i have spent my life resisting the desire to end it

It was the first day of school, and Thalia felt indifferent. She didn't care about how this was her 'first last day' of high school. She didn't care about how she knew nobody in Springwood, and she'd go into a foreign place with people she'd never met. She didn't feel nervous, she'd never been nervous about school since around the seventh grade. To her, it was just another shitty place with shitty people she had to deal with.

The only good thing about it was she was finally out of the confined and creepy house she lived in.

Slipping her shoes on, she figured she might as well begin to head since she had nothing better to do. It didn't take long for her to slide on her jean jacket before grabbing her backpack, the same backpack she'd used for the last two years of school.

It had quite a bit of wear and tear, but Thalia insisted on just keeping that one despite Lori's protests. She didn't think there was any need for a new one, especially since there were no big holes or damage to it. It worked perfectly fine, and she wasn't one to care so much about her school life that she needed to do back-to-school shopping for anything besides the basics she didn't have.

With her earbuds already in her ears, she descended the steps. Thankfully, her grandfather slept in a lot which meant she'd avoid any interaction with him. This made her grateful - for once - as she didn't have to deal with any awkward conversations.

To her surprise, both Lori and Will were in the living room. Lori sat with a cup of coffee in hand while Will scrolled mindlessly on his phone. They weren't speaking to each other, but it was odd as they were in the same room as each other - not arguing - or acting as if the other didn't exist.

"Good, you're awake. Thought I was going to have to come wake you," Will locked his phone as he saw his daughter.

Thalia didn't say anything. She didn't really care to respond. She waited for their lecture on 'no skipping school' or whatever it was that was in their minds today, wanting nothing more than for it to be done and over with so she could leave.

Despite it being Thalia's natural state to want to argue and comment back, she didn't feel like it today. She hadn't slept the best the night before if she were to be honest with anyone (which being realistic, she wouldn't ever admit it to someone) yet couldn't pinpoint why. She didn't remember any dreams, nor could she think of waking up to a nightmare.

Sleep just hadn't come to her. She even took some melatonin and drank hot tea before bed, despite not liking the taste. She did whatever she knew would fix the sleepless night, yet she just continued to stare at the white bland ceiling above her bed.

"I know you've got to get going to your first day of school - big day," Will started as he stood from the sofa. Lori followed after her husband, setting the half-empty mug on the coffee table. "But we've actually got something to show you before you go."

"I really don't have time-"

"Two minutes max," Will cut Thalia off. He continued to smile, and it was then that Thalia noticed the smallest shadow of one on Lori's face as well. It was odd to see them like this - getting along - smiling, and talking to Thalia with such... joy.

Rolling her eyes, she obliged. "Yeah. Whatever. Not like I have much of a choice anyway."

Lori's faint smile fell, not surprised by Thalia's attitude. She didn't say anything and instead drew in a sharp breath, holding her tongue to not escalate a fight that hadn't even been started.

"Great!" Will exclaimed anyway. He knew Thalia's attitude wouldn't change - as a matter of fact, he expected it. Thalia hadn't been a joyous excited girl since she was very young, so this was going to be the best they got. Especially with it being so soon since their recent fight, it was normal for her to be closed off and distant.

Will headed toward the front door. Thalia watched in confusion as Lori followed after, still having not spoken a word. It was rare for Lori to be so silent, but Thalia wasn't complaining because when Lori spoke, nine times out of ten it was usually to complain about something or get onto her for something.

Thalia looked around for a moment, sighing. She then followed her parents out of the house, ignoring the already blaring sun hitting her eyes. It didn't take long for her to get down the porch steps and down the sidewalk, to the driveway where their car was parked.

Will suddenly stopped, causing Lori and Thalia to follow suit. Thalia still didn't understand what was going on, in fact, she was beginning to grow irritated as she'd spent more than enough time with her parents.

The day had already been dragging along, and it hadn't even started.

"Ta-da!" Will quickly exclaimed, catching Thalia off guard. He waved his hands around dramatically, earning a look of judgment from his daughter.

Lori awkwardly glanced between Will and Thalia, waiting to see her reaction.

Nothing. Thalia stared with a bored expression at what looked to be the family car. Nothing was new, nothing was different. She was confused but didn't let it show as she just glanced between Will and Lori.

Lori sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I knew this was a bad idea, Will."

Will dropped his arms to his sides with a sigh. "Do you not like it?" He asked Thalia, whose brows pushed together in confusion.

"Like the car? The car I had to sit in the entire drive to Springwood? The car we've had for years?" She asked, pointing to the sleek black vehicle sitting in the driveway.

Lori and Will glanced at each other before the man looked back at Thalia. He glanced back and forth a few times before stepping in Thalia's direction. This caused the girl to take a step back, allowing Will to stand where Thalia had stood only seconds prior.

"Oh my god," Will facepalmed. "Lori she can't even see it."

Lori's arms dropped to her sides as she rolled her eyes. "Of course she can't. Why didn't you position it better?"

"I didn't intentionally position it like that, Lori." Will defended, crossing his arms this time.

Thalia rolled her eyes. Although it was surprising they weren't already arguing by the time she got downstairs for school, it wasn't shocking to see it was beginning now. Lori would continue to blame Will for whatever it is she can, and he would do the same to her. It would be a big loop that would go back and forth until they'd make up, and then another fight would occur.

