Disclaimer- I don't own the Clique.

Julia

It has been three weeks since Julia had shown up at her father's doorstep. Things have already changed, in a good way for once. The awkwardness between her and her father had gone away. She finally felt like she was starting to have a father in her life. He never even mentioned her leaving, except when her mother called. Her dad always took her mother's calls. Julia hasn't spoken to her since the night before she left for Westchester.

Julia was not sure what kept her from dialing her mother's number. Her cell phone was lost, but she could use her father's phone. She just didn't want too. She was still angry with her mother for keeping this part of her life from her. Now, she realized that she was not just kept away from her father. She was also kept away from his wonder family.

Over the past three weeks, Julia hung out at her grandmother's house while Derrick was at work. Julia's grandparents were amazing and they told great stories about her dad. A few times, she wanted to ask about her mom, but decided against it. It was still too soon to bring up her mother.

When they had dinner with Derrick's fiancé and daughter a couple weeks ago, that was the first time since she got here that she didn't get a warm welcome. They were awful and Julia can't even believe that her father would even consider marrying this woman.

"Well, this is the unknown daughter you told me about." Derrick's fiancé said when Julia joined them at the dinner table.

Derrick was taking them all out to dinner. Julia was running late because she was with her grandmother. To be honest, Julia was trying to get out of going to the dinner all together but her grandmother convinced her to go.

"Hello, I'm Julia." Julia forced a smile.

"Julia this is Vicki and her daughter Holly." Derrick introduced them.

Dinner went downhill from there. Derrick never noticed Vicki or Holly's rude re-marks at her. She sat there uncomfortable, watching her father fall for an awful woman. They even held hands on the dinner table while they sipped their wine. Julia had to look down at her plate to keep from vomiting.

After dinner, Julia and Vicki used the restroom and as they were washing their hands, Vicki decided to inform Julia about the wedding.

"So, how long do you plan on staying?" Vicki looked at Julia through the bathroom mirror as they washed their hands.

"I haven't really worked it all out yet."

"Me and your father will be getting married soon." Vicki dried her hands on a towel. "August 2nd to be exact."

"I heard," Julia wiped her hands on her dress and headed towards the door. She wanted to get away as fast as she could.

"Call your crazy, insane mother." Vicki grabbed Julia's arm so she couldn't leave. "You're father says she is freaking out and the last thing I need is Massie Block back in Westchester. If you want to leave, I will gladly pay for your bus ticket."

"My mother is not crazy," Julia yanked her arm away. "And I'm not going anywhere."

X0X0X

Julia and her Grandmother sat on the porch, drinking pink lemonade on a warm summer day. The sun was shining and there was a soft breeze blowing, it was a beautiful day. She sort of felt bad for her dad that he had to be trapped in his office on a day like this. He was always working.

"Does my dad have vacation days off of work?"

Her Grandmother started to laugh. "I don't think your dad knows what a vacation is."

"Why does he work so much?"

"Well, he doesn't have much else to do." Her Grandmother said, truthfully. "Until you came along."

"That's not true, he is getting married." Julia grimaced when she mentioned the wedding.

From the look of disgust on her Grandmother's face when she mentioned the wedding, Julia could tell that she wasn't happy about the wedding either. This could be a good thing. If her father's own mother didn't like her then surely he wouldn't marry her.

"Wipe that look off of your face, the wedding will go on."

"What?" Julia was confused. How did she know what she was thinking?

"I already tried to tell him that this girl was after his money and nothing else."

Crap. There goes that plan. I guess she would have to accept the fact that her father is going to marry a witch. Although that means that Vicki will be her stepmother. Knowing this made her feel sick all over again.

To change the subject, Julia started asking about the rest of the family. She loved hearing stories about her father and his siblings when they were young. They were always so happy and fun.

Right in the middle of a story about Sammy's dead hamster, a shirtless boy jogs past their house. He looked good, very good. His skin was tanned and his abs were perfectly defined. They didn't have boys like this in Boston.

"Jake," Her Grandmother waved at him. "Why are you back so early?"

The boy, Jake, started walking up towards the porch. Julia started to feel nervous, what was her grandmother doing? She could feel her face getting red just looking at him.

"California is not for me," Jake laughed.

"Oh yeah, I told you that before you left."

"I know, I know I should have listened to my smart neighbor."

Julia was about to faint. He lived in the house next door. Was he going to take a jog every day? Maybe she should stay inside. He was beautiful though, especially up close where she could see the sweat glistening off him.

"This is my granddaughter, Julia." Her grandmother introduced her.

Jake held out his hand for Julia to shake. "Nice to meet you."

Julia smiled and shook his hand. No words were coming to her right now.

"Let me get you a glass of lemonade," Her grandmother got up and left.

Jake sat down in a chair across from her. "So are you Vicki and Derrick's daughter or something?"

Julia was hoping to sit in uncomfortable silence until her Grandmother came back, but I guess he liked to talk. She was going to have to find courage to talk to him. Talking to boys was not this hard in Boston.

