You Look Pretty Low

[Peyton]

1 week later, and it was a Friday afternoon. Trinity, me, Alex, Jack, Zack and Rian were all in Sport together, playing Dodgeball. Luckily, we were all on the same team.

“Hey, Pey,” Alex called, catching a ball aimed at him

“Yeaah baby?” I called back, ducking

“My mum wants to meet you tomorrow,” Alex shouted

I froze in my spot. Rian had to push me out the way to avoid being hit.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, still shocked

“Be careful,” he chuckled

I turned my attention back to Alex after throwing a ball to Jack.

“So what do you think?” he asked, walking closer to me

“I’m not the type of girl you bring home to your parents. Especially mum’s don’t seem to like me or my sister,” I said hesitantly

“Please Pey?” Alex begged

I ignored Trinity’s laughter, and sighed.

“Sure. But don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I muttered

Alex just grinned, before throwing a ball.

*

[Saturday afternoon]

I fidgeted with the edge of my bright blue dress, sitting nervously in silence as Alex drove me to his house. We hadn’t really said much since he picked me up, my only speech being ‘fuckk off’ to my sister as she shouted innuendos at us on our way out.

“Jack, Zack and Rian are going round to yours soon,” Alex said randomly

“What?” I asked, confused, snapping out of my daydream

“To keep Trin company. Well, that’s what Jack said anyway. Zack’s going for a completely different reason,” Alex chuckled

“So they’re talking again now?” I mused

“If rough sex in back alleys count, then yes…they’re talking,” Alex smirked

“That sounds like my sister,” I laughed

Alex smiled at me, resting his arm round the back of my headrest, the tension between us gone for now. A few minutes later, he pulled up outside a nice looking house. I immediately froze up, making Alex chuckle. He kissed my cheek before getting out the car, helping me out after.

“Just relax, okay?” he whispered, unlocking the front door

I just held my breath, wrapping my white cardigan tighter around me, slowly walking in behind him. As soon as Alex shut the door, a friendly-looking brunette lady walked towards us.

“Hello, you must be Paige Hayes. I’m Linda Gaskarth,” the woman beamed

“Peyton,” I corrected

“Huh?” she asked, raising an eyebrow

“My name’s Peyton Hayes,” I repeated as politely as I could

“Oh…right…well, do come in,” she said quickly

I took off my shoes as she walked back down the corridor, slipping my hand into Alex’s.

“You didn’t even tell her my name properly?!” I hissed

“I did! I swear!” Alex hissed back

I rolled my eyes, letting Alex lead me down into his kitchen. His mum stood in front of the oven, turning around with a tray of biscuits in front of her as we entered.

“Fresh from the oven. Would you like one?” Linda smiled

“Erm, no, I’m okay thanks,” I replied, shaking my head

His mum frowned slightly, but set the tray down, motioning Alex and I to sit down on the stools beside her.

“So Peyton, tell me about yourself,” Linda cooed

“Um, there’s not much to say really,” I said nervously

“Come on now, just a few things. Like, where are you from? Where did you meet my darling Alex?” Linda smiled

“Um, I don’t know where I’m originally from, but I spent about 7 years in Boston before my sister and I went into the child agency…”

“You’re a foster kid?” Linda gasped

“Mum…” Alex hissed in warning

“Is there something wrong with that?” I asked through gritted teeth, a smile frozen on my lips

“No, nothing at all. Do carry on,” Linda smiled, hers now fake too

“Our last home was in Tennessee, but we moved here in January. I met Alex in detention on my first day,” I explained

“Detention on your first day?” Linda frowned

“Yuh huh,” I said fake-sweetly

I didn’t see what Alex mouthed to his mum, but I knew that she didn’t like me. Pfft. They never liked me or Trinity. Then Alex turned his head to face me.

“I’ll give you a tour of the house before lunch,” Alex said cheerfully

I opened my mouth to protest when his grip tightened slightly on my hand, his eyes signalling me to follow him. So I did. As soon as he’d shut the kitchen door, he turned to face me fully.

“That went well,” he hissed sarcastically

“What? I was honest with her! I didn’t think you’d want me to lie,” I muttered back

“You could’ve sugar-coated it a bit!” Alex exasperated quietly

“Are you saying I should be ashamed of being a foster kid?” I growled

“No, that’s not what I said,” Alex sighed

I glared at him before rolling my eyes.

