alice hayes.

Twenty Seven Pansexual Aspiring Photographer maybe Actual Wreckage™

[al-icehayes]

peyton--ford​:

@al-icehayes​

Peyton had thoroughly enjoyed her last date with Alice. She had no idea where the other woman’s head was at but she was eager to see her again, so she’d invited her over for a movie night. Peyton had been feeling quite down about her brother again this week and looking forward to spending some time with Alice was already brightening her mood. “Hey!” She smiled, opening the door to her flat and moving aside so the brunette could come in. “What do you feel like ordering? Pizza?” She asked as she closed the door.

Alice took a deep breath, composing herself in the hallway outside of Peyton’s flat. Meeting Peyton was probably the best thing to happen to Alice since she had moved here, but she was still an absolute mess of a person. She thought she was doing pretty well hiding her fears and her unhealthy coping strategies, but she still needed to take a moment to adjust her mask. Alice waited after knocking and when Peyton opened the door, she grinned. “Hi!” She slid off her jacket as she walked inside. “Pizza would be great. Maybe we could get some of those chicken strips on the side too?”

[al-icehayes]

nicolahhayes​:

“A girl, huh?” Nicola chuckled, watching Alice’s face as she turned her gaze back from across the room. “And do I know this girl?”

Nicola knew she needed to just tell her siblings she met up with him. She’d spent the last weeks coming to terms in her own head with everything that happened, everything she thought about her marriage being a lie… and now she didn’t even know if she could trust her own mind. He was always so, so convincing. Her sister wouldn’t lie… but neither would he… right? After everything they’d been through? What was she supposed to do? “Just… you know… the usual. That it didn’t happen, that he misses me…”

“Yeah...” She smiled, suddenly feeling like she was back in high school. “Maybe? Her name is Peyton. She’s-... I think she’s Brooke’s cousin or something? I didn’t realise she was a Ford until today.” Alice sighed heavily before pulling Nicola into a hug. She could only imagine how awful she was feeling, but surely she believed Lauren, right? Sometimes she wondered if she should just tell her the truth about what happened with Jack and her, so that it would be more than Lauren’s word against his, but how could she? “I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with all this... There’s no way Lauren would make this up though. Whatever he’s saying will just be to save his own neck.”

[al-icehayes]

vivienne-walsh​:

Vivienne really found this whole thing so damn awkward. It was a mess, honestly. “Tea’s great.” She said with a little nod and doing her best to work up a smile. “Thanks.” She lanced around a little before she shrugged and turned back to Alice. “Oh… you know… can’t complain.” She probably could considering the short leash her parents had been trying to keep her on. She knew they were worried but it’s not like she was going to backslide. “You?”

~

“Great.” She nodded, moving to the kitchen to boil the kettle. “What do you take in it?” Gosh, she should know her sister’s tea preferences. “Eh...” Alice shrugged one shoulder as she prepared the tea. “You know... As well as you can be when your ex-kinda-almost gets murdered and your whole family are chill just living in murderville.” She sighed a little and looked back at her, “Sorry. I’m a bit of a mess right now. Don’t really have the energy to hide it, you know?”

[al-icehayes]

nikkiclayworth​:

“Right over here.” Nikki led her to a corner in the back where the guy was and quickly made the deal.

~

Alice remained quiet while Nikki made the deal and smiled as they left the guy. “Thanks. You’re a real lifesaver.”

[al-icehayes]

nicolahhayes​:

Nicola watched Alice for a second before turning her head to follow her gaze across the room. “What’re you lookin’ at?” She asked curiously as she scanned the room and then turned back with a little inhale, trying to figure out what to say. “I, uh—” She shrugged. “Not.. not really. I mean he did the other day–” She still hadn’t told anyone she’d met up with him.

~

“I- What? Um...” Alice wasn’t usually one to get flustered, but this town had had quite an effect on her, in more ways than one. All of her siblings knew that what Alice wanted more than anything was to fall in love and start a family. They probably knew that she was jealous of them all getting married and having kids, but they also knew that she was a mess that dated all the wrong people that wouldn’t stay longer than a few one night stands. Alice was good at flings. She was good at accepting that people only wanted one thing from her. She was not so good at having actual feelings. “Just... a girl.” The corner of her mouth twitched as her cheeks darkened a little.

“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes upon hearing that Jack still hadn’t given up. If they could just get him out of their lives, maybe Nicola would never need to know what she did. “Honestly, can’t he even give you space for just a second? What did he say?”

[jlowndesdaily]

Hair down or half up?

[al-icehayes]

peyton--ford​:

Peyton could feel herself beginning to blush at Alice’s words. God, what a girl she was being. She bet Matty would find her so ridiculously amusing. “Thank you…” She smiled softly, biting her lip lightly as she moved up to the bar. “Um, I think I’ll just have a vodka coke… thanks.” How generic.

~

Alice smiled too. Genuinely. It was so easy to forget all the bullshit when Peyton was around; it was nice, but it scared her a little too. For a moment, she watched Peyton’s lip as she bit down on it and had to quickly compose herself before her thoughts drifted back to the night they had. “Coming right up.” She ordered the vodka and coke and got herself a bourbon before turned back to the blonde. “Hey, listen.” Alice’s heart thudded against her ribcage, but she was just buzzed enough to ask. “I- Um... I don’t know if you just wanted a one night thing, or um... if you know, I’ve fucked around too long or-...” She took a breath, “Would you like to go out? Some time? With me?” Maybe Jackie could come back and interrupt this train wreck too...

[al-icehayes]

imogen-ford​:

Imogen smiled, nodding. “Yeah, it was lovely.” She still couldn’t believe it was the big day but she was happy for her mother and even for Lauren, after everything. “Yeah. Not bad… just a bit… wish I wasn’t carrying around a bowling ball.” She joked, putting a hand on her stomach and made a face. “You?”

