'And in the middle of chaos, there was you'

Spencer:

The weekend was a little different. Usually, Spencer would keep the girls out of the house for as long as possible, to the park, shopping, to the forest, but this time, they stayed in. 
Lillie had begged him to go out but there was just something different. Spencer was too tired, which didn't make sense, he had gone to bed early, read a book then slept. 
He didn't have any energy.
Lydia didn't come out of her room until she was called upon. 
It was noon, Spencer was cooking some toast and opening a can of fruit for their lunch. Lydia looked drained.
Spencer ate through his portion of fruit quickly, looking at his sister who didn't seem to be looking at anyone. 
"Lydia, Lillie?" He called upon, his heart clenching when she looked at him with the same exhausted expression.

"Yeah Spence?" Lydia looked so innocent.
What had he done to her?

"You want a sleepover in my bedroom tonight?" He asked, even though he knew he probably wouldn't feel up to it, "We can play dress up, I can act out a story to you?"
Their eyes lit up, anything to put stupid plastic clips in their brother's curls.

"Yes please Spencie!" Lillie squealed, kicking her feet excitedly under the table. 
Spencer nodded to them and then the night came quicker then expected. 
As soon as he had a chance to blink, Lillie and Lydia were running into his room with blankets and pillows. Lillie was holding the dress up items and a book they wanted their brother to read, Lydia was carrying the toys with a soft smile on her face.
He helped them get set up, sorting the extra pillows and blankets on his bed and then let the girls go ham with whatever they wanted to do.
He had four clips in his hair, some fake blush on his cheeks and some bright faux red lipstick on, he had to pretend of course, pursed his lips as they applied the wooden lipstick onto his lips, chuckling slightly at their awed faces.
The girls had an amazing imagination. It was just one of the things that made him love them even more.
The book they had chosen was about a princess. He felt a little silly reading it outloud, he was nearly 17, but because they gave him such a pleading expression, he gave in with a small sigh, reading out the words softly until he thought they were both asleep.
Spencer leant over Lydia and placed the book on his bedside table, relaxing back down with his hands by his side. 
It would be an uncomfortable night, his sister's were squashed either side of him. He didn't really mind, but it was those times where he would wish his father saved his money for a bigger bed.

"Spencer?"
The voice next to him called out, it made his heart speed up, he hadn't been expecting for Lydia to speak. 

"Yeah Lyds?" He whispered back to her.

"Hi,"
Spencer frowned fondly but rolled his eyes.

"Hey Lydia,"
There was a long pause before anybody spoke again.

"Hey Spence?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't even like the cookies you take for us but I eat them because it makes you happy Spencie" Lydia told, waiting nervously for his reation.
Spencer paused to take in her words but in the end ultimately agreed with her. The cookies were always dry, they got them from the bakers down the road, hardly anybody bought them so it was so easy to steal.

"I'll make sure to get you something nicer next time,"  He assured, turning his head to smile at her. 
It was returned softly.
Spencer's smile fell. He knew his sister, her smile didn't reach her eyes. There was still something wrong.
"If you tell me what Daddy did to you,"

Lydia's face dropped and she clenched her jaw. This was one of the only times Spencer could see himself in his sister, when they had their jaws clenched, they looked nearly the same.
She thought about it for a second, she needed more assurance.
"It's ok," He promised, "Anything between us gets kept a secret. Daddy wont find out you told me,"

She thought over it for a second before nodding sheepishly, leaning closer to her brother to whisper it in his ear. Spencer listened to her little words, keeping his breath silent, trying to hear everything she whispered.
When she pulled away, she stared at her brother for a moment.
He opened his arms.
"Hug?"

She nodded and turned to her side just as he did, feeling safely encased in her brother's hold.
Spencer alternatively felt a lot different. 
He struggled to keep his heart level, eventhough it felt like it had skipped multiple beats. His eyes were filling with angry tears that threatened to fall. 
Spencer had never met monsters before, he hadn't met anyone with angry fangs or sharp claws. He had just met his father and he was the equivalent. 
When he woke, Monday morning, he was dreading it. His boss was strict, though, hopefully he'd let him off for not going into work.
Getting the girls up was easy, he knocked on their doors then got to the bathroom before them, brushing his teeth, putting water though his hair, making the curls straight with a brush then rincing his face.
He brought the girls to school, that teacher was waiting outside, he sent her a glare. She ignored it professionally and greeted the girls kindly, letting them inside whilst greeting other students. 
Spencer continued his way to work, but when he walked alongside the building, the lights were already on, the blinds were open. Someone had already done his job.
He frowned, pulling on the door handle, letting himself in. The bell rang, someone stuck their head out from behind the employee only door. His manager, the boss sighed.
"Spencer? Get outta here,"

"I'm sorry?" Spencer replied, looking over his shoulder as if he was the one with the twin and they miraculously had the same name.

"I'm not one for second chances boy, you were a no show," He explained, wiping his hands on his apron, "Get outta my Diner,"
Spencer's heart stuttered.

"You don't understand, I can't lose this job. I didn't mean to miss my shift, I had family stuff," Spencer excused, keeping his voice level, trying to ignore the fear that was tugging in his chest, screaming at him to say anything that let him keep his job.

"Sorry Spence, you broke the rules," He shrugged, "Now get out before I call the cops for tresspassing," 
The teenager swallowed and bowed his head, clenching his jaw to stop multiple curses fall from his lips. 
How was he going to pay for the girls? How was he going to dance? He was the Swan! He couldn't miss that oppertunity to be something so majestic. 
How was he going to explain to his father?
That stuck a nerve in the boy, he left the Diner, slamming the door behind him. 
He peeled off his apron, leaving it dropped on the floor, his face like thunder as he walked down the street, ignoring those who looked at him with sharp eyes.
Until he saw them.
They were walking down the street, their light eyes already focused on him. The male, Jasper, had his jaw clenched and he was trying to avoid eye contact. Alice, purposely looked right at Spencer, her eyes offering safety.
He stopped walking, walking to the side of the street so they could pass, only they didn't, Alice stopped right in front of him.

