Hey, guys!
Okay, let me start off by first saying that this is going to be a little- well, actually, it's going to be a LOT AU, because, first off, Sarah doesn't die. Second, she's going to be the same age as Ellie. Third, something something something. Anyways, this is kind of an introduction from the first chapter of LOU, so you can skip if you want, but IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE GAME, DO NOT READ! AT ALL! SPOILERS DEAD AHEAD!
…Anyway. Please review, and with that, here's the first chapter!
"Tommy- Tommy, look, he's the contractor, okay? I can't lose this job- I, I understand… let's talk about this in the morning, okay?"
A pale light flickered on Sarah Miller's face, illuminating her soft features with a dull glow. Rubbing her eyes, the young blonde blinked blearily at the sight of her father putting down his phone on the nearby end table.
Sarah gave her dad a small smile.
"Hey."
"Scoot," He answered, and obliging, she moved herself over towards the arm of the couch, feeling her tired, heavy limbs ache with every move she made. She curled up in a little ball, watching her dad rub his eyes tiredly.
"Fun day at work, huh?" She chuckled. Her dad let out a heavy sigh and glared at her with dark, almond-shaped eyes.
"What're you still doing up?" He said, in his distinctly southern accent his daughter shared with him as well. She liked the little accent- it was kind of like a link, like a connection only a daughter and father could have. "It's late."
Sarah leaned forward, suddenly remembering- it was her dad's birthday. She was staying up late, waiting for him to come home from work to give him his birthday present. "Oh, crud, what time is it?" She leapt off of the couch and anxiously stared at the watch, sighing in relief as it read: 11:30.
"It's way past your bedtime." She heard her dad mutter as she flopped back down on the sofa.
"But it's still today," She grinned in a smug little voice, and leaned down under the coffee table to retrieve her father's present.
"Honey, please not now, I do not have the energy for this," He began. Ignoring his comment, Sarah handed him the small white box.
"Here." She said, barely able to contain her excitement. Her dad eyed her, rubbing his forehead before taking the box.
"What's this?"
"Your birthday?" Sarah smiled sheepishly.
Her dad was silent as he opened the box. Sarah watched him the whole while, letting a smile play on her lips as she watched him struggle for words.
"You… kept complaining about your broken watch." She said, breaking the silence. "So I figured, you know…" Her dad put on the watch, and Sarah looked at him through nervous gray eyes. "You like it?"
"Honey, this is…" Her dad trailed off, and put the watch up to his ear.
"What?" Sarah asked, the smile creeping off her face as she did.
"It's nice, but I- I think it's stuck, it's not-"
"What? No, no, no, no-" She muttered, leaning over just to hear the watch ticking perfectly fine. She shoved her dad playfully away, grinning at his trick. "Oh, ha, ha."
"Where'd you get the money for this?"
"Drugs." Sarah offered. "I sell hardcore drugs."
"Good," Her dad smiled. "You can start helpin' out with the mortgage, then."
"Stsh," She snorted as her dad turned on the TV. "Yeah, you wish."
About ten minutes later, her dad was carrying her sleeping body upstairs to her bedroom, kissing her forehead before whispering, "G'night, baby girl,", and turning off the light.
Sarah allowed herself a tiny smile. It turned out to be a pretty okay day.
So, how'd you like the first chapter? I'm going to update in, like, a second, but still. Hoped you liked it.