'I feel so small... but even stars are at a distance'

Spencer:

"Lillie, where is your other shoe?" Spencer stressed, only finding one of his sister's school shoes.

"I don't know!" She complained, walking downstairs with her bag in her hand, her hair in a ponytail.
Ever since Lydia had taught her how to do it, she had been showing everyone her impressive skills.

"Spencer, I feel poorly," Lydia groaned from her bedroom.
Spencer clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to snap at them both, but he kept his cool and let out a deep sigh.
He told Lillie to stay by the stairs whilst he checked on Lydia. Halfway up the stairs, he got a call that he had dreaded.
"Spencer, I just threw'd up,"

He climbed up the remainder of the stairs, muttering small 'no's' before he got into the bedroom.
As Lydia had stated, she had thrown up, but it wasn't a lot, meaning it wouldn't be hard to clean.
"Ok, uh.." He trailed off, running his fingers through his hair, looking around the room for something to use, or something to do, or an idea to have.

"Spencer, I'm gonna be late!" Lillie called up to him.

"I'll be there in a second!" He yelled back, dropping his hands from his head, his eyes landing on Lydia's school shoes.
He rushed to them, grabbing them then quickly placing them at the top of the stairs.
"Wear Lydia's today," He told Lillie who scrambled back upstairs to get them.

"What am I gonna wear?" Lydia wondered, sitting up in bed.

"Nothing, you're gonna spend today with me ok? I'm gonna drop Lillie off at school then come back to get you. Use uh," He looked around again, finding a towel in the corner of her room, "Clean up the best you can, ok?"

"You have work," She complained, a small frown on her face.

"Lydia, please just do as I say," Spencer gave her a look, before he shut her bedroom door, running downstairs to see Lillie waiting by the door, "Good girl," He smiled, opening the front door to let them out.

"Lyds is poorly?" Lillie asked, watching her brother lock the door.

"Yeah, I'm gonna look after her today. Make sure you get some work from Miss. Kadie for her to do... yeah?" He wondered, holding her hand as they walked quickly to school, on the verge of being late.

"I will," Lillie hummed happily, walking just as fast as her brother.
Spencer shot her a quick smile, then turned the corner, pushing her in front as they got to the busy street. She kept hold of him and walked quickly so he wouldn't bump into her.
When they got to the school, Miss Kadie was waiting outside and she greeted them with a small smile, the worry evident on her face since their previous conversation.
"Hi Kadie!" Lillie smiled, breaking contact from her brother to rush over to the teacher.

Spencer watched her go, trying not to be bothered that she didn't say goodbye to him.
"Good morning Lillie!" Miss Kadie beamed, patting her shoulder, "Is your sister not coming in?"

"Lydia threw up. It went everywhere!" Lillie exaggerated.
Miss. Kadie looked alarmed and her eyes shot over to Spencer who fondly shook his head. She relaxed then walked over to him, letting Lillie enter the class.

"I'm sorry if I said something out of line the other day," She apologised, her eyes shooting down from the sincerity in the words she spoke, "I do hope everything is alright though,"
Spencer smiled at her, feeling slightly bad from the way he had spoken to her.
He had every right to, but as she was a teacher, it was her job to take care of children.
She taught Spencer for three years and now she was teaching his sisters, she had every right to care.

"It's alright Miss, sorry I was harsh on you too," Spencer returned the favour, "Lydia did throw up but it wasn't as bad as Lillie said, could you send Lillie home with work for her? She won't be in tomorrow either,"
Miss. Kadie smiled brightly.

"Yes of course, tell her I wish her well,"
Spencer smiled at her then began to back off.
He thought he walked to school fast, when he realised he had to get back home to Lydia, he nearly ran through the streets.
She was 7, sick and alone.
God knows if Dad had come back.
Spencer had realised fairly early that their father never stayed for nights anymore. Luckily, he did buy them enough food to survive, unlike past situations.
Wherever he was staying, whoever he was staying with, they better not be getting hurt by him either.
Spencer unlocked the door and got inside.

"Dad?" He called out, only to hear nothing.
His heart slowed down and his breathing calmed.
His dad wasn't home.
Lydia was ok.

"Spencie? I threw'd up again," Lydia was sitting at the top of the stairs, her nightdress covering her legs, her face in a sombre expression.

"Oh babe," Spencer frowned with her, climbing the stairs and making her stand up when they got to the top.

"I did it in the bathroom though... I remembered to do that," She smiled for a moment, but her face ducked down again.
Spencer swallowed, he hated seeing his sisters poorly or sad.
He carefully engulfed her in a hug, she pressed her cheek against his abdomen and squeezed him tight.

"Lydia, I'm gonna tell you a secret but you have to promise to not tell anybody," Spencer said, pulling back.
He had been going round Alice and Jasper's for a week now, pretending to go to work, hanging out with them and having fun.
But now having Lydia be off sick and not going to work created a whole new problem for the both of them.
But Alice wouldn't mind... Right?
Jasper wouldn't care... Would he?
He had to leave, they both did. Ill or not, their dad wouldn't let them stay and definitely wouldn't take lightly to Spencer being off when losing days cost his paycheck.
"I got fired from work,"

Lydia gasped slightly, "Daddy is going to be so mad!"

"Shh, it's alright," He promised, stroking her hair back, "I have some really lovely friends who are giving me money to give to Daddy,"
He explained it carefully, making sure to soothe her worries about their father doing something nasty again.
"We're gonna go to them today, alright?"

"But I'm poorly," She protested, her eyes looking wide.

