the only exception

They got back into the car, Hayley relaying the information as to where Phoebe lived to Taylor before they pulled out of the parking lot. The drive wasn't too long, and as they pulled up to the street she'd given, Phoebe decided she really liked Hayley, and found an odd sort of comforting talking to her.

They made small talk throughout the drive, Phoebe only really getting uncomfortable when Hayley asked about her parents, but the blonde was quick to change the conversation when she noticed the younger girl's discomfort.

Taylor seemed okay too, even if he didn't talk all that much.

When they turned on her street, Phoebe felt her heart drop as some of the lights in her house were on. She knew they would be waiting for her in the living room or the kitchen. Knew she was going to get in an unbelievable amount of trouble by her foster parents.

"This is it," Phoebe smiled quickly, pointing to a random house on the corner as Taylor pulled off to the side of the road. "Thanks again for the ride."

"Not a problem at all, sorry again about the door." Taylor smiled, putting the car in park.

"Not a problem at all," she echoed his words, opening the door.

"Bye, Phoebe!" Hayley smiled, waving at the girl through the opened window.

"Bye," the teen smiled in response. The only problem was she didn't think this part through. She expected them to drive off as soon as she got out of the car, but when she was halfway up the sidewalk to the random house, they were still parked.

She knew she really only had two options here.

Either break into the house, which? Maybe not the best idea.

Or, come clean and admit this isn't her house. Which was so embarrassing.

She was already nervous knowing her foster parents were awake and she was gonna be in so much trouble, and this was not doing much to help with her anxiety.

She decided the latter was probably the better option. She let her shoulders sag as she walked back up to the car, Hayley and Taylors confusion evident, even through their polite smiles.

"Do you guys need something, or?" Phoebe tried, making Hayley shake her head.

"Just making sure you get in okay," Hayley told her nicely.

"Okay," Phoebe sighed, "Here's the thing though. This isn't really my house, but I think my parents are awake. Or well, not my parents, but foster parents. Not that that really matters anyway, but still. I sort've snuck out, or whatever. They're already gonna be mad and if they see me getting dropped off by some random people it's gonna be even worse, okay?"

Hayley frowned the rant, searching the younger girl's face. Just when Phoebe was scared she was gonna ask questions the teen didn't wanna answer, Taylor spoke up instead.

"You live close to here, though, yeah?"

Phoebe nodded, "Yeah, I'd be inside within like, three minutes."

"Do you have a phone?" Hayley asked, earning a slight nod from the teen.

"Yep, and I can call the cops if any rando tries to snatch me off the street."

"That really does not make me feel better about this," Hayley laughed nervously, "Can I give you my number? Text me when you get inside? I genuinely will not be able to rest tonight until I know we didn't just set up a kid for getting kidnapped." She laughed a little, earning a shrug from Phoebe.

"It's okay, my house is like right there," she motioned in the general vicinity, "I'll be fine."

"Please? For my peace of mind?" Hayley asked.

Taylor grinned behind her, "She's paranoid mixed with stubborn, might as well just let her give you her number."

"Okay, fine." Phoebe agreed, sighing as she pulled it up on her phone and passed it to the blonde.

"Here, just send me a quick text when you get home so we know you got in safe, okay?" Hayley told her, quickly putting in her information and handing it back to the girl. Phoebe glanced down to see she'd set her contact to 'hayley' texted herself the letter x, presumably so she would have the number as well.

"Will do, thanks again for the ride." Phoebe smiled, giving her a quick nod.

"Be safe, kid." Taylor smiled, putting the car in drive as Hayley agreed.

They said another quick goodbye before pulling off and Phoebe slowly made her way to the house.

Her foster family wasn't all that bad, most of the time. Sometimes, though, her foster dad could get excessively angry.

She wasn't excited to see what the rest of the night would bring.

As she made her way up the stairs she realized she should probably tell her friends she wasn't coming back, if they hadn't realized already. She sent a quick text before discarding her phone into her backpack and slinging it back over her shoulder.

"Where the hell have you been?" A voice boomed as he walked through the front door, not even bothering for the window, knowing that it would only make it worse if they caught her sneaking back in.

Phoebe tried to keep her voice level as his hand gripped her arm, but it came out shaky, "I went to the gas station to get a drink." She told her foster father, Adam.

He eyed her suspiciously, fingers digging into her skin before letting go and snatching the gatorade out of her hand, "What? Water not enough for you?"

"I just couldn't sleep, I'm sorry." She told him quietly, linking her fingers together nervously.

"Go to your room. You're waking up at 6 to clean the entire house." He decided, and she let out a sigh of relief, quickly making her way around him. Although that meant she would only get a few hours of sleep, it was more tame of a punishment than she was expecting.

"Yes, sir." She told him quietly, and just as she thought she was in the clear, something hit her shoulder blade, causing her to instantly groan in pain.

"Leave my house again without asking, I fucking dare you." He warned, voice loud as Phoebe ran to her room, tears spilling out of her eyes. 

***

A/N

Hoping updates on this will be pretty regular. Already have so many ideas and as long as i dont get too busy with life, im gonna try at least 3 updates a week? but im an overachiever so hoping for more!!