Hey guys….I wanted a clean slate, so I decided to write another story. I wanted to make this a little bit more different than anything I've ever written. I'm going to be continuing "The First Night" and "Smash Into You" and "Fallen" and "See You Again", but I'm going to delete "Hungry Eyes" because I just lost all faith in that story. But I'm going to put all the other stories on hiatus for about a month to focus on this one. This is entitled "The Broken & Confused Heart of the American Teenager". Here's the setting. Ben and Amy had a baby 5 years later (Jason Lee Boykewich and it's been 10 years since then. Ricky and Adrian have a rocky relationship but a relationship that they really call a relationship. Grace and Jack are married and had a baby girl (Alyssa Gabrielle Pappas – 5 years old). Ashley is a collage graduate and is roommates with Griffin. AND THERE IS GOOD NEWS (not about the story, but about me). I HAVE A DATE TO MY SCHOOL'S HOMECOMING (which is gonna get incorporated into John and Robbie's characters)!! Yah for me!!! :-P. Ok, I hope you enjoy this story.

Ages and Occupations -

Amy: 30 years old. Works at a Law Firm.

Ricky: 31 years old. Head Manager of the Boykewich Butcher Shop.

John: 15 years old. Sophomore at Grant High School.

Adrian: 31 years old. Entrepreneur.

Ben: 30 years old. Owner of the Boykewich Butcher Shop chain.

Grace: 31 years old. Sophomore Geometry teacher at Grant High School.

Jack: 32 years old. Engineer.

Robbie (Anne and George's baby): 14 years old. Freshman at Grant High School.

Disclaimer – I'm gonna start this just to clarify. I don't own anything. Brenda Hampton and ABC Family does. If I owned the Secret Life, Amy and Ricky would have been together from the start.

Chapter Title Song (every chapter is gonna be after a song): "The Way That I Love You" by Ashanti (no ownage)

Chapter 1 – The Way That I Love You

John's POV

I woke up this morning during the Fall season. Today was Saturday, and I'm gonna go hang out with my dad today. I was so glad because homecoming was around the corner and I didn't know who to ask. While I was thinking, I was interrupted out of my thoughts by Ben and my mom screaming at each other. I didn't want nor like to call him dad or step-dad or any variation of that because I didn't like Ben. He was sometimes nice to me, but he and my mom always yelled at each other, and that is something that I didn't feel was right. Especially doing it around Jason. I looked at the clock and it was barely 8 in the morning. "John." Jason said rubbing his eyes as he walked into my room and sat on my bed.

"Yeah, Jase?" I answered.

"Are Mommy and Daddy always gonna fight like this." He asked looking at me with his dark brown eyes. They kinda looked like mine. And mom's. And dad's. Not Ben's though.

"Probably." I said. He looked like he was about to cry when I looked at him. I forgot he was just five. "I'm just kidding, Jason." I said trying to comfort him. A small smile crept on his face, and my dad's smirk came on mine.

"Why are they fighting this time?" He asked. I really didn't know what to tell him. All I could hear is yelling. I couldn't determine any words clearly.

"I'll be right back, Jase." I said as I got up and went downstairs to see what they were yelling about.

"I should be able to take him out today. Ricky had him last week!" Ben yelled at my mom. They both had fire in their eyes.

"Ben! You need a serious reality check! Jason is your son. Jason! Not John! I give you a son and you still are jealous of Ricky. That's very mature, Ben!" My mom yelled back. I agreed. I didn't like Ben. He was controlling and bossy. He didn't know when to shut up. And then what really pissed me off was when he would tell my mom sorry and then baby her with flowers and stuff. There were so many flowers in here one time that it smelled like a funeral home. Ugh!

"That's not the point, Amy!" He snapped.

"Then what is the point, Benjamin!"

"The point is that I wanted both of my sons to be together this Saturday! Not just one!"

"John is not your son!!" My mom yelled.

"Hey!!" I yelled from the top of the stairs. I was sick of this bull. I have to deal with enough with just being a teenager. Now I have to deal with this bull at home! I wasn't going to take this any longer! "Will both of you just shut…up!" I said as I approached them.

"Watch your mouth please." Ben said putting his hand up. I glared at him.

