Memories

XLII

THE LESS I KNOW THE BETTER

'Oh my love, can't you see yourself by my side
No surprise when you're on his shoulder like every night
Oh my love, can't you see that you're on my mind
Don't suppose we could convince your lover to change his mind
So goodbye'

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It hadn't even been a question for Thalia, but Neil had asked if she wanted to go, anyway. She'd spoken to Kevin, and he didn't want her to go. He was convinced she wouldn't survive another stay at Evermore, considering Thalia had left before, and Riko had let all his anger out on Kevin and Jean.

"Kevin, if there's a chance I can protect Andrew from whatever might happen to him at Easthaven, I have to go." she said, though she was pretty drunk and was pointing to Kevin with a bottle of half empty vodka in her hand.

"Just stick to the original plans for the holiday, Thalia - we're going to Matt's house." Kevin said. Thalia frowned and shook her head, but in the end, Kevin was, surprisingly, the lesser drunk of the two, and had made the decision.

"Neil, I'm going." she said the next morning. Thalia had made the excuse that she needed to ask Matt for some aspirins, and had snuck into the dorm out of sight from Kevin. "I'll go to the gate with the others, and then leave at the last second. The flights are at the same time, so it shouldn't be too hard. As long as I leave it late enough, Kevin should be fine. He won't suspect a thing."

Neil had been skeptical of her plan, but had agreed, nonetheless.

Once at the airport, Thalia and Neil split ways, and Thalia had a sinking feeling in her stomach, like the plan wasn't going to work at all. But it did.

"I'm glad you changed your mind," Kevin said, holding Thalia's hand while she forced it to stop shaking. She smiled up at Kevin, and he looked down at her with the ghost of one. It was clear he hadn't gotten any sleep last night, and Thalia suddenly felt guilty. He'd likely hate her for what she was going to do, but Thalia felt like she had no choice. She had to help Andrew, and if it was the cost of her own happiness, Thalia was willing to give that up.

They were waiting at the gate and Thalia told the others she was going to the bathroom. She picked up her duffel bag, which carried everything she was taking with her, and kissed Kevin on the cheek. "Why are you taking that?" he asked, grabbing her arm with a frown on his face.

"Girl stuff, Kevin," Thalia replied in French. A small blush appeared on his cheeks and Thaila smiled. "I'll be back, don't worry." she said then looked around at the group. Matt, Aaron, Kevin and Nicky had no idea that she was leaving for two weeks, and had no intention of returning unharmed.

Thalia turned and started walking, then jogging, then a full out sprint when Kevin called her name. But Thalia was fast, and she was determined. She made it across the airport to her gate before Kevin caught up to her and gave her ticket to the lady, running down the connector and hiding behind one of the corners as she listened to Kevin's screams for her to come back.

"Thalia!" he said. It was clear he was about to cry. "Don't do this!" She shut her eyes and stood. Thalia took a shaky breath in and walked onto the plane. She quickly saw Neil and sat down next to him, her eyes on the verge of giving way to tears.

"It's okay," he said. "You did the right thing."

"You didn't hear him crying for me not to," she whispered. Neither of them said anything else.

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"You shouldn't have come," Jean said when they approached him. Thalia pushed past him and kept walking, refusing to look back.

The ride was silent between the three. Neil sat in the passenger seat and Thalia watched the world go by on the streets, wondering how normal these people's lives must be. They didn't have to worry about being caught and killed by a mobster father, or being tortured by a person almost the same age as you. They didn't have to worry about keeping secrets, or clinging to barely there memories.

"This isn't a team," Neil said once they were out of the car and looking around the carpark. "It's a cult."

"Take a look at the sky," Jean said, looking between the two. "You won't see it again until you leave."

"I've seen it," Neil said, but Thalia looked up for a few seconds, took a deep breath and followed Neil into the building, knowing she wouldn't emerge from it again the same as she was now.

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"Get up," a voice said. Neil blinked and opened his eyes. He looked up and saw Jean's face. The other boy was looking unhappy and tired. Neil didn't remember falling asleep, but he tried to push himself up and look around. Everything hurt. He couldn't sit, but he skirted his eyes around the room. He was in an airport. Upstate Regional Airport, to be exact. So why was Jean Moreau with him?

"Where's my sister?" he asked. His voice didn't sound like his, but Neil remembered all the screaming he'd done the past two - three? - weeks and figured that was the cause of his hoarse voice.

"You don't remember?" Was all Jean said. He shook his head and helped Neil up from his chair. That's when it hit him. Why Thalia wasn't there. He collapsed back into his chair and Jean huffed. "I need you to help me help you, idiot." He reached for Neil again, but Neil couldn't hear anything he was saying.

Thalia had made a deal. A deal with Riko. Neil had said that was the equivalent of making a deal with the devil. But she'd done it anyway. And now Neil was back in South Carolina, but instead of being with his sister, he was with Jean. They were separated again. This time, for good.