Hayley arrived home and what happened earlier today was still ringing in her mind.

He had said they were friends.

Were they?

Impossible.

She would avoid him tomorrow and go early to get a front seat.

"A greeting would be nice"  Vandel said stopping Hayley in her tracks she turned over to him to find him with a bag of chips in his hands and of course watching a horror movie.

She couldn't understand how he could watch it so comfortably.

"I'm sorry I was lost in thoughts" she said.

"I noticed it's no problem there's some spaghetti if you're hungry" he said turning back to his film.

"Uncle Vandel" she called and he groaned.

"Don't add the uncle it makes me feel old" he complained.

"Well not to spoil it for you, but you are" she scoffed.

"When are you going to get married?" She asked.

"Love comes once for people like me and once lost it's gone forever" he said staring blankly at the wall.

"She choose another guy?" Hayley asked and Vandel turned to her.

"There was no choice she was in love with him" he shrugged.

"She didn't even look your way?" Hayley asked and Vandel turned and threw chips at her.

"We were friends that's enough for me" he gave a small smile turning back to his movie and Hayley frowned a little.

"But you're hot I'm sure you had tons of girls dying for you when you were in your prime" she said and he smiled as if remembering something.

"Let's say marriage isn't for me" he said and she scoffed.

"Besides I only need one baby girl" he said standing up and lifting her unto his neck.

"Vandel stop!" She complained and screamed.

He didn't seem to realize she wasn't a child anymore.

"You're no fun anymore" he said carrying her to the stairs.

"I'm a growing woman!" She complained and he placed her on her bed.

"You're still baby girl to me" he said pulling her cheeks before flicking her head.

"James and Killian would be here this evening stay in your room okay?" He asked and she sighed.

"Okay" she replied and he smiled and kissed her forehead before leaving the room she stared at his back as he left.

James and Killian were also part of her father's gang.

For some reason Vandel didn't let her make much contact with them and whenever they were around his attitude changed from playful to stoic but something told her he was always gloomy and only playful because of her.

She had caught him staring into nothing a lot of times and he was for some reason more active at the night.

She heard a beep on her phone and looked to see an unknown number.

She barely spoke to anyone so the beep had shocked her.

The message read.

*hello new friend*

She froze.

Goodness no!

He was serious, she had thought he was just teasing her and he would disappear but it seemed he wanted to linger more.

She ignored the message.

.....

She had heard the front door open and already suspected that James and Killain had arrived.

She of course avoided the living room they naturally scared her .

She snuck into Vandel's room everything was practically white.

It was too bright for his own good.

She walked over to his bookshelf and pulled out a photo album she had seen earlier but hadn't the chance to look through it.

Vandel wouldn't be up for like two hours plus she had enough time.

Pulling open the book she was first met with a picture of who she believed was Vandel and her mother they could pass off as twins.

Scrolling through she found one of her father and she looked at the man again.

He practically looked like the ones in the living room and he was coated with tattoos not that her mum was any different but she didn't have half as much as he did.

She knew her mum was the bad girl but Vandel had told her she held unto her principles and didn't really do anything bad.

She just seemed to like the gothic vibes.

Her father on the other hand was a maniac and had a thing for burning things down.

In most of the pictures, there was always a cigarette in his hands.

She took a while to look at herself and then at the picture of her parents wondering how she was their child.

She heard the door rattle and she froze.

Vandel!

She closed the book and went under the table.

She watched him walk over to his piggy bank-like safe and pull out wads of money he looked around the room before leaving again.

She came out from under the table heart pounding and all.

She knew her uncle was stinking rich what scared her was how he was always at home every day and made so much noney.

Returning the book to the shelf she fled the room and was returning to her room when she heard a voice.

"Hayley!" The voice called and she knew it was either James or Killain how had he seen her the corridor was dimly lit?

Having no choice she came down the stairs and Vandel frowned a bit but motioned to her.

"Hey uncle James, uncle Killain" she greeted and they smiled.

Killian had longer hair, unlike James. While James had a bigger stature than Killian and they were all covered in tattoos Killian even had some on his face.

HAYLEY'S POV

"She's all grown up can't believe you were so small not so long ago" Killain said and I smiled shifting closer to Vandel.

"Come" James called and I froze not moving.

"Hayley?" He called confused and I smiled and looked over to Vandel he nodded to me that it was alright.

I walked over to James and he smiled and placed an envelope in my hand.

"Use it as you like, and have some fun at your age you're not supposed to be home every night don't they have some kind of frat parties" he asked and I gave a small smile.

"I'll rather stay home" I replied.

"Yeah and don't put ideas into her head" Vandel complained.

"Well, we better start going" Killain said rising to his feet and I have never felt so small.

"Take care of yourself Hayley and let us know if anything is wrong, we'll take care of it" Killain said ruffling my hair.

"Good night little one" James smiled doing the same before they left and my cheeks felt warm.

I had many father figures in my life but not really any mother figure.

They were always nice to me whenever they came be it James, Killain or Quavo.

I turned to find Vandel slouched on the couch.

"What do you think is in the envelope?" I asked.

"Cash" Vandel replied putting a book I suppose he was reading over his face.

"You're sleeping here?" I asked.

"Upstairs is too far" he groaned and I giggled a bit before heading back to my room.

■■

AN

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Thanks for choosing to read this story!
I'll be updating twice a week on random days.

Stay tuned!