It had been years since Alice had last seen both of her parents in the same room. She couldn't quite recall the very last time she had been in the presence of both her mother and her father, but that had all changed now. She dropped her bag at the front door and rushed around the corner to where her mother was sitting awkwardly, legs crossed ever so smartly, as her father looked the total opposite in his wife beater, and boxer shorts that were long overdue for a replacement.
"Mom." She said quietly as her eyes met with the woman, she thought she would never see again.
"I think you're old enough now to call me Liz." Her mother said, waving her hand in front of herself as though It were no big deal she had shown up out of the blue.
Alice let out a laugh in disbelief. "Right. Liz." She said with a short nod. She had completely forgotten about FP who was lingering behind her, feeling entirely out of place.
"Is this your boyfriend?" Elizabeth Smith questioned her teenaged daughter.
Alice opened her mouth to protest. She had to turn her head slightly to look at the boy after being reminded of his presence.
"No. We're just friends. Thought I'd make sure Ali got home safely in the dark." FP answered politely.
Alice's eyes darted over to her father when she heard him snort in response. She knew he didn't approve of her friendship with FP purely because he was a boy, but she didn't care. The boy was good to her better than her own father was that was for sure.
"Oh, how sweet." Elizabeth cooed, looking between the two teenagers. "Wait, wait I know you! You're that Jones boy." She laughed, clapping her hands together as she tilted her head to get a better look at him. "I went to school with your old man. You look just like him. It's uncanny." She said in admiration.
Alice didn't have to glance back at the boy to know how uncomfortable he was feeling just hearing his father mentioned. She didn't know what to do to make him feel better. Her mother was like a stranger to her by now and reigning her in wasn't something Alice knew how to do any longer. "Mom-Liz, what are you doing here? You didn't call. We don't have any spare beds." She pointed out, wanting to bring the conversation away from Forsythe Senior.
Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm not staying the night Alice. I just wanted to see you tonight. Your step father and I have news and I just couldn't wait to tell you." She beamed.
Alice felt her throat close up ever so slightly at the mention of her uncle, the man her mother chose to run off with. He would always be her father's brother to her. She could never bring herself to see him as a father figure, never. "News?" She asked smally, fingernails pressing into the palm of her hand as she tried to contain her anxious thoughts.
"You're going to be a big sister." She grinned, looking across at her eldest daughter.
Alice let out a shaky breath as the room felt like it was closing in on her. She didn't dare look across at her father because she knew he was filled with so much hate toward the woman already, this would surely push her over the edge.
She jumped slightly as a hand pressed gently against her back. Her whole demeanour changed upon realising it was only FP offering his support. He was the only person who knew what this meant to her, how hard it all was to swallow. "That's great, mom." She said quietly. "I have to walk FP out now. It's getting late and I want to go to bed." She said quickly.
FP didn't say anything when Alice grabbed his hand and started marching back toward the front door. He didn't say anything again when they made it outside into the warm summer breeze. He didn't have a reference point for this situation, but he'd be damned if he didn't try and offer some kind of comfort to his friend. He understood better than anyone how complicated families were, shitty ones at that.
Alice dropped his hand and placed a hand against her chest as she tried to find enough air to breathe. Everything felt like it was out of her control and she couldn't quite handle it. She looked over at FP before her vision started to blur. She closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath, one which was soon replaced with her inability to take in a breath at all.
"Alice." He said quietly, keeping a short distance between them because he didn't want to overcrowd her. She clearly needed a moment, and some personal space.
She held her hands out, unable to speak. She just needed him to stay where he was while she caught her breath. Her head felt like it was spinning out of control. It was as if the world was crashing down around her. Her mother walked back in as if nothing had happened and expected her to just be okay with the fact that she was moving on and starting a new family. It wasn't right. It wasn't fair. She already had one family. She already had a kid. Why did she need another one?
"I can't." She whispered as hot tears finally fell down her cheeks, landing on the concrete beneath her in the tiniest of droplets. "I can't do this." She whispered, feeling like she might collapse.
FP stepped close to her as quickly as he could, wrapping his arms around her time frame. She let go of the weight on her shoulders, her body falling into his embrace, so he was holding all of her weight. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, whispering, "you don't have to, I've got you."