Don't Tell Dad :: Alice

WEARING;; HAYLEIGH'S OUTFIT

There was so much going on at home. So much that she just could not get away from. And, truth be told, Hayleigh felt completely helpless. It reminded her of the way she felt when she was seven years old and still living under her father's roof. Of course, it was never as bad for her as it had been for Megan. It was the worst for Megan. And that was all Hayleigh's felt. If only her big sister had not been trying to protect her all of those years. Then maybe she would have had it better. Maybe. It was funny. Her the two girls were, living with parents that absolutely loved them both...And yet, her mind always tended to go back to their biological father. Had she done something to make him do all of those things to his own dauthers? Or maybe it was Megan that had done something. She was pretty rebellious back then. Always mouthing off. In school and at home, to their father. Just to their father. Never their mother. But she never liked to think badly of her sister. Because when it came down to it, she had been the only person that Hayleigh could count on back then. She had been the only person to ever show that she loved her. Even though at times she felt alone, she was never truly alone. Because she had Megan.

And now, here she was, back to where she first started. Feeling the same kind of pain and fear that her father inflicted onto both her and Megan. Was it just her? Maybe it was her. Maybe it was all her. Nobody else. Not even Jonathon. And then there was the Sniper. How he nearly killed Megan. What did the two girls do to deserve all of this? To never catch a break? It just never seemed fair. Now did it?

Taking in a deep breath, Hayleigh took yet another sip of her frappe and looked up as the moon seemed to be higher up in the sky. How it just seemed to be getting darker than before she sat down here on this bench. And that was when she heard a small noise. Like footsteps. Hayleigh looked around and then noticed a figure off in the distance. Getting to her feet she started walking. “Hello?” she called out. And as she got closer, she noticed who it was. “Alice?” She kneeled down in front of her. “Hey.”

WEARING;; HAYLEIGH'S OUTFIT

Why wasn't Hayleigh at home? Easy. Jonathon was there. She just did not want to have to till with her father's so called boyfriend. And yes, she always worried about what if both her parents got a divorce. And then what? What if Ben married Jonathon? Then she'd just go ahead and kill herself. It was better than allowing Jonathon to do it for her. There was just no way in hell that Hayleigh was about to allow that to happen. Maybe if this continued, maybe she could run away to go live with her other father. He wouldn't abandon her as well, now would he? She did not believe so. But Hayleigh did not know how to answer Alice's question. But this was not about her. Not in the least. This was about this girl in front of her. The girl who had no home. The seventeen year old Alice. The girl that was the twin sister to Hannah Del Rossi. And she really did want to help her out.

Hayleigh smiled, sweetly. “It really doesn't matter why I'm not at home, Alice.” In her mind, Hayleigh had no home. She no longer wanted to have a home. Not if Jonathon was part of that equation. “Do you need a place to sleep?” She asked, kneeling down in front of her. “I could help you out. You could stay at my dad's.”

WEARING;; HAYLEIGH'S OUTFIT

Really, Hayleigh probably should have talk to her siblings first before asking alice if she needed a place to stay. But she just could not help it. She hated having to see Alice living out her, in the cold. So scared and completely alone. Nobody should have to. Everybody deserved a place to sleep. Alice did, too. Everything would be okay. She would take her back to Marco's and talk to Jessa and Hannah both. They would understand. They would want to help to. Right? She was so sure of it. And Alice would not have to do nothing. Well, nothing much, at least.

“You would not have to do anything, Alice. Well, nothing much at least. I'm doing this because I like you. You're my friend. And I truly want to help you out. Nothing in exchange. I promise.” She looked around the park. Hayleigh did not want her to sleep out her, at night, all alone. Especially with the Sniper out there somewhere. “You'll pretend to be Hannah. That's all you'll really have to do. I can take you there now. Introduce you to Jessa and Hannah. Jessa can look after you while you're at the house. She would totally do it. She's awesome. You'll really like her.”