“Let’s just go on this fuckking tour already,” I grumbled

About half an hour later, Alex and I were sitting in his room. Well, I was sitting with my arms folded on his bed and he was sitting on a chair next to me with his guitar in his lap. As much as I was enjoying his singing, I knew it had been a mistake to come here. I knew it had been a mistake to meet his mum. And I knew Alex knew it too. But he just sat there, humming and strumming, making me irritated.

“I’m just gonna call Trin to pick me up,” I muttered, pulling out my phone

“I didn’t think you two could drive,” Alex frowned, stopping his strumming

“Just because we can’t afford a car doesn’t mean we can’t drive. We both passed about a year ago. I’m going to call her – she can use Zack’s car,” I spat

Alex put his guitar down, stopping me from texting by grabbing my hands as he sat down next to me on the bed.

“Pey, please don’t leave. Please! Is it because of my mum?” Alex sighed

“She didn’t like me from the moment I said Trin and I are foster kids, Alex. Of course it’s because of your mum,” I snapped

“Look, I know my mum’s a bit prejudiced, but she’s my mum – that’s just how she is. Can’t you just stay here for me? Please?” Alex begged

“I really don’t want to,” I replied, shaking my head

“We don’t get much time to ourselves, Pey. It’s always with your sister, or with the rest of the guys,” Alex groaned

“Do you have a problem with my sister?” I asked coldly

“Of course I don’t! I’d really like just to spend some time with you though. I really like you, and I don’t want to mess this up,” Alex said honestly

His big brown eyes searched my blue ones deeply for any kind of sympathy. Then he smiled.

Damn, I need to practice hiding my emotions.

“So you’ll stay?” Alex asked softly, his thumb rubbing the back of my hand

“Only if we don’t go downstairs,” I said defeatedly

Alex grinned and nodded, pressing a kiss to my lips.

*

[Trinity]

It took the boys half an hour to get to mine. I was sitting on the couch in a tiny pair of black booty shorts and a low-cut white tank-top when the doorbell rang, so I leapt up, reaching the door before Sue could.

“What took you so fuckking long?” I muttered, letting Jack, Zack and Rian in, “you live next door Ri!”

Because Zack’s eyes had dropped directly to my legs, Jack had to guide Zack down the corridor.

“My fake-ID still hasn’t arrived yet, so I had to borrow a fake-ID from a kid across town to get the supplies you asked for,” Rian snorted, walking into the living room

“I’ll use my own fake-ID next time then,” I snorted

“What supplies?” Jack asked curiously, jumping into an armchair

“Whisky and rum,” Rian shrugged, handing me quite a few bottles

Zack gulped as I grinned, taking the bottles and sitting down on the couch. Then Sue poked her head round the door.

“Hello Rian! Trinity, you didn’t tell me you’re having friends round!” she beamed

“These aren’t my friends,” I shrugged

The boys all looked at me confused, Sue doing the same.

“This is my fuckk,” I smirked, pointing at Zack, “and these are his friends,”

Sue paled visibly before scuttling away. I chuckled, pulling Zack to sit down beside me.

“Why are you and Pey always horrible to Sue and Donald?” Rian asked wearily

“Because it’s fun. Now, choose a film,” I retorted

[4 hours later]

The four of us were considerably drunk now, having continually shotted whisky and rum for the past hour. We were now up in mine and Peyton’s room, Zack and I sitting on my bed, Jack and Rian on Peyton’s bed.

“Y’know, I’m really glad the Hayes sisters moved here!” Rian slurred

“Why’s that?” I giggled, taking a swig of whisky

“Because Alex has finally stopped being a player,” Rian grinned widely

“And because Zack finally has a fuckk!” Jack boomed

Rian had to quickly hold onto the giggling Jack as he nearly fell off the bed. Zack blushed deeply, hiding his face in my hair. I just smirked, placing the bottle down on my bedside table.

“Now that you’ve reminded me…” I grinned, trailing off as I trailed my hand up Zack’s thigh

As I managed to stand upright, dragging Zack with me, Rian and Jack whooped and hollered as we stumbled out of the room and into the bathroom. I locked the door behind me, pushing Zack up against the shower.

“Your foster…people might find out,” Zack protested weakly as I pulled his t-shirt over his head

“Are they in here?” I purred, raking my nails down his chest

Zack looked around before shaking his head.

“Exactly,” I grinned

As I knelt down and reached for his zip, Zack’s eyes went wide in a mix of lust and shock. I smirked, before pulling his jeans down.