"Are you alright?" She wondered.
Spencer nodded quickly, he didn't want her to worry about him, he didn't want anyone to worry about him.
"Are you sure? We were about to get a coffee from the Diner but we saw you walking out, is everything ok?"

"It's great Alice, just great," He replied, forcing himself to not throw on too much attitude, but just enough for her to get the idea that everything was in fact not great.
Alice pursed her lips and shared a look with her brother who was now watching him intently.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Alice wondered, placing a soft hand on his arm.
It was such a soft touch, he couldn't stop thinking about it, his thoughts raced, his eyes filled with tears.
But he made a face and cleared his throat, sickingly, it didn't dry his eyes like he had wanted it to.

"No," His voice cracked, they both looked at him sympathetically.

"C'mon, we don't live far from here. You look like you could go for some breakfast," She linked her arm in his.
Spencer didn't object, it wasn't like he could go back home or stay in town to risk his father seeing him. 
It was odd, Jasper stood the opposite side of him, almost in a protective way. 
Unknowingly, he was sandwiched between two vampires who, unlike their nature, wanted nothing more but to protect him. 
Spencer clenched his jaw tightly, he didn't want to speak in fear that his emotions would collapse and he'd become a mess in front of the two people that had shown him nothing but kindness.
They walked him to a small house that wasn't far off his own, but when they entered, he stood awkwardly, sitting when Alice gestured to the chair. 
Jasper moved quietly to the kitchen, Spencer could hear him clattering around, maybe getting the breakfast Alice had spoken about.
He didn't really like this, of course, it was nice to be in the same room as people that were nice to him, people so insanely beautiful, but he didn't want to feel like a problem, he didn't want to feel like a burden.
Alice sat opposite of him, looking at him gently.
Her eyes were yellow.
What in the?
"Tell me everything,"

Her soothing voice snapped him out of the thoughts on her appearance but it stayed in the back of his mind. 
The words were caught in his throat, his eyes darted around the room, trying to look anywhere that Alice wasn't. 
They landed on Jasper, there was a window in the kitchen that looked out to them, he had his eyes narrowed.
And then suddenly, he was spilling everything.
He was speaking about how his father was a raging alcoholic, how he was abusive, how he looked after his sisters yet they still call the monster their Daddy. He cried about how he didn't get a childhood and instead dropped out of school to supply for the four of them when most of it goes on their father's alcohol. He cried about how uneasy he had been feeling, how sad and how scared he had been.
And Alice listened to it all, Spencer was pretty sure Jasper had been too.
The best part? They listened intently, they didn't judge, they looked as if they really cared.
The worst part? They both had that look in their eyes that screamed, you're being abused, I'm gonna tell the police.
Spencer couldn't have that, it was the last thing he needed, so at the end of his rant, he sheepishly wiped his eyes and looked up to the girl opposite him and sniffed.
"You can't tell anyone. The girls will be unsafe, I take care of them really well,"

"Who takes care of you?" Alice folded her hands neatly on the table, fisting her thumb in her palm.
Spencer sniffed again, looking to Jasper who had put a bacon wrap on a plate in front of him. He smiled quickly as a thanks, then the curly haired male dissapeared upstairs.

"I do," He nodded, looking at the food before biting into it.
It tasted warm, it was so good to have someone else cook for you, it felt nice being looked after.

"When I'm sad, I dream," She looked at him, her eyes staring deeply, Spencer couldn't help but pause, "I can be anything, do anything, have anything in a dream,"
He took in her words then swallowed, smiling softly at her.
She was right, everything was ok when you dreamed.
"How much do you-- did you get paid?"

"$60 a week," Spencer shrugged, taking another bite, not thinking anything of it.
Alice shifted in her bag and pulled out some cash, putting it in front of him.
Spencer looked at it then to her.
"What's this?"

"As much as you'd want to say no, our father is incredibly weathy he wont mind. I want to give you your pay so your Dad wont be mad at you. Every week. Don't say no to me," She commanded, leaving the human boy speachless.
Spencer obviously wanted to say no, he wanted to scoff at her. 
That was so much money, and she was just giving it to him?
What angel had sent him such a beautiful person? What did he do to deserve her?

"Are you sure?" He said after a moment, putting down the food and wiping his fingers on his jeans.

"Absolutely, you're welcome here everyday," Then she smirked slightly, "You need to go somewhere so your Dad doesn't think you lost your job,"
Spencer's heart sped up.
She was so pretty.
Gosh.
How could someone be so persuasive and thrilling at the same time?

"I don't even know what to say," He told, chuckling sheepishly.

"Don't say anything," Alice reached out, grabbing one of his hands that had been put on the table, "We're here now, we'll help you,"
After spending the whole day in Alice and Jasper's house, Spencer was excited to sleep just so he could get up and spend the whole of the next day there too.
Jasper didn't speak much, he would be in his room, but it was Alice who was truly kind to him. It was so easy to be around her, that's why the hours flew and before he knew it, he had to leave to get the girls.
Spencer thought about what she had said, how you could be anything, have anything, do anything when you were dreaming. 
That was the first night Spencer dreamed.
He dreamed of Alice.

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OK

1st OF ALL, NEW BOOK COVER!!! HELLOOO???

2nd OMGGG ALICE AND SPENCER EEEIDGHDOGHROIHERO AAAA CUTE IM IN LOVE.

3nd POOR LYDIA ILL CRY ISTG

4th how is yall?