"I don't think my dad is my father," I sniffled quietly into my phone to Talia, who didn't really know how to respond. The box was thrown across my bed, papers everywhere. I had found the one I was looking for, the paternity test. It said that Teddy Conrad was not my father.

I had taken the box out of my Mom's closet while she was out. If she knew what I had done, she would have killed me. She keeps pushing us away, just so she doesn't have to tell us the truth. Then she's all, I'm your mother and I love you and all that nonsense.

I had walked into my Mom's room to hear her say I love you to someone on the phone. I asked her who she was talking to, and she made a whole fuss about it being Deacon.

Looking through the internet, I saw a lot of pictures of my Mom with Deacon Claybourne. My Uncle Deacon that had his arm slung over my shoulder when we were at Mom's Tour. The Uncle Deacon I had known since I was a baby. Deacon was such a cool guy and such a good guitar player. I hoped that I could be able to play like him someday. He's been around for as long as I can remember, playing guitar for my Mom. What I didn't know was that they dated before my Mom married my Dad, who I guess isn't actually my father.

The next morning, I was picking at my oatmeal when my Mom suddenly spoke out of the blue, saying how she and Deacon are going to the CMAs together. I of course had to point out to Daphne that they were a boyfriend and girlfriend, just like before Teddy came into the picture. My Mom tensed up at this. I'm going to find the answers. My first guess is obviously Deacon.

After school, I took a taxi over to Deacon's. After slowly climbing the steps, I knocked on the wood slowly, waiting for it's owner to appear. The door slung open and he appeared, wearing a nice black shirt, probably getting ready for the CMAs, which of course he was going to with my Mom.

'Hey, what are you doing here... you okay?" It was then I noticed how I had the same facial features as he did. It was crazy, how I could be a mix between Deacon Claybourne and Rayna Jaymes.

"I think..." I took a deep breath. There was no going back after this.

"What is it?" Deacon's voice softened a bit. At the same time I thought I saw his shoulders tense. Maybe he already knew and was betrayed about what my mom decided to do with me. She married Teddy just so he could be my father. Look how that ended. Alternating weeks between Mom and Teddy when Mom was not on tour and when Dad was not working on his mayoral election.

"I think that you may be my father," I muttered quietly. His eyebrows raised and his face turned a bright pink. It was like one of those moments when time just kind of froze. He was looking at me and I was holding back tears. I was right, and it was true.

The silence froze when Deacon shifted his position leaning against the door. He avoided eye contact with me, looking above me. "I honestly don't know anything about it, I'm sorry. You need a ride home?"

'No, it's okay. I'll walk." I slowly trotted down his driveway, backpack slung over my back, my glasses slipping down my nose. I quickly readjusted them. It was then I realized I had no home. If Deacon really was my father, then Mom had lied to both of us. On the other hand, my Dad wasn't really my Dad. The only person left was Daphne, of course I loved her and all, but she belonged with both Mom and Dad- I mean, Teddy.

Once I got back to the house I was happy to find that it was empty. Teddy took Daphne to her soccer game, and Mom was with Deacon getting ready for the CMAs. I didn't really want to know the outcome of that conversation either. He was probably going to confront her about it, and the idea of that made my stomach flip.

I had to do it. I had to run away. There was no point in me sticking around to see the messy fighting between Teddy and Mom, god knows what will happen with Deacon.

I went up to my room, taking the books out of my backpack. Inside I put the usual things that a person needs to run away. I needed to get out of Nashville before I could think of my next move. Going back into my mother's closet, I found the spot where she kept the money stash, it was only half a million dollars (in hundreds of course). I shoved as many as I could into the side pocket of my backpack. Walking down the hall, I was ready to leave until I passed the music room.

Walking in, I remember all the times I saw Mom sitting by the piano, humming a tune and writing on a piece of paper. It was my dream to get to do the same thing as my Mom, and again she hadn't failed to crush that one. It was all 'you can be a singer when you graduate college' over and over. Why did I need an education if I knew that I was going to go off and get a record deal and earn my life by singing songs while playing my guitar? People told me I was good enough all the time, singing was my life.

I found my mom's LP and CD collection. She only played her songs that she sang with Deacon when she was crying and thought no one else was awake. I would stand outside the door and listen to her. I wanted to run in and give her a hug, but I just couldn't. She said we needed each other, and yet she hid this from us, from me. I grabbed my favorite cd of them, A Life That's Good, which had them both on the cover. I shoved it into my backpack.

I was in the kitchen, debating whether or not I wanted to eat before leaving when Daphne bursted through the door, with Teddy in tow. She had her navy blue soccer jersey, socks, cleats, and shorts all on, with her gym bag and backpack in her hand. Teddy was wearing a suit and tie as usual, and looked exhausted (as usual).

"Hey Maddie, are you ready to go to my place for tonight?" Teddy stated in an official voice.

"Dad said we can watch the CMAs! Right Dad?" She looked up at him, and it was then I noticed that I was never going to look Teddy in the eyes. He was never going to give me the same look he gave Daphne. Deacon was never going to look at me like that. Nobody would.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I had gotten a text message from Talia. It was a link to a youtube video, with the message that the pregnant blonde in the video was her friend Quinn Fabray. The video was a group of high schoolers in golden dresses singing 'Don't Stop Believin'. According to the video, it was the Showchoir Regional that took place in Ohio last Spring. The pregnant girl Quinn, looked really wheezy. The girl with the long brown hair was really good and so was the black diva. Watching them made my eyes tear. This was my dream.

"Hey, what's that?" I noticed Daphne over my shoulder trying to see the video.

"Show Choir competition," I mumbled, watching the black girl belt notes that gave my skin chills.

"Can we do that?" Daphne squealed.

"No, Mom said we couldn't. Remember?"

"Oh yeah. I gotta go get my toothbrush." Daphne announced, walking up the stairs. Once she was gone, I went back and texted Talia:

Can you get me Quinn's number?