorations as Grayson checks the time.

"I'm sorry baby, that's terrible." Grayson shoots me an encouraging smile. "If you need it, I can have Mr. Dale monitor the class. He owes me a favor or two." He winks and I laugh. I don't need a school cop to scare the kids into listening, they'd hate my class.

"It's fine, they're good kids, Mondays just aren't our thing." I respond softly, my mind traveling to Theo. Since Theo's been fairly silent, my overprotective mother instincts urge me to quickly turn and look for him. The swiftness of the turn immediately backfires and I go lightheaded.

"Woah," Grayson rushes to my side as I waver and steadies me with an arm around my waist. "Take a seat and relax, I'll finish up, you've had a long day." He gently urges me to the couch. I sit down and do as told, even though I want to continue helping.

"Thank you."  I softly respond.

Soon enough, Grayson and Theo finish setting up and the only thing left to do is pick up the cake.

"Will you be okay while I go pick the cake up?" Gray worriedly asks. I nod, making a gesture that he can go. 

"You sure?" He bites his lip and swings the keys around his index finger, still unsure.

"Yes, Gray, I'll be fine." I start to feel irritated with the lack of trust.

"One hundred percent?" He asks, causing me to finally snap.

"I'm fine. Am I not being clear?" I sharply respond. His face turns into one of shock and then he frowns.

"I'm just making sure." he mumbles and stops the keys from spinning. "While I'm out, do you need any tampons?" He raises a brow, and even though it sounds like an insult, he's being genuine. He always asks if I need them near my days.

I urge myself to relax and not take take it as an insult. I nod. "Yes, ple-"

"Daddy, what are tampons?" Theo asks and I blush as Gray panics, opening the door.

"Ask mommy, I'll be right back, love you guys!" He rushes out the door and leaves  a curious, now, four-year-old asking about tampons.

"Uhm, it's something for mommies." I quickly say, hoping the answer would suffice, but to my wonderful luck, he continues with the questions.

"Why is it only for mommies? I want one!" Oh jeez. "Mumma I want a tampons!"

Just three minutes after Grayson and I finish positioning the cake and touching up random details, the doorbell rings.

I rush to open the door and my smile only grows as I launch myself into his arms.

"Thank you so much for coming, Nate!" I pull away and he smiles, a tiny blush on his cheeks.

"I hope it's okay that I brought my parents and siblings." He chuckles. I nod and begin to greet them all as they walk in.

"Of course!"

By 4:30 pm, the birthday party is in full swing and Theo is happy as ever, rushing from person to person and eating way too many cupcakes for my liking.

I decide to eat a cupcake myself, and I grab the sugary treat. Just as I'm about to lick the frosting, I catch a whiff of the smell of it and cringe. Way too sweet. I scrape off the frosting and toss it in the bin, enjoying the bread part of it.

Not long after I've had three frosting-less cupcakes, I'm approached by Grayson and he's smiling brightly.

"How are you enjoying the party?" He smiles, obviously proud of himself for having helped organize and decorated most of it.

"Other than the diabetes filled frosting on the cupcakes, that made me gag by the way, everything is perfect." I smile as Grayson raises a brow.

"It's regular frosting babe, it isn't sweeter." I raise a brow.

"Eh, it tastes different today." He leans in and whispers.

"Did you get your period?" I blush and nod.

"Yes, sir, it's light and should be done by your birthday." He laughs.

"That isn't why I ask, but it's good to know." He winks. I roll my eyes, and just as I'm about to answer, Theo runs up to us.

"Mom! Presents!" he grabs my hand and tugs me towards the table filled with gifts. I give Gray a look, saying we'd continue the conversation later, and we all walk over to the presents.

"Why not the food and cake first?" I ask. If we do presents first, we'll spend a good half hour doing that and not eating. I need to eat now, before my stomach devours itself.

"Because presents mumma!" I sigh and explain that we'll do presents after eating, but his response causes my eyes widen. His face turns pink with anger as he clenches his fists.

"Mumma I want presents! Now!" He yells and everyone's eyes snap toward him. He has never had an outburst like this in front of everyone.

"Theodore!" Grayson immediately yells, going up to him and crouching down to his eye level and he whispers. "Do not yell at your mother again. You will listen to her." Theo's eyes are wide as his face and hands return to their complacent state.

"Apologize to her, please." Grayson starts to stand again as Theo turns back to me.

"I'm sorry mumma." Theo mutters softly and rushes to hug my legs.

"It's okay, bubba, just don't do it again." I look at Grayson in shock.

He handled that so much better than I thought he would. And Theo actually listened.

"We eat now?" He asks as I notice that everyone is still staring in shock.

I nod,  "Yeah, everyone grab plates!" I smile weakly as my eyes land on Nate's.

He's shocked too, this isn't like Theo. First, he screams at me in public and then he immediately obeys Grayson? He never did that with Nate.