Hey everybody. This is my first fanfic and I hope everybody likes it… I've KINDA based off of my own life experiences… But only kind of. Anyways, let me know what you think!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except for Alexandria at this point. And the plot line, of couse.

Summary: Brookelyn Penelope McCann had the perfect life. A mom and dad who loved her and great friends. Unfortunately, perfect doesn't last forever. Everything suddenly ended thanks to a stray bullet and a string of bad events.

Chapter 1

It's never something you expect, for your mother to die. The mother who raised you and gave you the wonderful life you're accustomed to. The beautiful woman who comforted you when you cried and congratulated you when you excelled.

My mom is, quite possibly, the most amazing person alive. I shook my head. Was. She was the most amazing person alive. God, that was hard to even think let alone say. Which I haven't yet, by the way. I figured I would get that out now so you can scold me about the five stages of grief and healing and blah blah blah.

I stare out the window of the plane at the flat land of whatever Midwest state we happened to be flying over at the time. I never imagined myself here. Not here, physically, on a plane. I mean here, philosophically. Heading to a town I've never been to in order to live with a father I don't remember and his new family. All because of a stray bullet and a string of bad events

FLASHBACK

"Dance, Dance. We're falling apart to half time. Dance, Dance. And these are the lives you'd love to lead. Dance. This is the way they'd love if they knew how misery loved me." Brooke sang loudly as she danced around in her pajamas. Her stereo was blaring in her bedroom so you could hear it through the whole house.

Patricia, Brooke's mom, came out of her bedroom with her hair in a poofy ponytail. Her bleary eyes found her 16-year-old daughter. She laughed despite her anger at being woken up so early. Her little Brookie has always been a morning person and she always had so much energy.

Brooke spotted her mom watching her and broke into a huge grin. "Good morning, Mom!" She ran across the living room and jumped into her mother's arms, then kissed her on the cheek.

"Good morning, Brookie," Patricia said, smoothing Brooke's hair lovingly. "Did you sleep well?"

"Of course. I always do!" She danced into the kitchen and poured her mother a cup of coffee. They both started to dance around the kitchen and Brooke handed her the coffee.

Suddenly, the music turned off and they both froze. "Uh oh… Sounds like your Dad's awake…" said Patricia. They grimaced at each other.

"Brookelyn Penelope McCann!" exclaimed Brooke's step-dad, Jacob, as he stalked into the kitchen. "What have I told you about listening to that crap first thing in the morning?" They were all silent for a minute as Brooke tried her hardest to suppress a grin. Jacob pulled a remote out of his pocket. "You know I like to wake up to my man, Mr. Buffett!" The stereo in the living room began playing Jimmy Buffett's "Pina Coladas".

Brooke groaned. "Oh God, Dad!"

Jacob began doing a twist-type motion. (Typical oldie dance!) "Come on, Brookie! You can dance to this, too!"

Brooke rolled her eyes at her mom as they both started to laugh. "Alright, but I'm going to need some help for this one." She grabbed her mom's hand with one hand and picked up her giggling 1-year-old daughter in the other arm. They all danced around the living room for a while before sitting down to breakfast. This was a typical morning in the McCann house. Soon, Patricia would go to her room to straighten her hair and she and Jacob would get ready for work while Brooke got herself and her daughter ready to head to the high school. There would be hugs and kisses all around and then they would drive off in their cars for another day with promises to meet at home for dinner. They all loved each other and got along great. Everything was perfect.

END FLASHBACK

I sighed and looked over to check that Alaina was still asleep. Ali, as I called her, had turned two about a month ago. I was happy that she wasn't really old enough to understand what was going on around her. I looked at the phone on the seatback in front of me for a moment before picking it up. I punched in my credit number then dialed another familiar number. After a couple of rings, a gruff male voice answered. "Hello?"

My eyes filled with tears instantly at the sound of his voice. "Hi Daddy," I choked out.

I heard him sigh. "Oh Brookie. Hi, sweetie. How are you? Where are you?"

"I'm… OK. I think we're flying over Oklahoma but I'm not sure. I miss you."

"I miss you too, babygirl. But I have some good news," he said while fighting back his own tears.

"What's that?" I asked hopefully.

"I talked to my lawyer today. She said I have a really good chance of getting you and Ali back home before too long."

I smiled. "That is good news. I can't wait to come back home. I hate Tree Hill already and I'm not even there yet."

"I know, sweetie. Just try to make the best of it. At least for Ali, OK?"

I nodded. "I know. I'll try. I better get off the phone before I run up this credit card."

"Don't even worry about that," said Jacob somewhat sternly. "If you want to keep talking I will talk to you all day and pay the bill."

"I know, Daddy. Thank you. And you know I will be taking you up on that offer. But Ali's stating to wake up so I'd better go."

"Alright. Tell Ali-Cat that I love her and I love you, too. And I'll see you soon, OK?"

"OK, Daddy. I love you so much. Bye." I hung up the phone as the tears I was holding back began to fall. I cried until the pilot announced the decent into Charlotte, North Carolina and Ali woke up. Then I wiped away my tears and put on a strong façade for my daughter.

Well, that was it for Chapter One. What did you think? Let me know, good or bad! Should I continue??? Please review! Thanks!