Feelings

Chapter 7: Personal {Thalia's POV}

       Thalia walked at a fast pace to her destination. If Reyna couldn't keep up, then that was her problem, not her own. Though secretly she wanted Reyna to keep up, her emotions on the surface couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed that she was right at her heels. "Hello? Did you hear me?" Reyna asked as she fell into step beside Thalia. "Oh I heard you." She mumbled. "I'm going to show you something." She said louder. "Don't ask what, you'll see when we get there." She said quickly before Reyna could say anything. Reyna looked like she wanted to say something, but she didn't, and walked in silence. Thalia looked over at her discreetly every once and a while, but very quickly. Inside, she longed to just let down all of her walls with Reyna, and just be the person she really was inside. But she had a reputation to uphold, and she couldn't let her...feelings...get in the way of that. She was seen as this tough girl who no one would dare even talk to, for fear of their head getting bitten off. If she turned soft for Reyna...she would never hear the end of it. Unfortunately, Reyna had already struck her heart and feelings in a way that she had never felt before in her life. She didn't like it. But at the same time, she loved it. She hadn't had this big of a change in her life since she ran away. Things had been the same for quite a few years now, and it was exciting for her to finally have a change. But it was also really scary. 

       They came upon a hill, and began their climb to the top. "Are we almost there? We've been walking for at least twenty minutes." Reyna said. Thalia looked over at her. "Top of the hill." She said simply, and continued to walk. Once they had made their way to the top of the hill, they came upon a campsite. There was a tent that held a sleeping bag and pillows, and had lights strung along the 'ceiling.' Outside of the tent, there was a fire pit and fire wood piled next to it. And a little bit away from the rest of the campsite, hung a hammock in between two pine trees. "You want to know everything about me? I guess we'll start here. This is where I live."

       Reyna slowly walked into the campsite, looking around at everything. "This...this is crazy." She said with a smile and a slight laugh. "You put all of this together??" She asked incredulously. Thalia nodded slowly. "It's not a lot. But at least it's something." She sighed. Reyna laughed. "Are you kidding?? I would absolutely love to live here!" She smiled. Now it was Thalia's turn to laugh. "You wouldn't survive a day out here. Bugs, mosquitoes, working two jobs to pay for food, fire wood, batteries for flashlights, clean water, school supplies, clothing, and more. I can't afford a mattress, so I sleep on the hard ground every night. I have no shower, I shower in the girl's locker room at school every day. I cut my own hair. I cook my own food. And I have to fight for my ability to stay here with police officers that try to put me in the foster system. Sure, you would love to live here. On a short camping trip." She looked over at Reyna. She was dumbfounded. At least she looked it. "You...you do all of that?" She asked softly. Thalia nodded. "And more." Reyna shook her head. "Why don't you just go into the foster system?? It would be so much easier for you..." she said softly. "I don't like getting attached to people." Thalia mumbled. "I always get disappointed." She sat on the hill. It overlooked the valley, and by this point, the sun was setting. Reyna sat next to her. "Disappointed?" Thalia nodded. "Mom going insane, friends being disgusted by me being homeless, people trying to take me away from nature, et cetera. It's complicated..." She sighed. Reyna looked over at her. "If it's any consolation, my mom abandoned me and my sister before I can even remember. My dad claimed he saw ghosts when we were young, and as children, it scared us. Especially because...well never mind that. But it got to the point where he was throwing things at the said ghosts and the objects ended up hitting us instead. The police found out from the neighbors and we were sent to an all girls school. After the girls school, we were split up in the foster system. I haven't seen her in a few years, but we keep in contact. It's hard not seeing her, but I guess it's alright. That's why I'm new to the school this year. I moved foster homes." She explained. Thalia nodded slowly. "I guess we kind of have similar pasts. Insane parents, moving from place to place. Losing a strong connection to a sibling..." she cleared her throat. She had neglected to mention that before. "But anyways. I guess you're not so bad." She looked over at her. Reyna got a look in her eye that Thalia couldn't decipher. "Yeah...same to you."