Thalia's POV
"Thalia, please help me take out the trash while I clear up the counter, it is late already, we have to start going" my best friend, Ruby yelled from the counter, we had just finished attending to the last customer for the day and it was already few minutes to midnight, Dad would be worried sick.
"No issues, I will be right back," I said, calmly picking up the trash bags.
"Please, hurry up, we have to leave soon, it is really late and you know the rules," I said again, voicing out my worry.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, nothing is going to happen, it is not 12 yet, we still have like thirty minutes to get home before lights out.
"I rather not take risks," I said before walking out the back door.
The cold air hit my skin immediately causing the hairs on my skin to stand, inhaling softly with a slight shiver, I walked towards the thrash can muttering encouraging words to myself.
"There is nothing out here, it is all a myth, they are all stories" I whispered, dropping the bags. Once the bags were in the trash can, I ran back in, shitting the door loudly behind me.
"Hey, what's got you so riled up?" Ruby asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Nothing" I quickly answered, stepping away from the door.
"It is definitely not nothing with the way you are breathing and looking around but I wouldn't push further, I keep telling you this, these stories are not true, the Vampires don't feed on us, they don't even come close to humans, stop giving yourself such trauma," She said with a slight chuckle shaking her head like she was talking to a three-year-old who wouldn't stop blabbing about some scary story she was told.
"Easy for you to say because your Dad doesn't continually rant on and on about how much he hates them and how they fed on my Mum and caused her death, he literally banned anything that will even bring up the topic of vampires, he believes the vampires or anyone that comes in contact with them are cursed and should be treated as such" I said remembering the last time I had talked about a vampire at home, he had hit me for the first time that night, I cried for days and days till he apologized. I am not willing to get on his bad side again, I can't let anything put me in a situation of even being their victim.
"Come on, even if it is true, It can't be that bad" Ruby shrugged making me scoff.
"Sure" I muttered as I took off my apron and hung it.
"Let's just go already, my Dad is already blowing up my phone with texts, " I said, grabbing my handbag and taking out my phone.
'I will be home in fifteen minutes, Dad' I finally texted back ignoring his warning about getting caught, he is always paranoid, and it gets annoying at times.
'You better be, it is almost 12' He texted back immediately.
"Don't worry, you won't disappoint Daddy" Ruby joked, making me roll my eyes at her.
"Can we just go already?" I snapped walking ahead of her.
"Whatever" she replied catching up with me.
~~~~~
"Are you coming to the party on Saturday?" Ruby asked excitedly as we walked.
"Saturday? Don't you have a shift at the Cafe that evening?" I asked with raised eyebrows.
"And so, I already got Lucas to cover for me," She said casually.
"You are really taking advantage of the crush that guy has on you" I replied, shaking my head.
"I am not, he offered and I gladly accepted, what's wrong with that?" She murmured.
"He didn't just offer, and it is not fair" I reprimanded.
"Oh please, come on Thalia, are you coming for the party or not?" She asked, brushing off my words.
"I will have to ask my Dad about that first"
"As always" She muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Bye Ruby" I waved ignoring her reaction as we got to my front door, luckily my house is two blocks before hers so I don't get to walk alone at any point, I think that is one of the reasons Dad let me take this job, if he wasn't sure Ruby was with me at all times, especially at night, I probably will still be cooped up in the house all day like some fragile glass.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow" She waved back before walking away.
~~~~
"Dad, I am home" I yelled as I took off my shoes.
"It is about time," He replied from the dark hallway, startling me.
"You know it is a bit creepy that you literally stay awake and stand in the hallway waiting for me to get home" I breathed out.
"You call staying up to be sure my daughter comes home safely, creepy?" He asked a hint of pain in his voice.
"You know that's not what I mean, it is just that at your age and with your condition, you should get all the bedrest you can get and not patrol your own house, remember your last hospital visit, the doctor said your blood pressure is not getting any better" I explained in a soft voice walking up to him.
"No level of sickness can hold me back when it comes to your safety" He replied adamantly.
"I know that, and I appreciate the fact that my safety is so important to you but your health is also very important to me and I won't be able to live with myself if anything happens to you" I continued.
"Nothing is going to happen to me, my child" He assured but it didn't make me feel any better.
"You can't be so sure, Dad, I am eighteen now, and I can take care of myself, you cannot be looking over your shoulder and be looking over mine too" I pushed further.
"I am still as strong as I have always been, you can't talk me out of this, Thalia, so stop trying" He snapped his voice now cold.
"I know, I am sorry" I muttered before walking away, so much for asking him about the party.