Memories

XVI

ART HOE

'Five four, black hair
Never had her dad there
Kissed a lot of boys but never seems to have care
She just wants vodka and cigarettes
Has her dealer on speed dial when she gets stressed'

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When the Foxes arrived at Blackwell, everyone got off, and Thalia was near the front of the bus when she heard Wymack at the back. "You have ten seconds to inhale as much of this as you can. I'm timing you. Go." Thalia frowned. She knew of Kevin's past and that his time at Edgar Allan must have been traumatising. She knew Riko had been the one to break his hand - the topic of conversation had come up not long after she'd arrived at the school - but didn't realise how bad it was.

Thalia hadn't known that Kevin's alcohol problem was that bad, but when she saw him drink more than half the bottle, she knew he needed help and was prepared to give it to him. But that was for later.

Wymack sent Neil and Thalia off the bus, and the two made their way over to the stadium. Thalia hovered by the entrance, however, and when Andrew and Wymack stumbled out of the bus with Kevin between them, getting used to the alcohol in his system, Thalia walked over to them. Wymack stared at her and told her to go inside, but Thalia said nothing as she grabbed the bottle out of the man's hand.

"Give that back, Thalia." Coach warned. Thalia took the lid off and walked away. "Thalia, I swear, if you don't give me the fucking bottle I will bench you." She quickly drank the rest of the bottle and threw it into the bin as she walked into the stadium. Either Andrew or Kevin must have said something to their grumpy coach, because he didn't call after Thalia anymore. 

Once they were all there, the team was escorted into changing rooms. Thalia followed the other girls, and took her outfit out of the bag it had been in for the drive. Thalia realised that she was the only girl on the team that had chosen not to wear a dress. Her outfit was simple, covering all the marks on her body that she was worried about. The orange, high waisted pants held up with a thin, black belt, along with a cream singlet, black heels and a pair of long, dangly earrings made Thalia think that she really was beautiful. Just like she'd been told for months of living with the Spears.

"Damn, Thalia," Dan commented. The younger girl turned around wit her eyes wide. Dan was wearing a simple cream slip wrap dress with spaghetti straps and had a pair of heels hanging off her fingers, obviously about to put them on. "You look hot, girl." Thalia blushed slightly at the compliment. She'd been getting genuine compliments from the Foxes, and was beginning to like the way they made her feel.

Allison turned from where she was doing her eyeliner and nodded appreciatively. That meant a lot to Thalia, as Allison was a style icon, she'd quickly come to realise. She was wearing a white halter neck top with a wrap skirt that got longer at the back until it reached Allison's md calves. Renee gave Thalia a polite smile and Thalia returned it with a smile and nod at her own outfit. Renee had on a more conservative, black dress with forearm length sleeves and full back. They all looked beautiful, and Thalia was glad to be part of the female section of the Foxes.

The girls emerged from the changing room together, and put their things in the closet labelled PALMETTO FOXES. Thalia gave Kevin a few unsure glances, though Andrew nodded, showing he would handle it and would accept Thalia's help if she offered it. She nodded in return and the team moved on. 

Coach took Neil by the arm before they went in and said something that Thalia couldn't hear. She wished she had, but knew enough about her teammate that it was probably about his attitude. When Neil caught up to the rest of the team, he put his jacket around Thalia's shoulders, to which she tensed and looked behind her.

"You looked cold." Neil mumbled and fell into step with Thalia. She frowned. She wasn't cold, at all. They were inside. But Thalia didn't question Neil and kept walking, clutching the sides of the jacket that had been put around her. "When you sit down, keep it on." Neil said. Thalia turned to him, stopping in her tracks.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" she said. Neil didn't answer. Wymack ushered them to keep going, but Thalia didn't listen. "We're inside, Neil. I'm not cold. I'm fine." she went to take to jacket off her shoulders and hand it back to Neil, but he leaned in and whispered two words that made Thalia stiffen and shiver at the same time.

"Your tattoo." Neil murmured. Thalia stepped away from him. She didn't know when she'd gotten it, but if the memory she was sure was fake was real, then it must have been when she was a child. When Neil claimed to have known her.

Thalia waited a few seconds to take in the fact that Neil knew about her tattoo, and then looked at the team nurse. Abby looked slightly confused when Thalia did this, but looked prepared to listen to what she had to say. "Can I have the keys to the storage cupboard? I need to get a jacket."

"But you have Neil's," she stated the obvious. Thalia just stared at her until Abby understood and dug out the key that had been given to her. Thalia nodded and dragged Neil along behind her by his tie.

Once they were there, she let go of Neil and shrugged his jacket off, not caring if it hit the floor. She opened the cupboard and found her bag, took out the black wool cardigan she'd brought with her, and put it over her shoulders.

Once Thalia had locked the door again and saw that Neil had his jacket back on, Thalia slammed him against the wall and put a hand threateningly around his throat. She didn't squeeze hard enough to stop the boy from breathing, but there was enough pressure to make Neil uncomfortable.

"How the fuck do you know about my tattoo? And why did you tell me to cover it up?" Thalia spat furiously. Neil struggled for a few seconds before realising it was worthless and stared her dead in the eye. Neil's brown eyes met Thalia's blue ones, and she finally understood. Thalia let Neil go and walked away from him. "You have one too, don't you." she said. Neil swallowed and nodded slowly.

"Yes." He said, though he'd already confirmed Thalia's thoughts. She thought back on that memory of the cruel lady and the big man. Of the hand that had clutched hers tightly as she tried not to cry or make a noise, and how she'd done the same when it was her turn. That had been Neil. He hadn't just known her. They had been close. Really close.

"What is it? What does it mean?" Thalia asked him. "Is it some sort of gang sign? Oh god, it's a gag sign, isn't it?" she was panicking, something Pig had taught her to get around, but now wasn't a time she could remember his five fast steps to calming down.

"Hey, hey, Thalia." Neil said, moving towards her with his hands out. She instinctively moved back, and Neil seemed to get the hint because he stopped where he was. "It's okay. It's not a gang sign. Trust me." Thalia didn't know why she would. He'd given her half truths since she'd arrived at the Foxhole Court, but then again, so had Thalia.

"You know more about me than you're letting on, don't you?" Thalia asked. "Please, help me. I have hardly any memories of what my life used to be. I don't even remember being friends with you. I do remember the day I got this tattoo, though. And I remember clutching a hand. That must have been yours, but -"

"Stop rambling, Nathalia." Neil snapped and Thalia blinked a few times, unsure if she'd heard him correctly. She frowned then.

"What?" she asked. Neil sighed through his nose and ran a hand through his hair.

"They're going to start wondering where we are," Neil mumbled and walked off. Thalia didn't stop him, but frowned deeper and shook her head. She eventually followed him, realising Neil was right. There was something off, though. She couldn't quite figure it out, and wished she had complete and coherent memories.

"There you are, we thought you were dead!" Nicky said as Thalia returned. She didn't say anything and the team walked into the court. Dan stopped where she was in the front of the group. Thalia couldn't see why from her spot at the back, but figured it wasn't good by the way she cursed to herself before continuing.