Declassified

Declassified Part 20 Love is Stupid

      Dan let himself into Alex and Andy's house, still annoyed about Thalia leading Alex on. I'll just tell him. He thought, kicking a pair of Thalia's shoes as he walked by. Maybe when he realizes she's not serious about him things can go back to normal. Hopefully he's not too upset about it.

      He put back a video game he'd borrowed, hearing Andy's voice coming from the kitchen. At least Thalia went home. Dan thought, assuming Andy must be talking to Alex. But as he approached the kitchen he could tell his brother wasn't talking to Alex.
      "I'm really sorry for knocking you over." Andy's voice was serious.

      "It was an accident." Dan heard Thalia saying. "I'm sorry I hugged you. I was totally out of it, and you just looked so sad."
      Dan saw Andy shrug as he entered the kitchen.

      "Hey, Dan. Thank you for cleaning up last night." Thalia smiled from the kitchen table, her face still pale.
      "Are you okay, Andy?" Dan ignored the redhead, looking only at his brother. When Andy nodded Dan frowned. "Where's Alex?"

      "He's in the basement." Thalia told him, shaking her head. "No surprise there."
      "We're going to play ball later if you want in." Dan informed his brother.
      "What kind of ball?" Thalia asked, looking between Dan and Andy.
      "Football." Dan scowled at her. "What else?"

      "Oh." Thalia said, her cheeks turning pink. "I didn't know."
      Dan could see that Andy thought it was cute that Thalia had no idea he used to play pro football, but he wasn't amused. She'd probably use Andy too if she found out he played. He thought, heading for the basement.

      "Hey, you're up early." Alex observed setting down a weight.
      "We need to talk." Dan sat on the bench, looking at his younger brother. "About Thalia."

      "Oh, she's okay. The glass nicked her kidney but they said it should heal well. It's not slowing her down at all." Alex laughed. "She was up early this morning cleaning up, she and Andy went to the dog park, and she already ordered a rug."

      "I don't care about that." Dan said, not liking how callous he sounded. "We need to talk about your relationship." He could see Alex's guard going up as soon as he said it. "She's not serious about you. You need to end things."

      "Stop." Alex's voice was quiet. "You have to stop this. I know you wish things could be like they used to be, but I'm with Thalia now. I'm happy with Thalia."
      "I know you're happy with her." Dan insisted. "That's the problem. She's using you."

      "What is she using me for?" Alex asked, raising one eyebrow.
      "I don't know." Dan sighed. "I just know she's not serious about you."
      Alex looked annoyed. "We haven't even been together for that long. How serious is she supposed to be?"

      "She never plans on being serious about you." Dan pointed out. "She doesn't want you to meet her parents."
      Alex looked at his brother earnestly. "It's not what you think, Dan. Just stop."

      "No, you stop, Alex." Dan shook his head. "You're letting yourself be blinded by her, but she's not what you think." He frowned. "I don't want you to get hurt."
      "I'm not going to get hurt." Alex insisted. "But you're being mean to her, and she doesn't deserve it, Dan. She hasn't done anything wrong."

      "She and Andy are upstairs, all friendly with each other." Dan pointed out. "Do you know how much he's going to hate it when she dumps you?" He asked, trying to make his brother see reason. "He'll never try to make friends with a girl again."

      "I love that she's friends with Andy." Alex protested, looking at him like he was crazy. "Why can't you just be happy that she's taking the time to get to know him? I think it's great that she likes him--and she likes you too, you asshole, not that she should after the way you treat her."

      "Just—don't fall for her." Dan insisted. "I don't want you to get hurt when she dumps you for another doctor."

      For a moment Dan could see that he'd touched a nerve, and he felt bad. He wanted to stop his brother from getting hurt, not be the one to hurt him. "Just be careful. She doesn't like you the way you like her."

      "You're an asshole." Alex told him. "Be nice to her. She hasn't had an easy life, and she won't say anything about it, but I got the okay to go back to work, and I know she's upset."
      Dan froze. "How did Andy take it?" He asked, trying to force down the sudden fear that gripped him. "I mean, was he really worried you were going to get hurt again?"

      Alex shrugged. "He was Andy about it, you know? He just nodded quietly, didn't really say anything."
      "Just because he didn't say anything doesn't mean he wasn't upset by it." Dan protested.
Alex looked at him seriously. "I know."

      Dan shook his head. "Andy isn't going to take this well. And how is he going to feel when Thalia dumps you and stops being his friend?"
      "Just leave her alone." Alex sounded exasperated.

      Dan shook his head. Love is stupid. He thought, annoyed. How could he choose Thalia over his own brother? "Just be careful." He repeated. "I don't want you to get hurt."
      Alex shook his head and started doing pull ups, ignoring his brother until Dan finally went upstairs.

      "Dan, Alex isn't playing football with you guys, is he?" Thalia asked as Dan was coming through the basement door.

      "What do you care?" Dan snarled, pushing his way past her as he went to the front door. For a moment he felt bad shoving her, remembering her injury, but he pushed that thought away, recalling her laughing about how Alex would never meet her parents. "I'll meet Andy at the park." He grumbled, shutting the door hard behind him as he left.

*

      Thalia looked at the door, feeling tears prick her eyes. She wasn't sure if they were from the pain in her kidney or from Dan's unpredictable moods. No matter how hard she tried, she always seemed to get on his bad side, and it scared her. It reminded her of her childhood, walking on eggshells, trying to please her various foster parents, and always failing.

      What did I do wrong now? She wondered.
      "Are you okay, Thalie?" Thalia snapped out of her thoughts, finding Alex looking at her quizzically. "Dan didn't say anything to you, did he?"

      Thalia looked at him in surprise. "No. I mean, yes. He said he'll meet Andy at the park."
Alex misread the look on her face. "I'm just going to watch them play."
      "You're going to play football?" She asked, her hand instinctively reaching for his side.

      "I'm going to watch football." Alex clarified, smiling. "My ribs feel much better, but definitely not well enough to risk getting tackled by Andy." He reached out and very gently touched her bandaged side. "Not all of us are as tough as you are."

      Thalia laughed and waved her hand dismissively. "Pfft. I've gone up against bigger than Andy. He's a pussy cat compared to the men I usually fight." Alex laughed and slipped his arms around her. "But don't mention it to Andy. We already talked about it, and I know he feels bad."

      Alex nodded. "What time are you meeting Lily and Kate?"
      "Lily's coming in a few minutes and we'll probably go straight to Kate's."
      Alex kissed her. "We'll probably come by after football." He told her. "I need to see for myself if Leo's as big as you yet." He teased.

      Thalia made a face at him, about to comment on how much the brothers liked to tease her about her size, but she stopped herself, remembering Dan's snarky attitude towards her lately. "Text me before you're coming, okay?" She asked, wanting to mentally prepare herself if Dan was coming with him.

      "I will." Alex promised, hearing the front door open. "That'll be Lily."
      Thalia nodded and slipped her hand into Alex's as they went to the living room.
      "Hey Lily." Thalia smiled at the beautiful blonde. "You look great."

      "Thanks." Lily said, her eyes automatically going to Thalia and Alex's clasped hands. "So do you. How's your side?"
      Thalia shrugged, downplaying the injury. "Not too bad. It was barely a scratch."

      Lily smiled as her boyfriend came in the room, but he stopped in the doorway, giving her a quick smile.