~

“That was crazy with Jackie, though, right?” Never could have a normal day here in Baberton, England. “Oh, right.” Her eyes dropped to her stomach and though she smiled, Alice felt a pang of jealousy; yet another person with something she wanted and didn’t have. “When are you due?” She shrugged one shoulder and turned back to the mirror. “It’s been such a nice day, just... our parents should have been here.”

[lucas--bailey]

Lucas stared down at his sketchbook, letting out a huff as he yanked it off the table and scribbled over the drawing he’d just finished. “This is fucking bullshit-” He muttered.

@secretsummerstarters​

[al-icehayes]

The sound of scribbling caught Alice’s attention and she smiled a little when she saw it was Jackie’s son. Her stunt at the wedding had been crazy, but she wasn’t about to take it out on a teenager. “Oh, surely it wasn’t that bad?” Did he know that she was Lauren’s sister? They had never been properly introduced and she didn’t want to come across as some weirdo trying to start a conversation with him.

[al-icehayes]

peyton--ford​:

Peyton smiled lightly, looking back at Alice, studying her features briefly. She nodded, hopefully not looking too eager because that would be embarrassing, when Alice asked if she wanted to get a drink. “Yeah, sure. I’d love one actually.” She said. “Your dress is gorgeous, by the way..”

Alice’s eyes dropped to the floor as she smiled, grateful that her foundation was probably hiding the blush on her cheeks. “Thanks... And you’re looking absolutely stunning.” When she opened her mouth, Alice had intended on complimenting her outfit too, or maybe her hair, but it seemed the champagne was starting to hit her. “I-... Um... What can I get you?” She asked, making a move for the bar.

[al-icehayes]

nicolahhayes​:

Nicola smiled, nodding back at her sister. “Yeah… it really was.” Other than Jackie’s interruption but luckily that seemed to have been quickly forgotten. “It’s pretty great that she found Brooke.” She commented, looking over her shoulder, thoughts briefly drifting to her own wedding.

Alice had chosen to ignore what had happened with Jackie. If there had to be an interruption to the wedding, then frankly they could all be thankful that it was only someone pining for Lauren. “Yeah, it really is.” For a moment, Alice’s eyes drifted across the room and rested on Peyton, but she snapped out of it pretty quickly. “Hey, how are you doing? Jack isn’t still texting you, is he?”

[al-icehayes]

joanweston​:

She chuckled before passing a tissue from the counter to her. “ Just in case, but yes I may have gotten teary eyed a bit there.” Joan smiled before shaking her head, “Oh no, I’m good.”

Alice gratefully took the tissue, using it to finish fixing her make up. “It was so beautiful.” She smiled as she turned away from the mirror. “Are you having a nice time?”

[al-icehayes]

nicolahhayes​:

“Stop it, or I actually will…” Nicola joked, reaching up to brush at her eyes despite her words. She moved and put one arm round Alice’s shoulders, peering into the mirror as she did so. “Nope, I think I’m good… you okay?”

Alice laughed, fixing some of her concealer and turning her attention back to Nicola. Honestly, she was so glad that she had been staying with her. Alice wasn’t sure she would feel safe living by herself in that apartment. “Yeah.” She nodded, brushing off any negative feelings she was having. “Ceremony was just really beautiful, you know?”

[al-icehayes]

trevor--hayes​:

“I am not crying.” Trevor chuckled lightly, holding his son as he looked over at Alice for a moment. “I like to think my make up looks good.” He joked. “How are you doing? Honestly.”

“Uh huh. Sure.” Alice chuckled too, finally turning away from the mirror, nudging her brother as he made a joke. “I don’t know, I think you got a bit of foundation on your beard.” She released a proper laugh this time, but it faded quickly. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m doing okay.” He probably knew that was a lie, but she wasn’t going to bring down the vibe of Lauren’s wedding. Her emotions could be put on hold for one day. “How are things with you?”

[al-icehayes]

imogen-ford​:

“I’ll just nod and agree…” She chuckled quietly, looking back at Alice. She wondered if something was wrong but figured that she was just overcome with emotion for her sister. “Need a tissue?” She smiled a little, nodded as Alice said she could scoot over. Imogen turned to the mirror but she figured she looked as good as it was going to get, dragging her fingers through her curls.

“Yes, please.” She laughed too, moving over to make room for Imogen. “The ceremony was stunning, right?” Alice tried her best to focus on her sister’s happiness instead of her own misery. “You having a good day?”

[al-icehayes]

peyton--ford​:

“Pretty sure it’s you.” Peyton teased lightly, moving over to lean against the side as she looked at Alice. It was a nice day and she just wished Matt was here. “No, it’s fine, I… was just needing a moment.”

Alice released a small laugh at Peyton’s response, feeling fresh tears form in her eyes, but she caught them with her tissue before finishing her eyeliner. Being such a small town, Alice had expected Peyton to be here, but seeing her with the Ford family, she couldn’t quite fathom how she hadn’t realised that she was a Ford too. She finished reapplying her lipstick and turned to Peyton. “Yeah... me too.” Gosh she was beautiful. “You want to get a drink?”

[al-icehayes]

“I’m not crying, you’re crying.” Alice shifted her gaze briefly to the person behind her in the mirror before going back to fixing her eye liner. She couldn’t look at anyone for too long without tearing up, but it wasn’t entirely because this was her sister’s wedding. Of course, Alice was insanely happy for Lauren and she was honoured to be one of the bridesmaids, but selfishly, all she could think about was how this was everything she wanted, but didn’t have. She didn’t even have a date- how sad was that? “If you need the mirror, I can scoot over.”

@secretsummerstarters​