"I'm Derrick's daughter, he didn't know about me. My mom is Massie Block, they were together in high school, and then my mom got pregnant and ran away to Boston. I live in Boston, but I traveled by bus to get here and to find my dad. Vicki is not my mom." Julia rambled.

"Interesting," Jake chuckled.

If Julia's face wasn't red before, it was now.

"I'm guessing that's why I have never seen you before," Jake said. "I would have remembered a beautiful girl like you."

Julia smiled. She loved Westchester even more now. Great family and a cute boy across the street, life couldn't be better.

Why did her mother think this place was so bad?

Derrick

It was another late night at the office. He had to order dinner from his office and call his mother to see if Julia could stay there until later tonight. His mother and Julia sounded a little too happy when he told them he wouldn't be home. They seemed like they were up to something.

Derrick didn't want to say anything because he had a secret of his own. He called Sammy during his lunch break and asked for her help with a present for Julia. Of course, Sammy happily agreed. They spent an extra long lunch break working on her gift.

Finally, he was finished with his work for the night. It was only eight, but that is four hours over time. He was stressed, tired, and he still had to pick up Julia from his parents house.

On his drive over to his mothers, he began to wonder how Massie handled raising a child alone. It could not have been easy. She must have a job, and how do you balance a child and a job. Derrick was having trouble doing it and Julia was sixteen. How did Massie handle the stress of a newborn, or when Julia entered the "terrible twos"?

Derrick was proud of Massie for raising such an amazing daughter. However, he missed all of the moments of Julia as a child. That was something that no matter how many times Massie apologized she could never take back. He didn't even have pictures.

When he got to his mother's house, he saw his daughter and the boy who lived across the street sitting on the porch. They looked like they were playing cards and laughing, a little too close.

Derrick got out of his car and loudly shut the door to get their attention. It didn't work, instead they started fighting over cards. He could hear his daughters laugh from the driveway.

"So, what's going on?" Derrick cleared his throat as he stepped up on the porch.

They both stopped what they were doing and looked in his direction.

"Nothing sir," Jake sat back in his seat, away from Julia.

"Okay," Derrick nodded. He wasn't sure what to do in situations like this. "Well, let's get going."

Julia smiled at Jake. "It was nice hanging out with you today."

"I was thinking that maybe I could pick you up tomorrow and we can hang out again. I know this cool place just outside the city." Jake suggested.

"That sounds great," Julia smiled brighter.

Derrick ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. He didn't want his daughter anywhere near this boy. He didn't know whether to forbid her to see him or not say anything at all. His mother must have set them up.

Maybe he should call Massie tonight. She might know what to do.

XoXoX

"Oh my gosh!" Julia shouted. "This looks amazing."

"In case you want to stay and not sleep on the couch. Or for when you come back and visit." Derrick smiled.

For the past week, Derrick and Sammy have been working on turning Derrick's empty upstairs room into a place for Julia. Derrick had hired someone to paint the walls and put in brand new hard wood floors. They also bought her a double bed so she didn't have to sleep on the living room couch anymore. Sammy had filled her dressers and closet with new clothes.

Julia had tears in her eyes when she looked around at her new bedroom. "This must have cost a lot of money."

"Not really," Derrick lied.

For the first time since she got here, Julia ran up and gave him a hug. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

They released from the hug and Derrick left the room so Julia could try on some clothes and get ready for bed.

Derrick shut the door in his own bedroom and picked up his cell phone. He needed to call Massie, they had not spoken in a week. Even though Massie was unfair to him by leaving him out of his daughter's life, Derrick was not going to do the same thing to her.

"Hello," Massie answered.

"Hi Massie, how are you?"

"Fine," Massie answered.

There was silence on the phone. Usually Massie was asking when Julia would be home and if she had enough to eat. Things seemed different this time.

"I understand," Massie, sighed. "You need time with your daughter. If she wants, she can stay until the end of summer then she has to come back to go to school."

"Then what?" Derrick questioned.

"I don't know, that's all I know right now."

"I guess it's a start," Derrick said.

"What do you mean by that?" Massie snapped.

"Julia met a boy," Derrick changed the subject.

"Really! Was he cute? Does she like him? Was she blushing?" That got Massie's mind away from Derrick's comment.

"I don't know," Derrick ran his fingers though his hair. "I don't think she is old enough to date."

"She's sixteen," Derrick could picture Massie rolling her amber eyes.

"Exactly, too young."

"Julia is a stubborn girl, I think if you tell her not to date him then it will only push her to do it even more. I would just let her go, but keep a close eye on her."

Derrick was thankful for Massie's advice. He was uncomfortable with Julia dating, but agreed with Massie that he should leave her alone about it.

"Thanks, Mass."

"Anytime, Harrington."

Author's note-

I hope you guys like this update! Review and tell me what you think!

Also don't forget to check out my new story called A New Beginning and my Christmas story called Christmas with the Harringtons!

Thanks for reading and for all the support!