Alex's POV:

Mickey was in my house.

Let me repeat that:

Mickey was in my house and she was spending the night.

Granted, she showed up on my doorstep drunk off her ass, but still. Out of all the houses she could’ve stumbled upon, her hazy mind decided to pick mine. Knowing that did make that hope of mine bubble just a little bit--you know, the hope that she and I could actually have something after all.

That being said, just because I knew she was one hundred percent safe for once under my roof didn’t mean I slept like a baby the rest of the night.

Spoiler alert: I didn’t.

I tossed and turned like crazy, the image of Mickey’s genuine fear that she’d turned out like her father plaguing my mind. All the attitude, the back talk, the drinking--was it all because of him? It certainly made sense, the way she’d talked about him and how sucky of a dad he was. I mean seriously, who abandons their kid for hookers and booze?

I ended up giving up on sleep for the night once the sun peaked through my window, the bright rays of light feeling like fire against my tired eyes. I let out a low breath and flung the comforter off, deciding that if I wasn’t going to get any more rest thanks to the siren currently sleeping in the guest room, then I might as well get some damn coffee to get me through the day.

I crept down the stairs, trying hard to keep any sounds I made to the bare minimum. The wood panels on the steps, creaked softly against my weight, and I winced each time in worry that I’d prematurely wake my parents up. After all, my mom had been surprisingly generous and understanding last night with Mickey. I knew that had it been someone else--Jack, for example--she would’ve called his parents, no matter the hour, and given him a piece of her mind for acting like an idiot like any good mother would do. Granted, she wasn’t actually his mother, but she’s treated him like a son ever since that hairy SOB walked into my life, so a scolding like that would only be given out of love.

As I made it down the last step, I shuffled towards the kitchen to grab a mug, ready to get that black liquid gold into my system when I froze mid step, my eyes glued on the feminine figure patiently sitting at the kitchen table.

“Mind telling me what’s going on?” My mom asked softly, raising a patient brow in my direction.

I gulped, my heart thumping in my chest as I was thoroughly unprepared for such an interaction with my mom, especially on zero sleep. I’d hoped that after that much needed boost of java, I’d have a brainstorm on just how to talk to my mom about the rebellious girl in my life that up until now, she knew nothing about.

Well. Scratch that. She might’ve heard Rian’s mom talk about Mickey once or twice. They do like to gossip, after all. But that’s about it.

Like a coward, I chose to play dumb. “About what, exactly?”

“Alex.” My mother frowned as she snapped her fingers for me to sit next to her instead of standing awkwardly a few feet away from her. I nervously plopped my sorry ass into the open chair to her right. “There’s a random girl who I’ve never met in our house after she showed up pissed out of her mind, so you better start telling me who she is.”

I shivered, knowing that if I didn’t start telling her the truth, things were bound to get ugly for me. So, I decided to start with the basics. “Her name is Mickey.”

She nodded, egging me on to continue.

“...and she goes to my school. She’s nineteen and--”

“Are you friends with her?” She cut me off, probably not really caring about such basic details like I’d given her so far. “Because the girl--Mickey, was it? She seemed pretty bull headed when she told me you two weren’t friends.”

I had to snort. “She’s bull headed in a lot of ways.”

“So no to being friends, then?” The hopeful undertone in her voice was obvious.

I shrugged, hating to disappoint her. Yet, I couldn’t give up on Mickey, either. So, I replied honestly, “Not yet, anyway. I’m working on it.”

She stared at me, her brown orbs perplexed. “And why in the world would you want to do that, dear?” She pursed her lips, wincing slightly at the harsh words that’d just come out of her mouth. Gingerly, she attempted to rephrase. “No offense to the girl, but she doesn’t exactly seem like the ‘friends’ type.”

“So she keeps telling me.” I smirked tiredly.

My mom’s brows lowered, even more confused now. “But--”

“I’m not giving up on her, okay?” I told her before the judgements could continue. I knew she meant well, but when it came to Mickey, the only person that seemed to have any faith that she could be someone better than the bitch she portrayed was me. “I mean, you saw her last night. She was obviously drunk because that’s all she had to get her mind off of the shit situation she’s in with her dad. And I’m pretty sure all that attitude is because of that too. She needs someone to have faith in her, whether she wants to or not.”

She was silent for a moment. “I do feel for her, but why does it have to be you?”

“What do you mean?”

My mom sighed, continuing, “Think about it. You’ve got a lot on your plate this year. Senior year, your band--and you’ve just begun getting your own life around after--”

“I know, mom.” I cut her off before she could finish that sentence, my heart quickening its pace once more. I didn’t need her to mention it. We all knew what she was going to say, and I didn’t need a reminder of how dark my life had been a year prior. “But maybe that’s just it, okay? Maybe I need to help Micky because I see a bit of myself in her. What I could’ve been if I didn’t have you guys to help me.”

She nodded slowly, and I could tell she was holding back her tongue. After all, she knew what I had gone through, and she was probably horrified at the thought of me returning to such a life if I was exposed to someone like Mickey. Then again, she probably realized that the opposite could be true as well, and I could be a positive influence on the troubled teen currently residing in our guest room. So, instead of trying to convince me to stop my self assigned task of befriending the stubborn red head, she just gave me the tiniest smile and told me, like any good mother would, “Well...just...be careful.”

I smiled back, relief filling my veins that she was on my side about this. “Love you too, mom.”

