THALIA ENTERED the kitchen. She passed her brother Brandon who was taking their mother's food.

Thalia held her phone as she sat on the island before Tory.

The two of them still hadn't spoken to each other no matter how much they wanted to. Tory watched as Thaila had her eyes glued on her phone, she didn't know what the girl could've been looking at considering she barely had a social media presence, but alas, she didn't say anything as she grabbed the trash and walked outside to throw it away, but she was gone far longer than needed.

Thaila knitted her brows and stood, pushing her phone into her back pocket as she opened the front door and saw Tory and their landlord, the man had been standing remarkably too close for Thaila's liking.

"Maybe you wouldn't have to worry about rent."

Thaila brushed her hair behind her ear and made her way towards the two. She didn't know what she was going to say, let alone do, but she knew that she wasn't going to stand there and let the man speak to her sister that way.

"Is there a problem?" Thalia asked.

"Go inside, Thaila." Tory muttered.

Their landlord scoffed, approaching the youngest. He stretched his arm out to brush the fallen hair from Thalia's face, but before he could utter another word, Thaila grabbed his arm, bending him back, and putting her arm against his neck.

"I don't have a probation officer, I have all the reason to hurt in more ways than one." Thaila muttered.

She let him go and watched him sigh, whether in relief or something else, regardless, the man stood upright and brought his attention back over to Tory.

"Think on what I said." He said. "Maybe I'll see you tonight. But if I don't... I better see you with a check on the first."

As their landlord walked off, Thaila turned, making her way into the apartment and her bedroom. She sighed, running her fingers through her hair as she sat down on her bed.

Sad to say, but things like this weren't new to the Nichols' sisters. It was scary and dishearting, but another reason why the girls decided to take classes to learn how to defend themselves and Thaila would be damned if she let Tory go over to their landlords to pay off rent that way.

Thaila pulled open the drawer of her bedside table and grabbed a book. Inside the book was a compartment, once unlocked, she grabbed the cash from inside and began counting it.

Thaila had been saving money for years. For what? It didn't matter. She was saving to save, maybe for a new phone or to get a better car. It didn't matter. She counted the money in her hands, splitting it in half, and stashing the rest back in the book safe.

She stood back up, making her way into the living room to see Tory and Brandon sitting there. Brandon, playing with some toys, and Tory sitting on the chair, counting her cash when Thaila dropped the money onto her lap.

Tory furrowed her brows and looked up at Thaila. "Where'd you get this?"

"Does it matter?" Thaila asked. "That should help cover the rent and whatever else we need."

"Thaila-"

The doorbell rang, and all eyes locked on the door. Tory told Brandon to go to his room, fearing that it may be the landlord again.

Thaila, already standing, made her way to the door and looked through the peephole. She opened the door, and for the first time, she met eyes with John Kresse.

He knew of Thaila, but seeing her in person was different. She looked kinder than Tory like she wouldn't know how to throw a punch even after being taught.

"It's for you." Thaila muttered, leaving it open for Tory.

Thalia left the living room, checking in on her mother and Brandon before she made her way back into her room. She flopped back onto her bed, looking up at the popcorn ceiling, and finally shut her eyes.

She was tired, she was extremely tired. She didn't know what to do anymore. She was back at school with people constantly staring at her, she was working jobs she hated and was trying to help Tory with their mother. She wanted a break, she didn't know how she was going to get it, but once she got it, she knew that it would feel so fucking good.

A couple of hours later,  Tory knocked on Thalia's door, allowing herself inside, and dropped the money beside Thaila.

"What are you doing?" Thaila asked.

"Our rent's been fixed, for now."

Thaila sat upright. "How?"

Tory shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know, but it's fine. I didn't need to do anything."

"Did your sensei have something to do with it?" Thaila asked.

"Maybe." Tory muttered. "But I'm thankful and you should be too, but that's not what I'm here for. I'm really sorry... for everything." She began. "I- I never wanted Miguel to get hurt and I- I was only looking out for you and it led to something that shouldn't have happened."

Thalia stood to her feet, giving Tory a small smile. "It's not so hard to apologize now is it?" She chuckled, getting the same response from Tory. "I shouldn't have slapped you. I'm really sorry."

Tory nodded. "I might've deserved it that time, but I won't go easy on you next time."

Tory smiled, throwing a fake punch towards Thalia who laughed, catching the fly fist with ease as she and Tory flopped down on her bed.

But Tory was right. She didn't know it yet and she didn't know how it could've happened, but she was right.

She wouldn't go easy next time.

— lucy has something to say !!

kill the landlord ????

anyway young kreese my lover (not kreese the actor)

bye :))))