How it Began

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There's a loud pounding on his window late at night and he groggily pulls himself out of his bed to see who it is. He pulls up the blinds and sees Alice, he sighs and pulls up the window.

"What's up?" Fred questions, he knows her well enough to know something is bugging her, especially when she shows up so late at night. It's either something going on in her life or something with her parents.

"I slept with FP." She admits.

"Alice!" He scolds.

"I know! I'm horrible, God. I'm the actual worst." She flops down on his bed and buried her head in his pillows. "Can you do me a favour?"

"I'm not getting involved in your relationships."

"No, just," she points the pillow towards him. "Can you suffocate me?"

Fred shakes his head and shoves the pillow away. "You can't escape this so easily, Alice."

"I'm scum. I'm literal scum."

"You're not scum, Al."

"You're right, I'm lower than scum."

"You're confused."

"Understatement of the year." She groans. "I can't quit him." She croaks out, feeling her eyes getting misty. "I can't let go, I can't escape him, I love him too fucking much and I hate myself for it."

He's silent, doesn't know what to say, instead, he curls his arm around her. 

"But I love Hal, too." She sighs. "I'm so fucked up, my entire life is just so beyond fucked up Fred."

"It's not your fault."

She sniffles. "It's not?"

"No, your parents fucked you up really good. The only love you've ever seen was the love between your parents and I don't even think you can call that love. You're not to blame for how conflicted you are, you've never been taught how to actually handle shit."

"You don't have to make stuff up to make me feel better." She chuckles and wraps her arms around him. "But thank you. For everything."

"I love you, Alice, even when you make it damn near impossible." She laughs. "I'm always here for you."

"Can I stay here? Do you think your parents would be pissed?"

"I'm pretty sure they love you more than they love me, you're good."

_____

"Oh, Alice, good morning sweetheart." Fred's mom coos from the table.

"Good morning, Mrs Andrews."

"Did you sleep well, dear? Fred told us you were having a rough night."

"I did, thanks. I hope you don't mind my staying here?"

"No, not at all. You know you are always welcome, Alice."

"Thank you."

"I made some fresh banana blueberry muffins this morning, help yourself."

"You are a saint, I swear." Alice grabs a muffin from the counter and joins the two of them at the table.

Mr. Andrews comes downstairs and pecks a kiss to Mrs. Andrews' cheek. "Good morning dear, good morning, Alice."

"Good morning Mr. Andrews."

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yes," Mrs. Andrews stands up and look towards the teens. "we have some errands to run but stay as long as you'd like."

"Would you like to stay for dinner, dear?" Mr. Andrews asks Alice.

"I'd love to, if it's not too much trouble of course."

"Not at all, we'll see you later, you two have a good morning."

The adults leave and Fred turns to Alice. "How are you feeling this morning for real?"

"Guilty. Worried about him."

"Why are your worried about him? Did you hurt him or something?"

"No, his dad hurt him last night, bad. I had to take him to the hospital." She sighs just thinking about it. "I took him home after and he seemed okay but I mean that was after we... anyway, it was a quiet ride home and I just hope he's doing alright."

"Ew did you have sex in his hospital bed?"

"That's all you got from that? Look st the bigger picture, Fred!"

"I'm sorry, but people have died in those beds, Alice. It's gross."

"Believe me, I wasn't intending for it to happen, it just did."

"How bad did his old man hurt him?"

"Broke his arm."

"Fuck, poor guy."

"Tell me about it."

"So what does this mean for you two? You guys back together? Was it just a onetime thing? What?"

"I have no idea. I just know that it felt right."