"I know Sweetheart but if Daddy knows we're here, he's gonna be mad at us," Spencer frowned, he never liked telling them stuff like that.

"What if they don't like me?" Lydia whispered, her hand pressing against her brothers.

"I promise they will," Spencer assured, "Get dressed and you can rest there,"
Lydia nodded, walking back into her bedroom whilst Spencer stood outside, waiting patiently.
When Lydia came out again, she was dressed in a small dress with a big jacket. She had made the dress herself in the dressmaking class she attended with her sister, she loved the thing.
But Spencer knew she had only put it on to try and impress Alice and Jasper.
He took her hand and walked down the stairs with her, making sure to lock the door on their way out.
Spencer told her about Jasper and his curly hair, and his tall figure. He told her about Alice and her fashion sense and enthusiastic behaviour. Lydia started to feel excited about meeting them both.
They walked slowly, not wanting to increase the chance of Lydia throwing up again, and when they stopped outside the cottage, Lydia was in awe of the sight.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" Spencer agreed with her surprised expression and opened the little gate for her to go through.

"It feels like a story," Lydia realised, looking behind her to assure her brother was following.
Spencer nodded, agreeing to what she said, then knocked on the door, swallowing from anxiety, scared Alice and Jasper might not take kindly for him bringing Lydia.
The door opened and Jasper was there, he eyed Lydia with a confused expression then looked up to Spencer.

"Hey Jasper, this is my sister Lydia, she's sick, I didn't know what to do so I brought her here. Is that ok?" He asked, his eyes hopeful.

"You brought your sister!?" Alice pushed her brother out of the way and with excited eyes, she bent down to Lydia's level and smiled, "Aw! You're so cute!"
Lydia smiled shyly, looking up to Spencer for reassurance.

"She's a little ill today Alice, she threw up..." He informed Alice, watching her look up to him.

"Oh, well that's not nice," Alice gasped, exaggerating her expression, "Do you want some warm milk honey?"
Lydia looked up to Spencer again, but he just smiled at her.
She nodded quietly and Alice offered her hand. Lydia took it and was pulled into the house.
Jasper moved out of the way to open the door wider and then shut it behind Spencer once he walked in.
The two stood shoulder to shoulder, watching Alice help Lydia to the kitchen stool as she got to work fetching the milk from the fridge.
Spencer turned to Jasper.

"Is she always like this with kids?" He wondered, watching Jasper's face grow a fond smile.

"She's like this with everything," He corrected, enjoying the sight of his best friend being happy.

"She's cute," Spencer pointed out, turning his head back to watch them.
He then realised what he'd said and felt his cheeks flare up.
Jasper was right next to him!
Speaking of, Jasper clenched his jaw, noticing the red on Spencer's cheek and moved away slightly.
He couldn't risk anything.

"Have fun," Jasper said, moving towards the stairs.

"You're not staying down here?" Spencer wondered, looking towards him again.

"I have to call some old friends," A lie, but he was trying to find said friends.
Spencer nodded, then applied his attention to the girls in the kitchen again.
He walked in and sat next to Lydia who was sipping on her milk gratefully.

"I made some for you too," Alice smiled, placing a mug in front of him.
Spencer smiled at her, watching how she smiled back, longer than any normal person would've.
The blush came back on his face.

"Hey Alice?" Spencer started off a conversation, "Does Jasper like me?"
Alice paused midway to the fridge, frowning. Spencer waited for an answer, but when she didn't reply, Lydia turned to look too.
Alice seemed frozen, lost in a trance... What was going on?
"Alice?" He called out again.

She turned her head quickly, looking back at him.
Her eyes were dark and her eyes were narrowed.
"Yes he likes you," Her words were quick and sharp, "I need to speak to you,"

Spencer frowned, his worry evident as he hopped down from the stool and followed Alice to the other room.
She stayed silent as they walked, then got close to him and started to whisper.
"You have ballet tonight... yes?" She asked, her voice fast and hushed.

Spencer frowned.
"Yes... why?"

"Don't go," She hissed, her eyes frozen to his face.

"What?" Spencer frowned, "What do you mean 'don't go'?"

"I mean don't go!" She repeated, her eyes looking sterner.

"Alice–? I can't just 'not go'! Lillie has dressmaking class and I–"

"Spencer," She put her hands on his shoulders and glared at him, "Trust me. Don't. Go."
Spencer's heart sped up.
He swallowed and looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"Fine," He glared, ignoring the blush that was rising to his cheeks, "But why?"
Alice seemed relieved that he had agreed, but she wasn't ready to answer the question he gave in return.

"Because I said so," She replied coldly, brushing off the query like it was nothing.

"No," Spencer scoffed, "That's not how we're gonna do this Alice, tell me why or I'm going,"

"Because something bad is going to happen!" She said fast, her words coming out in a seethe.

"How do you know–?"

"I'll tell you later!" She raised her voice, her eyes flickering to the small girl who was watching their encounter in the doorway.
Spencer turned his head to look too, seeing Lydia holding her milk with both hands.
Spencer then looked back to Alice, giving her a slight look.
The two brushed off the situation fairly quickly, going back to entertaining Lydia and talking to her about dressmaking class.
She enjoyed speaking to Alice about clothes and fashion, even being able to use Alice's expensive sewing machine.
But Spencer never stopped thinking about how strange she had acted with him.
Alice had some serious explaining to do.

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OOOOOHHHH

What do you think Alice saww?

2 chapters in a day, look at me slaying.

How are yall? How's school/work/life?

What would Alice's nickname for Spencer be?

What would his be for hers?
(I think Sweetheart but that's just me)