the only exception

chapter 62

He seems to spot them sooner too, and by the time Hayley is shutting her door, Taylor's already got Phoebe's swaying form pulled against his chest.

"Dad?" Phoebe mumbled, resting her head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her protectively.

"You ready to go home, kid?" He asked softly. She nodded against him, but made no attempts to move away as Hayley approached them.

"What happened?" Hayley asked quickly, resting her hand against the top of Phoebe's head.

"I don't know," Emily replied guiltily, crossing her arms.

Hayley gave her a sad smile, pulling the teen into a quick hug, "It's okay, thank you for calling us."

Emily nodded as Hayley sent a quick thank you to Jackie as well, who had made sure to monitor Phoebe the moment she realized something was wrong- which Hayley and Taylor were both immensely grateful for.

"Okay, let's go home." Hayley mumbled, watching as Phoebe clung to Taylors side as they walked. She inspected the teen from head to toe, looking for any signs of injury, but came up with nothing besides a few pinkish spots on her arms- which Hayley assumes is from Emily and Jackie dragging her around. She decided to ride in the back, letting Phoebe slump against her as Taylor drove them home.

"I didn't drink, didn't do anything." Phoebe whispered after a while, "I don't know why I feel like this."

Hayley believed her, but that just makes the whole thing worse, because that means someone would've had to slip her something. The intention behind it, while unknown, fills Hayley with so much anger she can only pull Phoebe closer and place a quick kiss on the top of her head.

She debates on if they should take her to the hospital, but decides against it unless her condition worsens- at the moment she seems to be doing at least somewhat better than she was not even 20 minutes ago.

"We know you didn't, baby." She assured quietly, "Do you need anything?"

Phoebe shook her head no and nuzzled herself impossibly closer to her mother, hoping for any sort of comfort she could get. "I don't feel good."

"Do we need to pull over? Are you gonna be sick?" Hayley asked quickly, but Phoebe just once again shook her head no.

They're all silent for a moment until Phoebe, feeling at least somewhat clearer now sighed, "Happy new year."

"Happy new year, Pheebs." Taylor replied back softly as Hayley gave a sad smile.

Phoebe's phone started ringing, so she blindly started reaching around for it until Hayley placed it in her hands.

"Hello?" She asked, not even bothering to look at the caller ID before bringing the phone up to her ear.

"Hey! Where'd you go? You're not mad at me, right?" Hayden asked into the phone, words coming out as a bit of a shout through the loud music.

"Going home." Phoebe replied, voice tired and somewhat annoyed. Hayley pretended not to listen as she looked out the window of the car- though it was hard when the phone was not even a foot away from her.

"Did I do something?"

"Call me tomorrow?" Phoebe asked meekly, not wanting to get into anything right now, especially not when her parents are right there.

"Whatever, bye."

Phoebe didn't bother to say anything else as she hung up, letting the phone fall somewhere beside her. Hayley thinks about asking about it, not really liking the edge to Haydens voice as he talked to her, but figures that's something that can wait till tomorrow.

There's silence again, not even music coming through the speakers as they drive. Phoebe wants to say something, or wants Hayley and Taylor to talk so she can stop being so stuck in her head, but it's no use. She's still somewhat groggy and all she knows is everything feels bad.

Pulling up to the house feels tense, but Phoebe lets Taylor lead her up to her room and give her a tight hug. She's left alone after that and wastes no time falling into bed- only for Hayley to walk in a few minutes later with a trash can, a water bottle, and some ibuprofen, all which go beside the bed.

Phoebe watches silently, feeling incredibly exhausted and sick as Hayley removes the teens shoes and pulls the covers up over her- but not before instructing her to lay on her side and not her back.

"I don't feel good." Phoebe said after a moment, breaking Hayley out of her focused trance.

"I know, baby. I'm sorry." She whispered, moving around to sit on the side of the bed, smoothing out Phoebe's hair.

"Hayden's mean."

Hayley looked impossibly sad as she nodded, wishing she could solve all the world's problems for her girl. "Maybe you shouldn't be with him then. You deserve so much."

"I'll probably break up with him." Phoebe decides, eyes unfocused as she stares on.

"You do whatever you think is right." Hayley tells her, even if she thinks Phoebe really should break up with him anyway.

It's silent for a moment until Phoebe looks back up, "Erins dead."

Hayley nods, adverts her eyes for a second before looking back, "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault." The teen mumbles, "She just wanted me. Never did before now. But she's dead. Doesn't matter now." Hayleys unsure what to say, but Phoebe speaks up again anyway, "I don't know why I can't be happy."

"You can." Hayley tells her quickly, voice sure, but sad. "I promise you can, things are just hard right now."

"I can't. My birth mom is dead. My boyfriend is a jackass. And I am just so sad. All the time. Everything feels bad." Her words are choppy and noncommittal and it breaks Hayleys heart to see her like this. It's moments like these she wishes she could just shield Phoebe from the hurt. Or maybe take all of her hurt away. Hayley would bear it for her. She'd wear it on her shoulders everyday if it meant Phoebe was okay.

"Just because things suck right now doesn't mean they always will." Hayley whispered after a moment. "I promise."

"I just wish I was never born. So much easier."

"Phoebe Wren Atwell don't ever say that." Hayley scolded softly. "You mean so much to so many people. You mean the world to your dad and I. We love you so, so much."

"Just easier." Phoebe repeated, though the guilt is obvious on her face.

"Let's just go to bed, okay? We'll talk in the morning." Hayley decided slowly, making her way around the bed to lay down- like hell she was leaving Phoebe alone tonight.

"Okay. Night."

"Goodnight, my love." Hayley told her softly, voice thick with exhaustion. "I don't know what I'd do without you, okay? Love you so much."

___

a/n

well the good news is i have a funny chapter planned somewhere in the near future