Memories

LXXXIV

PAINT THE TOWN GREEN

'To be right there in that moment
You'd give anything to be
It's alright
Cause tonight
We're gonna paint the town green'

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Here we go. The final few chapters of canon. We can do it guys. :)

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"What are we going to do?"

"Beat the Ravens."

"That's right. And why are we going to do it?"

"Because we fucking can."

"That's right." Thalia had her hands on Kevin's shoulders and was looking him in the eye. He was stronger now more than ever, but an hour before the game, he needed confirmation that what he was doing was the right thing. "Now, we're going to go out there in half an hour, and we are going to fucking beat those assholes, because we're better than them." Kevin nodded. "And because you're going to play left handed, and I'm going to play with both hands." Kevin nodded again. Another part of the impromptu deal they'd made the night before was that Kevin would play left handed for at least half of the game. He'd been practicing with it so much that he was almost as fluent in switching between the two as Thalia was.

"Okay," Kevin said and took a deep breath. "I love you, Lia." Thalia smiled.

"I love you too, Kevin." she said. "Let's join the others."

The team left their gear in the locker room and headed to the inner ring. People had booed and cheered at Thalia and Kevin's new tattoos as they'd entered the stadium, but there were more people cheering for the team inside, and it hyped Thalia up more than she ever thought possible. A Mexican wave began, and it was too loud for Thalia to process.

"Jesus Christ," Nicky said, and it sounded quiet, even though the Foxes were tightly packed together. "I don't think I can-Erik!" Nicky ran for the stands and Thalia turned to see him meet up with his boyfriend. She smiled as they hugged, and Kevin took her hand with a quick squeeze.

That's when the rest of the guests showed up, and the team were dismissed to see their friends and family. Renee walked over to where Thalia and Kevin were standing and gestured for Thalia to follow her. She could see where this was going, but Thalia gave Kevin's hand a last squeeze and followed Renee to the stands. 

Stephanie Walker hadn't changed much in the many months since Thalia had seen her. The image of the woman had been imprinted in Thalia's mind since the moment she saw her, and Stephanie smiled brightly when she saw her.

"Thalia, it's nice to see you again," Stephanie said, holding out a hand. Thalia didn't take it, instead opting for a tight lipped smile.

"Ms Walker," she said. "Nice to see you as well. I'll leave you and Renee to catch up, then." Thalia nodded at Renee and headed over to where Dan and Allison were catching up with Dan's stage sisters.

"Oh, Thalia, meet my sisters," Dan said as she saw Thalia's approach. The girls smiled brightly in their white dresses. Three of them spelled 'FOX' and the fourth had a bright orange fox paw. Thalia smiled politely and listened as Dan rattled off their names. She'd be able to recall them in a conversation, but wasn't really listening to what they were all saying. 

"Hey Thalia," a man's voice said from behind her, and she turned slowly to see Phil Higgins standing there in the stands with his hands in the pockets of his jeans jacket. Thalia smiled.