the only exception

chapter 37

"Are you sure I can't stay at Emily's?" She asked after a moment, knowing the question was bold, but also really not wanting to go home.

"Absolutely now. Are you serious right now?" Hayley laughed bitterly. Phoebe listened to Taylor saying something in the background. The teen felt a few tears fall down her cheeks as she heard Hayley sigh.

"You still there?" Hayley asked after a moment, her voice seemingly calmer.

"Yeah," Phoebe spoke, hating her voice cracking. The situation was already bad enough, but now she was crying too and it made everything worse. Not to mention she was still in the car with Jay which added a whole new level of embarrassment.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you like that," the singer sighed, her voice sounding genuine, "We'll talk about this when you get home, okay?"

Phoebe nodded, her voice coming out more high pitched than intended, "okay."

"We love you, Phoebe, and we'll see you in a bit." Hayley told her softly.

"Okay," Phoebe repeated, unable to say anything else at the moment.

Not even ten minutes later the teen was walking in the front door, tears still falling from her eyes as she hesitantly made her way in. As she suspected, Hayley and Taylor were waiting for her, Taylor leaning against the wall as Hayley stood in the middle of the entryway, arms crossed.

"What were you thinking?" Hayley asked, but her voice held no anger anymore, mainly just worry.

"I just lost track of time," Phoebe shrugged nervously, shutting the door behind her before wringing her fingers together, eyes flicking to the ground.

She heard Hayley sigh, "This was not okay at all. We were so worried something had happened to you. You're lucky Taylor talked me down from calling the cops."

Phoebe's head snapped up at the comment, eyes welling with tears again, "You were gonna call the cops?" She asked, and she's sure she's just moments away from having some sort of anxiety attack. "I'm really, really sorry! I really didn't mean to. Please don't send me away for it. I'll do better, I promise."

"What?" Hayley asked in disbelief before realization hit her, "No! Not like that." She assured quickly, taking a few steps to pull the teen into a reassuring hug, "never like that, sweet girl."

"She just meant so they could make sure nothing happened to you," Taylor cut in, eyes sad and tired.

Phoebe sniffled, nodding into Hayley's shoulder before the singer pulled back.

"I want to make this crystal clear right now, Phoebe; there's absolutely nothing you could do to make us send you away, okay?" Hayley asked softly, moving some hair out of the teens face and ducking her head to catch her eyes.

Phoebe nodded in response, unable to speak as she continued to cry.

"We were just really worried about you," Hayley reiterated.

"I'm sorry," the teen whispered, shaking her head, "But I was fine, really."

"Phoebe," Hayley sighed, "I know you think you're grown up, and I know you've been through more than most kids your age and you had to mature a little faster and take care of yourself, but you're only fourteen. You don't have to think of us as your mom and dad, but you have to let us parent you. You have to let us know where you are and you can't break curfew and just go off the radar like that.  You're our responsibility. You have to let us take care of you. We want to take care of you."

Phoebe nodded, lip wobbling as Hayley still held onto her arms softly.

The two stared at each other for another moment before Hayley spoke again, "I'm gonna ask you something and I need you to tell the truth, okay?"

The teen nodded, "okay."

"Are you high?"

Phoebe stiffened at the question. She knew she couldn't lie, knew Hayley probably already knew the truth, but she didn't want to get into even more trouble. Especially when Hayley and Taylor has specifically told her not to. But still, she knew she couldn't lie, so instead she just nodded her head the slightest bit.

Hayley let out another disappointed sigh, covering her face with her hands. Phoebe looked up, watching her for a moment before whispering a soft "I'm sorry."

"I know you are," Hayley replied, bringing her hands down from her face and looking at the teen with sad eyes. "Go upstairs and get some sleep. We're gonna talk about this in the morning, okay?"

"Okay," Phoebe whispered, wiping at her eyes again. Hayley frowned and slowly pulled her into another hug, cradling the back of the teens head with her hand.

"Thank you for being honest," she whispered, "and thank you for coming home. I love you and you can always come home."

Phoebe nodded, feeling like her tears might pick up pace again, but not sure what to say.

"Love you too," She mumbled after a moment, pulling back and slowly walking past the singer. She stopped briefly by Taylor who pulled her into a hug as well.

"Don't do that again, okay?" He asked softly, and Phoebe just nodded against his chest in response before making her way to her room.

***

a/n

double update, slay. hope you all enjoy!!!