She nodded, silently returning the affection before gesturing behind me, her smile growing into a warm, welcoming one despite her obvious worry. “Looks like our guest is has awoken from her slumber.”

I spun around to find Mickey standing awkwardly next to the hallway she’d come out of, looking like she’d seen better days. Her hair was knotted and going every which way as if she’d come out of a wind tunnel, her makeup from the previous night was smeared in a way that reminded me of the Joker from Batman, and the expression on her face screamed hungover.

In other words, she was a mess.

“Ugh.” She groaned, pressing her palm to her temple. “How much did I drink last ni--” She froze as her hazy vision zeroed in on me and my mom sitting in front of her, and a wave of recognition flew across her face. “Oh, fuck. It wasn’t a nightmare.”

“And a good morning to you too, Mickey.” I had to laugh, knowing the killer headache she was currently experiencing was punishment enough.

She glared at me, opening her mouth to snap some smart ass remark, I’m sure. But then, my mom spoke up, “How’d you sleep, love? I hope the bed was comfortable enough.”

Mickey stared at the older woman in front of her, probably wondering why she wasn’t getting yelled at for intruding in the middle of the night, but when nothing came, she stumbled back a response. “I slept like a rock if that’s what you’re asking.”

My mom nodded her head, pleased. She met my eyes for a second before rising from her seat. “Good. Now how about a good old fashioned English breakfast, eh? I know you must be starving, and I won’t take no for an answer.”

Mickey opened her mouth to probably say just that, but my mother, who was stubborn in her own way, gave the younger girl a firm stare that looked innocent enough on the outside, but to anyone on the receiving end of such a stare knew that you don’t want to mess with her. Taken aback (and maybe too hungover to argue) Mickey just bobbed her head once and my mom was in the kitchen before she could utter another word.

She let out a sigh, watching my mom fixing our breakfast from afar before reluctantly taking an open seat next to me. I waited for her to begin, to say something in explanation for her ending up at my house of all places, but she stayed silent. I cleared my throat, keeping my gaze on her in hopes she’d get the hint.

She glanced up at me, frowning. “What?”

I raised a brow. “Are you going to say anything about this? Or are you just going to sit here and eat my mom’s food like it’s not a fucking big deal that you’re here right now?”

“You want to know why I’m here and not at lover boy’s house, is that it?”

I shrugged, that thought coming to my head once or twice. Or twenty. “Well, yeah, partly anyway.”

She rolled her bloodshot eyes. “I can’t exactly explain it myself. I remember drinking a shitload and having a hell of a time, but I...” She paused, narrowing her eyes as she thought hard to recall the memories. “I don’t know. Somehow I left the bar and fully intended on having more fun with Devon but...I ended up here.”

Though I had a million other questions, I didn’t want to pressure her, especially in the state she was currently in. “Well. Thanks for thinking of me, I guess.”

“Don’t get your hopes up. I think it was dumb luck I ended up here.”

“Well dumb luck or not, I’m glad you did.” I shot back easily. “Who knows where you could’ve ended up.”

She bit her lip, her expression telling me there’d been other nights where she’d ended up in far worse situations.

“We didn’t say anything to your dad, by the way.” I hesitantly continued, watching as her arm flinched at the mention of her old man.

Outwardly, she tried to put on a tough, unwavering front. “Like he’d even care where I was.”

I pursed my lips. “Yeah, from what I gathered last night, he seems like a pretty big asshole.”

She snorted. “So I take it I talked about him last night?”

“You mentioned him indulging in hookers and booze, among other things.” I paused for a beat, watching her carefully before adding, “You were also pretty freaked out that you were turning into him.”

She stared at me, caught off guard that she’d been so open with me the previous night. After all, prior to this, any mention of her personal life had been strictly off limits. “Drunk me really has no filter then, does she?”

“I’m glad she doesn’t.” I told her bluntly. “Might learn a thing or two from her.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”

“It got you here, didn’t it?” I smirked.

She huffed. “Yeah, well you’re right. I guess it could be worse. I mean, the bed was pretty nice and the breakfast on top of that--”

My eyes widened, shocked to hear anything remotely positive come out of her mouth. “What’s that?”

She let out an annoyed groan, that spark in her eyes flashing back in tenfold. “I’m saying thank you for not kicking me out to the curb, okay?!”

I couldn’t help it, I grinned like an idiot. “Wow, I never thought I’d be so lucky to hear such sweet words--”

“Fuck off.”

“Hey, you can’t take it back.” I teased, goofily smiling at the grumpy girl next to me. “You said thank you.”

She glared at me, her hungover gaze still laced with steel. “Don’t make me regret it.”

I threw my hands up in innocence, remembering that I had to take baby steps with her. And this was one hell of a step whether she wanted to admit it or not. Happy enough with my victory, I conceded. “Okay, fine. No teasing.”

She nodded, pleased that I’d stopped as her lips curled up into the tiniest hint of a smile. Then, she let a second go by before adding, “Oh, and Alex?”

I stared back at her.

“If you could not tell anyone about this--Jack, Rian, my parents--I’d...you know...really appreciate it.”

I swallowed, knowing it would be a challenge not to say anything. After all, the girl I’d been after for months was literally in my house having breakfast with me. Why wouldn’t I want to tell my friends about it?

But for her? If it meant her actually learning to trust me, then I’d sew my mouth shut in a heartbeat. Which was why I nodded, and told her with as much honesty as I could muster, “Yeah, of course.”

Notes

Another update! A little faster than last time, so I'm improving :) Lol enjoy!