"That's enough, John." My mom said. I couldn't believe it. She would take Ben's side even though they just fought. I didn't get that.

"But Mom…"

"Even though Ben is an over-jealous, controlling jerk, he is still you're step-dad and an adult." She said. All I could do is just stare at them.

"John. How would you like to spend the day together? Just you and me." Ben said smiling a very cheesy smile.

"My dad is taking me out today." I said without cracking a smile and looking directly into his eyes. I was a fighter. I didn't remove my eyes from you if we were in battle. And today, and every since I can remember, I was in battle against Ben.

"Oh, well, I…um. I was figuring that you would maybe…sort of…cancel…" I tuned Ben out. I was so upset. What would posses him to think that I would cancel my day with my DAD for him. I'll tell you the reason I don't like Ben. I saw him kiss Ms. Adrian one time last year.

*Flashback*

I walked downstairs to get something to eat. My mom was in bed, and Jason just drifted off to sleep. I walked towards the kitchen to get a snack and that's when I saw them. I hid behind the wall and peered into the kitchen.

"Wow, Adrian." Ben said when they pulled apart.

"Wow's right. Gosh, I haven't kissed with that much passion in a long time. I mean sure, Ricky and I have sex all the time, but the sex with him could never give me as much pleasure as kissing you." She said rubbing his chest. At that moment, I wanted to punch him in the face. How could he do this to my mom? How could he be such an idiot?!

I haven't told my mom about it, and Ben doesn't know I saw. For right now, that's ok.

"John? John?" Ben said as I came out of my daydream.

"You would actually think I would ditch my dad to hang out with…with you?" I said in a more disrespectful tone then I intended.

"John." My mom said.

"I'm sorry mom, I just…I just don't feel like talking to either one of you right now. I'm going to get ready to go out with my dad." I said as I walked up the stairs. I bumped into Jason on the way up. He was sitting at the top of the stairs sucking his thumb.

"You said they would stop fighting." He said crossing his arms.

"They will, Jason. They will." I said picking him up. "You wanna hang out with me and Mr. Ricky today?" I asked him putting him down in my room. He shook his head rapidly.

"Ok. I'll get us ready." I said. Even though I was the big brother, I felt like the Dad. Ben sure wasn't a Dad to Jason. My mom did most of the work around the house as well as work all day, so I can cut her some slack. I threw on a baby blue graphic tee, some black skinny jeans, and my white Converses. Then I went and picked out what Jason was going to wear. I picked out his blue Cars shirt, some denim jeans, and his white sneakers. We went downstairs and Ben was gone. My mom was laying on the couch. It was obvious that she was crying. "Hey, Jason, go to the kitchen for a minute. I'll be there in a minute." I told him. He ran into the kitchen, and I went to my mom to see what had happened.

"Mom, what's wrong." I asked sort of knowing what the problem was.

"Ben is blaming me for everything." She said.

"Ben is an idiot." I replied seriously. "He doesn't deserve you, Mom." I said.

"Yeah. Right." She said laughing a little.

"I'm serious, Mom." I said looking at her with worry.

"I know." She said looking up at me.

"Then why…" I was cut off by the doorbell.

"Come on, Jason!" I kindly yelled into the kitchen. He came running out smiling.

"Is Mr. Ricky here?" He asked more excitedly then I thought he would.

"Yeah." I answered as I walked to the door. I opened the door and I saw my dad. "Hey, dad!" I said hugging him.

"Hey, son." He said. "And hello, Jason." He said bending down.

"Hi Mr. Ricky." He said running into my dad's waiting arms. My dad was more of a Dad to Jacob than Ben was. Then, my mom walked to where we were at. It was silent for a few seconds as my parents looked deeply at each other.

"Hi, Amy. You look really nice, today." He told her. Her face lit up, and the light bulb went off in my head. My mom + Ben = Disaster. My mom + My dad = …………this was the best plan I think I've ever come up with.

There goes the first chapter. There is many more to come. Please review. I would like at least 10 reviews before I continue....THANKS SO MUCH!

-soren919

p.s. - someone caught me calling him Jacob instead of Jason...oops! Well, I changed that...YAH! I will update 2moro!