wayward

                   ↳ @vincewill

“Thanks,” Devyn smiled at him when he brought over two coffee’s for them. His presence always seemed to soothe her even if he wasn’t necessarily aware of it. It was why vince became so important to her after time. “Perfectly fine.” She whispered as she moved closer to lay her head on his shoulder. Least of all, she didn’t want to talk about this with Vince. Not yet, at least. It wasn’t right to burden him with her own problems when he was going through so much already. She loved him for caring, but he cared so much already – it was time for him to care for himself. “How’ve you been holding up?” she asked.

“You can tell me if you want. -- Or not.” Vince offered, knowing she wasn’t anywhere near ‘perfectly fine.’ But as Devyn moved closer, her head resting itself on his shoulder it seemed like that was her answer, him being there was enough. He didn’t want to press her either, as she never pressed him. The last face to face conversation they’d had already teetered on that line. One of his arms draped itself around her shoulders, shrugging at her question back at him. “Fine.” Even though, likely, she could likely sense his answer meant anything but too. “You know, now that I can drink in bars again and didn’t go raccoon rabid I guess.” He attempted to joke, hoping it would elicit some sort of smile from her. 

@vincewill

“Good, keep at that riff. We’ll start with it next time and build more on the song.” Vince instructed the student he was currently working with. He considered any lesson a good one when successfully teaching a decent chunk of a legendary rock song. The choice today? Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Californication. While reaching towards his desk to jot the progress down, he noticed Emily arrive, really glad his sister took him up on his offer after all. Giving her a smile in return and a nod of acknowledgement,  he excused his student. “Hey Em.” He greeted, shutting the notebook, walking over to her. “So, ready to get some lunch? I know I am.”

“Impressed at my stupidity? Really? If anyone knew I was doing this they’d judge me.” Falling back on the couch, she gestured for Vince to go through the plastic bag she’d managed to acquire, all the while stressing over her impending choice of hanging out. “Stupid question,” she’d been out of the game for too long. “Can we just—keep it to ourselves? Including not telling Leo? He’d probably think I was the worst mother in history of the world.” 

“Stupid for wanting to hang with your bro like old times for once?” Vince countered, digging into the bag, taking a look at the substance. Shrugging, he placed the stash aside for now, the more the better. “Too late. I already sent a mass text, remember? Come on Charlie, everyone knows you’re a good mom and Leo’s whipped no matter what.” Pulling out a lighter, he lit both blunts he already rolled, handing one over to her. “Here. Let’s just go already.” Taking a hit, he exhaled a significant puff of smoke, turning towards his sister with brows raised as if asking if she was good.

Devyn wasn’t sure how to process any of this for the simple fact that processing wasn’t her strong suit. The blonde often drowned her sorrows in alcohol and drugs – and in that moment, while she held a picture of herself and a boy she’d come to care for in ways she could still not comprehend, Devyn remembered the pills he had given her weeks prior. However, before she could reach for the bottle that had been tucked in her purse previously, she began to swipe at her tears when she noticed a set of footsteps approaching. “Hey, how are you?” the blonde forced out with an halfhearted smile in hopes that it would pull the attention away from her puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks, closing the phone a beat later. 

It didn’t take long for Vince to spot Devyn. He approached with two coffees, as his earlier text mentioned he was bringing; now that everything in the city began opening up again after the past week’s crazy outbreak situation.  “As promised.” He nodded down towards the cups. Although, his features fell, noticing her evident somber expression. Before anything, he moved a few steps forward, taking a seat. "Hey, fine. – Everything ok?“ Stupid question, but he really meant it meaning whether she told him or not, he did want to be there for her regardless.

The craziness of the main room at Waverly had slowly been getting too much for Maddie. It was impossible to hear yourself think and all she needed to do was focus on staying calm. Grabbing her bottle of water, the brunette pushed up from the floor and hurried to the back of the bar, an idea sparking in her mind. Glancing behind her, Maddie carefully slipped out of sight and climbed the staircase leading to the apartment above Waverly. Maddie had lost count the amount of times she’d ended up in the room after a night out, with Charlotte always willing to help her friend out. Grabbing the spare key, she unlocked it, breathing a sigh of relief at the silence inside.

“I don't blame you.” Truthfully, he was at his wit’s end in this bizarre situation too. It didn’t even seem real. “Sorry I didn’t see you earlier. You’re more than welcome to stick with us. I’ve got Leo and my other sister Emily down there too.” He nodded, shifting Harper slightly in his arms as her head dug itself into the crook of his neck. “Yeah, we’re good. Just waiting for word to get out of here. Harper was probably thrilled seeing another girl she knew.” Although at the mentioned of Charlotte, he pursed his lips. “Charlie ended up at the fire station. I got a hold of her but she told me things were getting crazy there after we heard the new alert.” He was banking on things being alright. Their lives were already complicated enough with everything going on, the last thing he needed was something happening to her, despite all their looming differences. He then noticed Maddie’s agitated expression towards her phone. “Your phone dead? I have some battery left.” He maneuvered his free hand to fish it out of his pocket, having managed plugging it in for a bit in a surprisingly empty outlet before all the lights killed. “You can text Wes, anyone you need to.”

Emily knew what he was about to say without needing him to speak the words. He hadn’t planned on leaving her, and she was suddenly grateful to have found him. Sure, their relationship was strained upon his arrival – but of all people, she needed her big brother right now. Before she could say something, she paused at the alert and gripped Vince’s hand as the lights closed. “What happened!? I don’t like this.” the girl whispered, blinking when the light was shined on her face. She wanted to be strong and brave, but she knew the situation seemed to only be getting worse with each passing hour.  Her eyes trained on Vince’s cellphone, brow furrowed when she realized charlotte was not responding. “Should … should be go get her?” 

“It’s ok, I’m here, Em, I’m here!” Vince didn’t move from his current spot in the darkness, giving his sister’s hand a reassuring squeeze. There was more indication behind the gesture, that despite her indifference towards him, he appreciated her allowing him to protect her at least for now. He knew he didn’t deserve pushing his luck, but maybe after this all subsided, she’d allow him in continuing trying. Before he could call Charlie again or answer Emily, Harper began frantically crying, blending in with the current chaos surrounding them. Shit. “Peanut, hey hey. Uncle Vince and Aunt Emily are here.” He gently whispered, leading the girls further back against the wall. No matter what, he’d put his own life on the line for the two of them. “Can you try holding her?” He asked, figuring Harper needed a female instead -- and no one better than one with Williams blood herself.