Sideways
By Zoe Noelle
Chapter 1
Once upon a time, there lived a 3-year-old princess named Brooke. Actually, she still lives, but she's about 29 years older now, and she's not technically a princess, although she lives like one. Her life is completely different from the way she imagined. Now she has a daughter, who is turning 16 today, and she has so much to tell her.
Dear Diary,
Today is my baby girl's 16th birthday. She's grown up so fast. Too fast. And now it's time for me to tell her, about my life. After all, I was 16 when I had her, and she needs to know how much my life changed. It seems like the right time to tell her. Don't you think? I've told her, but not seriously. It's always been a light topic. But now's the time to tell her how it really is. The honest to God truth. All the gory details. Well, not gory. The most violence I've seen is fistfights between Luke and Nate. Anyway, I'm getting off topic here. Basically, I'm trying to document, and get my thoughts together before I talk to Emma. What to say? What to say? I think I got it. Emma, today is your 16th birthday, and I want you to know how much I love you. I am so proud of the young woman you've become. You bring such happiness…
"…to me and your father."
"Oh mom! You're not going to go all Hallmark on me now, are you?"
"Hell yes I am!"
"Fine, but you so owe me for it later," Emma said with a devious smile on her face.
"Oh really? Well what do you have in mind?"
"I dunno. Maybe a car," she hinted as she tried to hide her excitement. Emma was never very good with secrets. She got that from Brooke. So, naturally, she woke up early and went present snooping. Of course, she got exactly what she wanted. She always did. Her mom and dad spoiled her rotten. As excited as she was, she knew it was going to suck having to fake surprised to her parents.
"But honey, you're not old enough to drive!"
"Mom, I'm 16 now! And I have my permit!"
"Are you sure? Cause the little Emma that I know is defiantly not old enough to drive," Brooke said with a confused look on her face.
"Mom! I'm grown up now! Get over it!"
"I know, I know! Jeez, you're practically as old as me! That makes me feel so much better!" Brooke grinned.
"Yeah, yeah, ya ole phart! Now what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Mommy!" Maddie burst through the door to Emma's room.
"Madison Tallulah Scott! You just interrupted a very important conversation!" Brooke scolded in a sarcastic way.
"I'm sorry Mommy!"
"I'm joking..sorta. What's up baby?"
"Meme is downstairs. She wants to see the birthday girl!" Maddie said as if it were obvious.
"Meme is here? Ugh, Mom! Was this your doing or dad's?" Emma asked as if the world was about to end, starting from downstairs in her living room.
"Neither. I swear! We both tried to get you out of it. But you know, that woman is so set in her ways. Besides, she loves ya kiddo. And think on the bright side, now you get more presents!"
"Nice try Mom, but she mailed them to me a week ago. Remember?"
"Oh yeah, that's where you got that hideous outfit from." Brooke said as she imitated a gagging motion.
"Mom! You're horrible!" Emma whacked her with her pillow.
"Hey, don't smack the woman with the presents." Maddie advised to Emma.
"Yeah! Listen to Maddie! She's smart!" Maddie was now seven and had twice as much personality as she did when she was four.
"Good point Lula."
"I know. Besides, if you kill her now, who will get me presents on my birthday?" Maddie giggled.
"Okay. Enough procrastinating. Let's go downstairs and greet the devil." The three girls slid down the banister of their four-story mansion. Being married to a famous pro basketball player sure did have its perks. Lucas played for 7 years before his shoulder finally gave out on him for good. Now he was coaching his own high school team, just as Whitey had done until he passed away last winter. Nathan took Whitey's old job and is now coaching in Tree Hill.
Brooke, Lucas, and all five of their children moved back to Chapel Hill after Maddie's sixth birthday. Mainly because of Lucas's basketball career and because Brooke just couldn't stand Karen any longer, but Maddie always insisted that she got this "life sized Barbie Dream House" (minus all the pink) for her birthday. Of course no one could convince her otherwise, so that's the way it went. Emma was glad to be back with Cooper. They've been dating for three years now. The move was defiantly hardest on Austin though. He had to leave Amber, his best friend in the world. Together, they were like Lucas and Haley had been (before Nathan came into the picture).
Anyway, now it was time for them to face Emma's 16th birthday. From the smell that filled the house it was obvious that Karen was making breakfast. Emma, Maddie, and Brooke all walked towards the living room door.
"Wait!" Brooke shouted as she grabbed Emma's arm to stop her in her tracks. Little Lucy ran out with a huge grin on her face.
"What ya got there Luce?" Emma asked her little sister.
"Got wheres?" Lucy tried to hide it, but she couldn't keep a straight face.
"Behind your back."
"It's a present." Lucy said pulling out a big goofy hat that said "Happy Birthday" across it in big bright letters. "Here. Puts it on."
"No way! I'm not wearing that!"
"Oh, come on Em. Get in the spirit. You're birthday only comes around once." Brooke pleaded.
"Actually, it comes around every year."
"Not your 16th." Brooke added. "Now put it on!" Brooke said pulling the hat down over Emma's eyes.
"Oh God Mom! Don't make me!" Emma said as she tried to free herself from the freakishly large hat.
"Don't make me get out my emergency super glue." Brooke threatened.
"Alright, fine! But you owe me for this one too." Emma stepped towards the door and swung it open.
"SURPRISE!" A roar filled the room.
Spoilers: Emma is shocked to see who is at her party. She gets her presents. Austin finds himself in a bit of a sticky situation that only one person can help him out of. Lucas faces a tough situation at work. Brooke goes to extreme measures to put her out of her boredom.
Author's Notes: I first and foremost want to thank my best friend Jordan for letting me use her characters and stories and make them my own. I owe this all to her. She is my muse. Thank you Jordan This is the first story I've ever written that I've let someone read other than my teachers. I really appreciate you taking the time to read this. Thanks so much!This chapter was very short. I intend to write more in the future. This is just a little preview basically. For those of you who have read Jordan's (Br00keSc0tt) stories, I don't plan on making them that long. And if you haven't read them, you should because they are AWSOME and my story is based on hers.Also, I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to post reviews! I would love to read them. Tell me what you think of the story. Or if you have any ideas you would like to share feel free to e-mail me. Thanks for reading!
Zoe Noelle
