My new friend. Lucas Scott. If it wasn't for him, I may not be here today. The doctors said if he hasn't have come when he did, I could have gone into a coma from blood loss. He saved me. And Brooke. I owe him big time. I only just met him, but he has been there for me. He let me cry to him. He cheered me up. Thank you Lucas Scott.
Tuesday 24th August.
Cheer practice. Other girls are still awkward. But I just laugh at their stupidity. Somebody's mom dies so that makes them stop talking to them. That's the time when they could do with as many friends as possible, for support. Kinda ironic really. They need a friend so they all back off. Brooke told me to look at Teresa's moustache. Well that was it. We were both laughing so much; we couldn't get our words out. It was hilarious. Everytime we got over our laughing fit, we just had to take one look at Teresa and we were gone again. That was the best cheer practice since the accident. Oh, and Brooke is running for cheer captain.
Got home from cheer to find a lady in my house talking to dad. She gave me a hug when she saw me, which I thought was a bit weird, since I'd never met her. She said her name was Ellie and she was very happy to meet me. Dad looked real angry, so I didn't ask too many questions. She said she was my dad's friend and she would like to take me out somewhere. To catch a movie, or to go bowling. She saw the news on Saturday when the accident was shown. She told me she was very sorry to hear about my mom, but she was sure I'd like her much better. I cracked. I ran upstairs to call Lucas. I could hear muffled shouting from downstairs. Dad did look angry when I first got home, now he was real mad. She has no right to come in my home, mention my mother's death then say I'll like her much better than my own mother. I hope my dad gives her a piece of his mind.
Phoned Lucas. He said I have a right to be angry, and asked if I wanted to go round to his mom's cafe, at least until Ellie had gone. I thought that was nice of him. I could still hear Dad and Ellie arguing so I left a note on my door and went.
Got to Lucas'. We listened to some music and talked for a while. Lucas has a complicated family too. Three months after his mom got pregnant; his dad got another girl pregnant. Lucas was born and three months later, so was Nathan. His dad left his mom to be with Deb and Nathan, (Lucas' half brother and step-mom). Lucas' dad doesn't want anything to do with him, but Lucas' uncle Keith (his dad's brother) is helping his mom to raise him. He and Nathan don't really know each other; they just know the other exists. Lucas also has a best friend, called Haley. I told him all about my best friend, Brooke. It was real fun spending the day with Lucas, just the two of us. After a while, his mom asked if I wanted to stay for supper, and once I'd smelt the delicious smell coming from the kitchen, I couldn't resist. Haley came round for supper. She was really cool, but I don't think Brooke would like her, she was too nerdy. We didn't tell Haley about my mom, and the three of us just had a good time being young again. I really enjoy being young, it seems not long ago my momma was telling me to enjoy being young until life got too complicated. Well my life got complicated the day she died.
Arrived back home. Ellie had gone.
"Peyt, I'm sorry about Ellie. I really hate her. I haven't been too honest with you lately. The truth is well; I'm not your real dad. And your mom wasn't your real mom. We adopted you. Don't for one
minute think we love you any less. If anything, we love you more, because we chose you. We wanted you. And Ellie, well, Ellie is your real mom. If you want me to stop I can. If it's all too much to take in."
"No, dad, carry on. I want to know about Ellie. Why she gave me up. Why she was here. What she wants. What this means."
"Woah, slow down there chicken. All these questions. Ellie was a drug addict. She's clean now. She couldn't raise you, and we adopted you when you were a baby. We didn't want to tell you incase you wanted to find your real mom. She's a bad woman. We were going to tell you one day, when you knew all the facts and could make a good decision. We love you like our own. More than our own. You are our daughter, mine and your moms. Nothing, nobody can change that. The thing is, when Ellie saw the accident on the news she found a way to contact us. She had wanted you back for a while now, and got in touch a few days ago. She wants to take it to court, to get custody of you."
"I don't want to live with her daddy, I like it here. You are my daddy. Don't let her take me away." I started crying. How can this woman come and try to turn my life more upside down than it already is. I just lost my momma, now she wants me to lose my daddy. I hate her.
"We will fight her, Peyton. We will fight anybody we have to. I will not leave you. I will not let you go. I love you too much."
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you too baby, now go get a good nights sleep. See you tomorrow".