the only exception

Much to Phoebe's surprise, the football game ended up being lots of fun.

    Hayden and James did stay on the sidelines the entire time, as they'd suspected since they were just JV, but were still enthusiastic about their school's win. After the game everyone headed to Hayden and Henry's house, ready to celebrate the win in typical high school fashion.

    Everyone was spread out throughout the house and backyard when Phoebe arrived with her friends, and they were all quick to head to their usual spot in the backyard. As per usual, James and Hayden pulled out some weed, which Phoebe had to decline seeing as she had to go back home tonight.

    "Are you sure you don't want some?" Emily asked, holding it between her fingers and offering it.

    Phoebe nodded, "If I go home high I'll get in trouble."

"Just ask to stay the night at my house." Emily suggested.

Phoebe contemplated it for a second. On one hand she really didn't want to go against Hayley and Taylors wishes, but on the other hand she didn't wanna be the only sober one amongst her friends. Plus she really did enjoy the vice, finding it to typically be the only time that she's truly carefree and not second guessing everyone around her and their actions.

"Will your parents be okay with it?" Phoebe asked.

Emily laughed a little, "Have they ever cared before?"

"True," Phoebe agreed, pulling out her phone to text Hayley and ask to stay the night. "Okay, I'm set. Let me see it."

It didn't take long for Phoebe to get to the point of giddiness, seemingly floating as she enjoyed the music coming from inside the house. They shared horror stories in the halloween spirit, but Phoebe mostly just blocked them out, watching the stars contently.

Eventually, Emily and James went into the house to get something to drink, leaving Phoebe with Hayden as she laid back in the grass. He was sitting at her hip, and turned to face her with the same big smile that'd been plastered on his face since they won the game.

"So I was thinking..." Hayden started, making Phoebe turn her head to look at him with a small, content smile on her lips. "I want to take you on a date. Like, one without James and Emily."

"Yeah?" Phoebe asked, smile growing a little wider as she sat up to sit across from him.

"Yeah," he nodded, "I know Emily is really big on the double dates, and I don't have anything against them, but I wanna spend time with just you sometimes, you know? You're my girlfriend, not Emily and James."

Phoebe smiled, nodding a little, "Well I sure home Emily and James aren't your girlfriends." She teased lightly, picking at the grass.

Hayden laughed before letting a slight silence fall over them. Phoebe continued to pick at the grass, ripping off random blades and twirling them around her fingers before Hayden spoke again, "You look really pretty tonight," he told her, "Even if you are wearing Jay's jersey and not mine."

She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. There didn't seem to be any negativity in his voice so she just smiled up at him. "Thank you."

"Did you have fun at the game?"

"Yeah!" Phoebe answered quickly, "It was a lot funner than I was expecting. Maybe I'll have to come to one of your games sometime?" She suggested, earning an even bigger smile from the boy.

"I'd like that." He smiled, another short silence falling over them as they looked at eachother. Phoebe isn't sure how much time had passed, her concept of time fuzzy while under the influence.

Hayden cleared his throat after a moment, "Can I do something?"

"Do what?" Phoebe asked quietly, knitting her brows together in concern at the evident nerves in his voice.

Hayden watched her face for a moment before slowly moving in, "This." He moves slow enough towards her that she could move away if she wanted to, but instead she just leaned forward as well, their lips meeting in the middle.

It's short and simple, but Phoebe can't help but to break out in giggles as they pull away, quickly looking back down to the grass. Her lips were tingling and she couldn't tell if it was from the kiss or some after effects of the weed.

"You wanna go in to find Emily and James?" Hayden asked, also grinning like an idiot. Phoebe nodded, watching as Hayden stood and offered her his hand, which she happily accepted. He pulled her up, but didn't release her as they started walking, just laced their fingers together instead.

They headed straight for the kitchen, weaving through the crowd, but Emily and James weren't there.

"Let me text Em," Phoebe mumbled, leaning against the wall and pulling her phone out. The first thing she noted was that it was 2AM and she isn't sure why it shocked her. They hadn't gotten to the house till 11, but somehow it didn't feel like they'd sat outside and talked that long. Then again, she was so out of it and kept spacing out, she's sure a whole day could've passed without her realizing.

The second thing she noticed was 5 missed calls from Hayley, 3 from Taylor, and a ridiculous amount of texts from both of them. Dread settled into her stomach as she opened Taylors messages, seeing as he'd texted her the least amount of times.

Taylor
1:07am
Hey, curfew was 1. Everything okay?

1:15am
Phoebe?
Can you answer the phone?

1:47am
Call us.

Phoebe read the messages slowly, her face blank as she moved over to Hayley's messages. She had asked to spend the night at Emily's tonight, but hadn't really thought about the fact that she didn't really wait for an answer until she read Hayley's messages.

Hayley
11:09pm
not tonight, sorry buddy. maybe next time? we'd just feel better if you came home tonight.

1:02am
you almost home?

1:32am
you need to answer your phone.
this really isn't okay.

1:52am
phoebe, you need to get home now, please. this is not okay at all.
we're gonna have to have a serious talk about this.

1:59am
we're really worried. please come home.

Phoebe felt anxiety rise in her chest and let out a string of curse words, quickly gaining Hayden's attention.

"What's wrong?"

"My parents are losing it, I'm over an hour past curfew," Phoebe groaned, leaning her head back against the wall and closing her eyes.

"I thought you were staying at Emily's tonight?" He asked after a moment.

Phoebe shrugged, opening her eyes slowly, "I guess not."

"I can get my brother and he can give you a ride?" Hayden suggested, concern clear on his face.

"Henry's probably wasted by now," Phoebe shook her head, suddenly annoyed. Everything feeling fuzzy and not having to think about things was all fun and games until she got in situations like this.

"I'll go find him and ask, okay?" Hayden suggested, earning another shrug from the girl before he walked away.