Crescent Rose Moon

A Typhoon Named Thalia

     I don’t know why I was so surprised, Thalia had always done things at her own pace. I sighed and went to let her in, yet knowing she was here was already making me feel better.

     Opening the door, she threw herself into my arms so suddenly I stumbled back a step before steadying us. For a girl who only stood at 5’5, she had no problem bowling over my 5’9 frame, and it had been that way since the beginning.

     We had met back at boarding school, about a year before my parents died. I was a sullen, introverted girl who hated that I had been sent away to school, but when Thalia transferred in unexpectedly, she had taken one look at me and declared cheerily we were going to be best friends, her black ponytail bobbing with enthusiasm. Since I preferred books to reality, I had bluntly replied, “Hell, no,” and walked away, never seeing the stubborn expression glittering in her green eyes as she stared at my back. However, over time, her persistence paid off, somehow getting past my barriers and now I couldn’t imagine life without her.

     If it wasn’t for her, I would have committed suicide after the car accident, but she had a stubborn streak in her that wouldn’t quit. She stuck by my side the entire time, and reminded me in more ways than one that I had much to live for, and that my parents would be disappointed if I did something that stupid.

     Thalia’s arms squeezed me tightly, bringing me back into the present and I unconsciously hugged her back, noticing how she always smelled like honeysuckle and mint.

     “Did you miss me, darling?” She grinned up at me impudently, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

     “Of course I did, love.” I stared down into her delicate features, marveling for the millionth time how such a tiny shell could mask such a steel backbone. I used to worry about hurting her, since her size always made me feel like a clumsy mammoth, but over time, she had proven to me that my fears were ridiculous.

     Leaning down, I kissed her softly before speaking. “Welcome back. How was your trip?” Her eyes shown with happiness at my question and she giggled.

      “I’ll tell you all about it when we go inside. Come on!” Leaving my arms, she walked inside and headed to the breakfast nook. She knew me too well.

      While we had been friends for over a decade, we had also gone through the experimental phase together. Meaning, we used to be lovers until one day we realized that while we loved each other deeply, we weren’t meant to be more than friends or the occasional sex buddy. Strange thing was, I wasn’t a lesbian and neither was she, we just were attracted to each other and the rest of the time, we were technically straight. Neither of us had ever looked romantically at another woman, it was just between us.

      However, it never interfered with our relationship, and if we dated someone, then we stayed faithful. Of course, my relationships never lasted long. Too much emotional baggage. But Thalia only treated men as dalliances, or basically sexual flings. No one ever got hurt because she made what she wanted clear in the beginning and there were tons of men who loved that about her. Some of her men wanted more, but she always walked away from that. I never understood why, but I didn’t judge her for it.

      The only long relationship we had was between us, but even that wasn’t serious. However, we both knew we would be together somehow until the day we died. I cherished that, because it meant I would never truly be alone, no matter how I felt sometimes.

      Shaking my head in amusement, I followed her into the kitchen and climbed back into my chair. She had already made herself a cup of coffee in the mug I bought for her and kept in the kitchen, and was patiently waiting for me. I sipped my coffee and looked at her.

     “I thought you were supposed to be gone another month. Did something happen?” My dry, inquiring tone and quirked eyebrow didn’t make her laugh as I hoped, but instead she looked pensive and sad. That was unusual and worried me. “What’s wrong?”

      “I came back early because I felt you needed me,” her voice was blunt and, I dare say, almost pissed.

      “Huh?” My reply was hardly articulate but I couldn’t help it. I was really confused.

      “My scar has been hurting for the past two days. Do you really want to tell me that nothing is wrong?” Her green eyes narrowed on me, and I instinctively gulped.

      When we were younger we had seen the movie Practical Magic, and as I am sure many people did, we followed the example of the sisters. We sliced our palms and said, “My blood, your blood, our blood.” I didn’t mind another scar on me, especially for something I felt was really important. Funny thing was it worked. When we needed each other, our palms tingled. It was great to have that bond, but sometimes it was a pain in the ass, like anything important worth having.

      “Dammit, you got me,” I sighed and took another sip of coffee.

      She reached out and traced the small scar in my left eyebrow softly, lovingly, before speaking. “I know I did. Now spill or I can’t give you the good news I have to tell you.”

      “Good news?”

     “Nope, not until you are honest with me. Your nightmares have come back, haven’t they?” She deadpanned me with that question, and my mouth gaped open with shock. I was trying to protect her, with her cheery smile and comedic demeanor, but she had already known.

     I hated it, but the time for lies had passed. Now I could only be honest, and pray that my darkness didn’t taint her light.

      “Yes, they have.” My quiet words made her grim, so I reached out and took her hand to kiss her palm. “I’m sorry for not telling you.”

      “Ha! I figured you would still be trying to protect me, even after all this time,” she jerked her hand away and stood up, royally pissed enough to start to pace. “Dammit, Nia, I am not a child anymore and you can’t keep doing this! I don’t know where you got the idea that I am so good and pure, and that you will somehow poison me with your darker, more serious nature, but that won’t happen! You have to be honest with me, or how can we be on equal footing? Our friendship should mean more to you than that!” She yelled at me while periodically flinging her finger in my direction, making me stare at her in amazement.

     I had only seen her temper a few times over the years. It takes a lot to get her angry, but when it happens, it’s like a tornado or a typhoon, destroying everything in its path until the weather changes. Even my temper, famous at times, could be nothing compared to hers when she became worked up like this, which only made me respect her and listen to her more.

      “You are not alone, and you haven’t been alone for years! I made sure of that, because you are important to me. Shit, Nia, I love you but sometimes I wanna just smack the hell out of you!” She huffed at me, out of breath, before bursting into tears. Pangs of regret and guilt washed through me as I got up and hugged her tightly.

       “I’m sorry, Thalia. Please don’t cry…,” I murmured to her, helpless and unsure what to do.

     “Shut up! I’ll cry if I wanna cry, dammit!” She spat her words at me, but I wasn’t offended. The fact that she was upset was just more proof she loved me.

      “Okay, I understand. I’m still sorry though. I knew I should have told you, I was just scared to.” My words caught her attention and she calmed before throwing her arms around me and latching onto me fiercely.

     “Fine, but it better not happen again,” her flashing gaze and tone warned me of the consequences should I not agree and keep my word.

     “Okay, it won’t,” I sighed.

     “Promise?”

      “I promise.”

     “Not good enough. Pinky swear, right now.” She looked at me, and I knew she wasn’t going to back down. I gave in with a reluctant grin and did as she asked. “Now, let’s sit down and talk about this. And if you aren’t completely honest with me, I’m going to whoop your ass, got it?”

      I nodded an agreement, amused at her yet worried what this conversation would end up like.