HEARTBREAK HIGH; •Spencer White•

seventeen - going kokomo

[ Spencer White's House, Daisy Coopers ]

"SPENCER?" Daisy barely had time to register she'd been pulled inside before Spencer was already guiding her through the house with that impatient, slightly frantic energy he always had when he didn't want things to be interrupted.

"Shit timing, baby," he muttered under his breath, half dragging her down the hallway like he was trying to outrun whatever mood had just followed him home. He made it almost to her room before a voice called out from the kitchen.

"Spencer, qui était-ce?" Daisy stopped mid-step, eyebrows pulling together instantly. The French rolled through the house so naturally she almost thought she'd misheard it.

"Spencer, who was that?" the voice repeated, switching languages like it was nothing. Daisy glanced at Spider, confusion still written across her face. He looked... tense. Not panicked exactly, but like he'd rather be anywhere else. She gently pulled her hand free from his grip.

"Was that your Mum?" He nodded reluctantly, "Can I meet her?" she asked quietly. He hesitated. Just long enough to make it obvious he was debating whether this was a good idea.

"She's... a bit much," he muttered, glancing toward the kitchen where his name was called again. Daisy didn't move away, "I'm sure," she said simply. "I don't want to be rude." That made him pause. Then, reluctantly, he reached for her hand again and led her into the kitchen.

The moment they stepped inside, the smell hit first, home-cooked food, wine, something warm and lived-in. The space was bright in a way Daisy wasn't used to, walls covered in art that looked carefully chosen rather than just placed.

"Hey Mum," Spider said quickly. "This is Daisy... my—uh—friend." Daisy almost laughed at how hard he landed on the word, but she kept it in, biting the inside of her cheek as she noticed his discomfort.

"Oh," his mum said immediately, eyes lighting up. "Is this your girlfriend, Spenny?" Spider stiffened, before he could even respond, she was already across the room, pulling Daisy into a warm, tight hug like she'd known her for years. Daisy blinked once in surprise, then relaxed slightly, returning the smile.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs White," she said politely. "You have a lovely home. I love the art. I wish my house was like this." She meant it, too. The place felt, cared for.

"Oh, thank you, Daisy," she said warmly. "Please, please, make yourself at home. Don't let Spenny make you feel unsafe."

"Mum," Spider warned immediately, reaching for Daisy's hand again like he was trying to reclaim control of the situation. "We need to study." He nodded sharply toward the hallway, already trying to steer things back to something normal. But his mum wasn't finished.

"No, you must—"

"Je ne veux pas que tu parles à Daisy. Laisse-nous tranquille." The French came out fast and sharp, completely different from how he spoke to Daisy. His tone had shifted, less annoyed, more firm in a way she hadn't heard before. His mum clicked her tongue.

"Absurdité. Garçon stupide." Daisy caught her own name in the exchange, but nothing else fully registered before Spider was already pulling her back out of the kitchen. The second they were in his room, he shut the door a little too firmly behind them.

Silence settled. Spider paced once. Twice. Hands running through his hair like he was trying to reset something inside his head. Daisy stayed near the bed, arms folded loosely, watching him carefully.

"Spencer?" she asked softly. He stopped, exhaling through his nose like he was forcing himself to calm down.

"I'm fine, Daisy," he said quickly. "Truly. Just—don't want to talk about it." He pulled open his laptop and motioned for her to sit. After a second, she did. They fell into studying, the tension slowly fading into something quieter, more familiar. Hours passed like that, pages turning, pens scratching, occasional silence that didn't feel uncomfortable anymore.

Daisy noticed it before she acknowledged it. He was staring at her, again. "You'll never get anything done if you're too busy studying my face, Spencer," she muttered without looking up, crossing out a line in her work. His mouth twitched like he was trying not to smile.

"What are you doing tonight?" he asked instead.
Daisy paused, glancing up slightly.

"Nothing important," she said cautiously. "Why?"
He leaned closer slightly, fingers brushing along her knee where they sat on the floor beside the bed.

"Me and the boys are going to a gig," he said. "You should come." Daisy hesitated, already overthinking it.

"I don't want to intrude," she said quietly. "It's your friends."

"You're not intruding anything," he replied immediately. "You could even bring Missy or something. As long as it's me you're making out with." That got a small laugh out of her despite herself.

"Oh," she started, pretending to consider it. "I mean I don't know, Missy is just such a better—"
Spider cut her off immediately, his hand cupped her face as he kissed her, quick and certain, like he didn't want the sentence finished. Daisy responded straight away, like she always did when she stopped pretending she wasn't already halfway gone on him.

When they pulled apart, she tapped his cheek lightly. "Not bad, blondie," she said, breath a little uneven. "But I can't go like this." She stood, tugging at her outfit like it suddenly felt wrong.
Spider got up too, already moving toward his wardrobe.

"Then don't," he said simply. "Wear my shirt."
He threw one at her, Daisy caught it, raising an eyebrow. Spider had already pulled his own shirt off, she turned instantly out of instinct.

"Spencer," she muttered, though it lacked real conviction.

"Like what you see, Coopers?" he teased. She hesitated for half a second... then turned back anyway, pulling her own top off with far more confidence than she felt. Spider's smirk faltered for a second as he looked at her properly, the teasing dropping just slightly.

"Like what you see, Spence?" she shot back, slipping his shirt over her shoulders. The dynamic snapped right back into place as if nothing had happened.

By the time they got to the gig, everything was loud, crowds, bass, flashing lights that made the whole place feel like it was moving. Spider's hand found hers immediately in the crowd, fingers interlocking like it was instinct now more than choice.

"Ant, oi!" he called out, pulling Daisy with him through people until they reached his group.
Ant looked between them, then at Daisy, then back at Spider like he was piecing something together in real time.

"...Daisy?" he said awkwardly.

"Hello, Ant," she replied with a small smile, still wearing Spider's shirt. "I love your shirt," she added, nodding at his Spacey Jane tee like it was a normal conversation.

"Thanks," he said slowly. "Dusty's over there."
Spider leaned down slightly toward her ear.

"Royel Otis," he said. "That's who's playing." Daisy's eyes widened immediately.

"You're joking," she said, genuinely excited now. "I love them."

"I know you do," he replied simply, like it was obvious. Before she could respond, he tugged her forward again. But a moment later, Ant grabbed her arm gently, pulling her back just enough to lean in.

"I'm glad you're here, Daisy," he said quietly, nodding toward Spider without making it obvious. "He's different when you're here." Daisy followed his gaze. Spider was laughing, properly laughing.
And for once, it didn't look like he was trying to be anyone else.