the only exception

 Everything is so dark and cold- she's back at her first foster home. Her second. Third. Fifth. All her old friends are there, teamed up with her new ones in an attempt to get her down. Hayley and Taylor are there too, watching disapprovingly as Mr. Finch rattles on about the mistakes she's made. The way she's hurt everyone.

Her ears are ringing and everything feels far away- but she can still hear bits and pieces. She's let them all down and now none of them want anything to do with her. She has to go live with Erin and Lucas.

She wants to beg Taylor and Hayley to reconsider, apologize for everything she's done and beg for atonement, but she can't get herself to stand up or speak. Mr. Finch is yelling and then suddenly Hayden is too. It isn't until Hayley and Taylor join in- the entire group closing in on her that she's able to wake up.

It takes her a second to realize it was just a dream. The silence is almost startling as she tries to get her bearings, flinging the sheets off herself so she doesn't feel so constricted.

"Phoebe?" A groggy voice speaks up, making her look over to see Hayley half asleep on top of the covers. "What's wrong, baby?"

Phoebe doesn't say anything, doesn't even think to question why Hayley was in her room asleep- she just slumps back down and curls herself into Hayley's arms.

"It's okay," Hayley whispers, sounding slightly more alert through the teens' sniffles and shaky sobs. "You're safe, you're okay, honey."

Phoebe says nothing for a few minutes, focusing on Hayley's voice and calming embrace, trying to remind herself that not of it was real. Hayley and Taylor weren't sending her to live with her birth parents- they wanted to adopt her. Hayden wasn't mad at her and neither were her friends. And all those old foster parents were never going to yell at her or touch her again.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"No, it's stupid." Phoebe is shaking her head before Hayley can even finish the sentence. She knows it wasn't real and knows she needs to get over it. Quite honestly she's not very used to having anyone around when she wakes up from the nightmares- isn't sure how to feel about it.

"It's not stupid if it's got you this upset," Hayley whispers, hand still stroking up and down the teens back- occasionally twirling the ends of her hair. When Phoebe just huffs in response Hayley nods, "You don't have to."

"I'm sorry," Phoebe whispers after a moment, unsure what else to say.

Pulling back, Hayley moves some of the hair out of the teens face to get a better look at her, "You've got nothing to be sorry about, you know."

"I do," She whispers, focusing on the dark roots peaking through the top of Hayley's head so she doesn't have to look her in the eyes. "For breaking the rules so many times, lying to you and Dad. Causing you guys a whole lot of trouble."

"Phoebe, we've talked about all of this. You don't have to keep apologizing." Hayley reminds her gently, eyes full of concern and something close to regret.

She feels like she does need to keep saying sorry though. It's the same mistakes she keeps making and her dreams keep reminding her of the fact. She doesn't say any of that though, instead just rests her head back down- the panic nearly gone and exhaustion settling in.

"Wait, why were you in here?" The teen asks after a moment, only just fully realizing Hayley had been asleep beside her when she'd woken up.

"I came in here to wake you up, but you just looked so peaceful." Regret settles back into Hayleys eyes and it almost looks like she might cry as she moves some of the hair out of Phoebe's face- pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. "Buddy, there's something Taylor and I have to tell you, okay?"