It was never-ending, and Thalia's own personal hell.

The bickering escalated slightly, and Thalia couldn't handle it. She sighed as she kicked a pebble on the ground before looking back up. "Can you guys just show me what's so important to show me this morning? So I can like... leave?" She asked, looking between the two.

Her parents glanced at each other. Lori had tears in her eyes from whatever it was Will had said to her last, something Thalia didn't bother to listen to. It was the same every time. The same hurtful words, dirty looks, and accusations. The same things every time, just in a different order.

Will finally moved, letting Lori sit in silence. It was obvious the older woman was more than over what had been happening, wanting nothing more than to go on about her day as if this hadn't happened. But this was important to Will, he'd made it clear the night before when they talked about it.

Thalia stood in silence as Will walked behind the car. He eventually moved around the back into view again, sitting on top of what looked to be a moped. It was a deep navy blue color, one that Thalia found herself cringing at.

"What is that?" She couldn't help but ask.

"It's yours!" Will exclaimed happily, honking the tiny horn on it.

Thalia stayed with the same bored expression. Her arms didn't move from her chest, and she didn't have the excited and joyous reaction her parents had (for some reason) expected from her. Instead, she judged it. The ugly color, the size, all of it. She didn't like it, and that much was obvious.

"You don't like it?" Will asked, although he knew the answer.

"What do you think, Will? She obviously doesn't. She doesn't like anything or anyone." Lori snapped, shaking her head.

Thalia's eyes snapped to her mother. She didn't look sorry for what she said - as a matter of fact, she looked at Thalia with disappointment.

"It's sad, really. Some kids would love their parents to gift them something like this and we can't even get as much as a thank you." She added.

Thalia's eyes narrowed. She'd been doing really good at biting her tongue for the morning, although Lori somehow knew any and every way to press her buttons. She knew how to make Thalia blow - almost like she was a ticking time bomb. Even on her good days when she didn't necessarily feel like arguing, Lori managed to change her mind.

"You know what, Lori?" Thalia asked. "You're right. I hate it. The color is absolutely the ugliest shade of blue you could've managed to find. Not to mention it's one of the colors I hate the most. It looks cheaply made and I would be better off riding the pissy town bus everywhere I go for the rest of my life instead of this thing."

Lori's jaw fell. She should've expected something like this from Thalia - it's been like this for way too long. Just as she felt she had the upper hand on her daughter and could give her what seemed to be a taste of her own medicine, Thalia bounced right back as if her ego hadn't been wounded.

Her mother glanced between her and Will, waiting for Will to say something. Yet another thing that was constant - whenever Lori would fight, she'd look at Will for help. She wouldn't ever get anything, either, as the man would be torn between the two women he cared for the most.

He knew both were always in the wrong, just like he was. It was just the worst family dynamic, and he couldn't seem to fix it.

Lori scoffed. She didn't say anything else as she turned and stomped into the house, making a point by slamming the front door as hard as she could. It echoed, causing a few birds in the giant tree in the front yard to fly away frantically.

Thalia's eyes shifted from the front door back to in front of her. Will looked at her with sad eyes, causing her to immediately look away. They bounced everywhere - the front door, the ugly blue moped, the street in front of her house. Anywhere that wasn't her father's sad, dull eyes.

Will sighed. He knew he wasn't going to be able to get anything out of Thalia. Not only did she need to go to school before she was late, but he also needed to get to work. Lori would be staying at home to help with her father, doing her work from home as she usually did on Thursdays and Fridays.

He stood from the seat, putting the kickstand down before letting go of the moped completely. He grabbed the keys from his pocket and held them out toward Thalia, "Here. Just take it."

Thalia didn't move from her spot. He continued to hold the keys out to her, not budging. Usually, he'd have given up by now. But he didn't, and so Thalia continued to stand her ground as well.

"I just wanted to do something for you, you've been through a lot." Will then spoke.

Thalia's eyes shifted from her feet to her father. Deep down, she wanted to believe that he was genuine. But at the same time, her forgiveness couldn't be bought by material items - and her parents knew this about her. If there was anything Thalia allowed them to learn about her, it was that. This showed that either they didn't pay attention, or they didn't care.

"You have never cared about my feelings." Thalia managed out. She wasn't going to get vulnerable with Will. She wasn't going to allow him to know how she truly felt - no matter how hard it was.

She'd spent all this time building up walls after fight after fight, comment after comment. She wasn't going to let this one act of 'kindness' break them down and let her get right back to the way things were before.

"Seriously. Take it. You don't have to love it, don't even have to like it. But I've already bought the damn thing so you might as well make use of it." Will motioned the keys out to her again, jiggling them lightly.

Thalia scoffed, taking the keys anyway. The last thing she wanted to do was drive this ugly moped to school, simply because she didn't like it. But she might as well at this point, because as much as it pained her to admit - Will was right. He spent the money and God knows Lori won't use the thing.

She didn't say anything as she passed by the man. He smiled the smallest smug smile he could manage as he'd finally won something - even if it wasn't by much. Thalia took the keys and the moped to school, which was all he wanted at that exact moment.

"By the way, Will, your observation skills are shit."

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Hard to believe it's been a month since I updated??? It definitely wasn't intentional, I've just been super busy preventing me from updating my other stories :( Anyways, hope you enjoyed!

Btw, hope you don't hate Thalia too much, poor girl's just been through a lot </3