Chapter 1

Secret No. 1: Know what you want and go after it—just don't get caught.

"You're sure he's going to be there, right?" Brooke asked excitedly into her cell phone. "Because there's absolutely no point in me even going if he doesn't even show."

"I'm telling you for the last time, he'll be there!" cried Brooke's best friend Theresa.

This is going to be so awesome, thought the pretty brunette. All summer, Brooke had been working toward one goal: to claim hot shot Felix Tagaro as her man. Since she went to an all girls private school, there was only so much one could do to entertain themselves. Brooke was already one of the most popular girls in school. She was a basketball cheerleader for Bear Creek Academy (the boys' private school down the street). And with their leader of the squad, Sadie, graduating this year, she was a shoe in for becoming the new captain. But despite that, nothing would make her social status sky rocket more than having super hott Felix as her boyfriend. I can't wait. This year is going to be perfect. I'll rule the school while having Felix by my side for eye candy. That snob Claire Young won't know what hit her! For as long as Brooke could remember, she and Claire Young had always been enemies. Everything Brooke did, Claire had to do better. Well, this was one battle that fat (she always claimed it was muscle but Brooke new better), bottled blonde was gonna lose.

"Are you sure you're mom is going to let you go?" Theresa asked snapping Brooke out of her gloating.

"No way! But that's half the fun. I'll figure out something." Brooke answered back confidently.

"Brooke, come on! We have to go now or you'll be late!" she heard her mom Lydia scream from downstairs.

"Coming! Theresa, I have to go. I'll call you later with the details." This is so unfair. Tonight could be one of the most important nights of my life and I have to spend the day with Dad, Peyton, and Haley celebrating her birthday. As much as she adored her dad and sisters, she could always see them. Right now, all Brooke wanted to do was spend the day choosing the perfect outfit and creating a solid alibi. The last thing she needed was to get grounded again.

"Brooke, get your butt in the car now!" yelled Lydia once again.

"Alright, I'm coming! Sheesh, give a girl a break," she muttered to herself. With one last look in the mirror, she grabbed her Louis Vuitton purse and was out her bedroom door and down the stairs.

"Took you long enough," Peyton commented from the driver's seat of her new car. It, technically, was her dad's old black mustang that was fixed up. He gave it to her last month as a reward for her latest art award that she won.

"Hey, you think that beauty happens naturally?" Brooke retorted.

"Whatever, can we just go already. This is my 16th birthday celebration, after all!" Haley exclaimed from her seat next to Brooke in the back.

"Yes, enough with the bickering girls. This is Haley's big day. Now Peyton, put it in gear and let's get this show on the road," Lydia proclaimed. "I can't believe you're already 16. It seems like just yesterday when your father and I were bringing you home from the hospital in that beautiful pink blanket I knitted for you."

"Mom, you promised not to reminisce this year." Haley complained teasingly. At the mention of their father, all three girls, including Lydia, tensed up. Things had been rough since the divorce. Even though Jimmy had agreed to pay all their bills and let them keep the house (he was a rich business man—he could afford it), it in no way made up for the loss of their once ideal family.

"So where have you decided to have Dad take us this year?" asked Peyton trying to ease the sudden tension that had enveloped everyone in the car. "Not the zoo again I hope."

"No. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with the zoo! Those prairie dogs are too cute to pass up. No, I've decided to have Dad take us to that new theme park that just opened up. And then after we can go to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory."

"Oh, I love The Cheesecake Factory!" Brooke exclaimed. "I just hope Dad doesn't bring that tramp along with us."

"Brooke! That's not very nice!" Lydia scolded her daughter. "True, but not nice."

"What? I can't help it. I hate that beast. It's disgusting how she's practically super glued herself to Dad's hip." Brooke defended.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about her coming." Haley said with a knowing smile. Peyton knew that look. Although Haley was always seen as the young, innocent baby of the family, she was no force to be reckoned with. She was clever. Sometimes too clever for her own good. And when that smile appeared, it only meant one thing—trouble.

"Haley, what did you do? Because I don't feel like going to jail as an accessory to murder," Peyton teased.

"First of all, I am not that cruel. And second, like you wouldn't want to take that skank out!" Haley replied causing everyone in the car to laugh. "No. It's simple logic. Olivia can't stand anything that is too exciting. She's totally squeamish. There is absolutely no way she'd be able to handle going on all those roller coasters and flume rides. She can't even handle the kiddy ones."

"Tutor Girl, you're a genius!" Brooke cheered as she gave her a big hug.

"I know, Tigger. I know." Haley laughed back.

"We're here." Peyton stated as she pulled up into the parking lot in front of her father's apartment complex. Since the divorce, Jimmy and Olivia (his now new wife) moved into a lavish apartment that was located on the other side of Charleston.

"Ok girls. Have fun and be safe. Tell your father that I lo…just tell him I say hi," Lydia pointlessly finished as she got out of the car to take Peyton's spot. All three girls just sat there looking at each other with worried faces. It was Haley who got out first and went to hug her mom.

"You sure you don't want to see him?" Haley asked. "After all, you are our family, too. You should be with us."

"No, this is one of the only times you get to spend quality time with your father. I don't want to ruin it." Lydia replied.

"But Mom…" Haley tried.

"No buts. Now you go and have a good time. Alright? Happy birthday, Haley Bop," she said as she gave Haley a hug and kiss on the cheek.

Peyton and Brooke said goodbye to their mom and all three girls watched as she drove away. They then turned around and faced the building.

"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," Haley sighed. She then looked to her sisters. They nodded their heads signaling that they were ready.

"Showtime," Brooke commented as they finally walked toward their father's new apartment.