She'll Never Be My Mom || (n.j.)

Chapter 1

Hey, I'm Brooklyn Ann Jonas. Here's a little introduction on myself and my family.

My Dad is Nick Jonas, my mother died when I was around five years old, I have three uncles and three aunts. I have no cousins. I'm an only child and my mother had one sister, my Aunt Samantha. My uncles are Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas, and Frankie Jonas. My aunts are Danielle Jonas and Amber Jonas. Dani is Uncle Kevin's wife and Amber is Uncle Joe's wife. My Dad and I live in a house just outside of LA and it's been just the two of us for quite awhile. I'm home alone a lot of the time, except usually Dad is home on weekends. And today was Saturday, so I got lucky.

"Dad.....I'm bored." I tell my father as we're watching tv in our living room.

"Well then, let's do something." He suggests, turning his head toward me.

"Monopoly. Let's play Monopoly." I confirm, getting up from the couch.

"Okay, I gu-"

*Ring*Ring*

"Hello?" Dad answers his phone with a smile on his face.

"Sounds great. See you soon." With that, he hangs up the phone and looks over at me apologetically.

"It's fine. I'm used to it." I just look down, thinking of running up to my bedroom. And so I do. I run up the stairs to my room, Dad calling my name behind me. I slam the door behind me and flop onto my queen size bed. This sucks. He's always got something going on, it seems like he's never got any time for me. Every time I come home from school, he gets home from work after I go to bed. Aunt Samantha, my Mom's sister who basically lives here on the weekdays unless Dad gives her the night off, always assures me that Dad hasn't forgotten about spending time with me. Samantha is honestly my best friend, I literally tell her everything. I'm 12 years old and, surprisingly, us 12 year olds have lots to gossip about. Sam always sits and listens.

*Evening*

"Brookie! Dinner!" My Dad calls up the stairs. I have my headphones in, and can hear him just fine, but just ignore it. He can come up and get me himself. I continue to read my book, Willow, and listen to music. I'm listening to Fame On Fire and they usually do covers, but I think they have one or two original songs. Dad used to write music, but that was when he was with Uncle Joe and Kevin in a band called the Jonas Brothers.

"Brooklyn Ann. It's dinner time get your butt downstairs." Dad finally comes in my room and takes my book out of my hands, a stern look on his face.

"Okay Daddy." I smile and put my phone on my bed, unplugging my headphones. He looks bewildered, but follows behind me into the dining room. When we get down there, there's a woman sitting at the table where Mom used to sit at dinner every night. That was, and always will be, my mother's spot.

"That's Mom's spot." The words come out my mouth before I can even think of it. Dad's neck snaps to the side, giving me a glare. I know that face. It means I'll be getting a talk later.

"I'm sorry." The lady apologizes and Dad cuts in.

"Liv, it's fine. Sit." The woman sits back down and I just take my own seat at the table, not looking at her. Dad sets our plates in front of us, sitting at the other head of the table.

While we're eating, I just pick at my food. While Dad and the woman, whose name I've learned is Olivia, are talking, I just study her face. She has the same dark, straight hair that my mother had, but Olivia's eyes were brown, and she had my mother's beautiful smile. I envied her in a way.

"May I be excused?" I ask politely, looking in Dad's direction.

"Uh yeah Brook. Just clear your plate in the sink." He glances over at me, fork in hand. I quietly get up and put my plate in the sink, rinsing it off. Once that's finished, I skip upstairs and head straight for the bathroom to take a shower. Once I'm done in the shower, I go into my bedroom and put on my pajamas. They consist of fuzzy penguin pants, and a baby blue tank top. I put my hair up in a messy bun, in hopes that it'll be somewhat wavy in the morning for church. I hop onto my bed and open my book, turning up my music loudly.

"Brook." My Dad comes in my room quietly, my eyes focused on the last page of my book. I look up and see Dad sitting on the edge of my bed by my feet. I take out my headphones and put my book down, giving him my undivided attention.

"Yeah?" I sweetly ask, crossing my legs.

"What was that about? When you came down for dinner." His gaze is on the hardwood floor.

"It's Mom's spot." I simply reply.

"Brookie.....come on." He rubs the back of his neck and looks up at me.

"Daddy.....come on."

"Why are you so against that?"

"What?"

"You know that I've had dates come over in the past few years, and your reaction is always the same. Why? Haven't you learned?" Tears well up in my eyes. My mother was my best friend and he almost acts as though she's not a part of my life anymore.

"It's really hard Dad. And if you're just going to yell at me, then I'm sorry, but I don't really want to be interrogated." I tighten my messy bun and look at the cover of my book. Thinking of how broken Willow was throughout the whole thing. How I almost feel like her in a certain kind of way.

"I know it's hard sweetie. I get it. But....we've gotta move on."

"She's my best friend. I never left mom's side, and she never left mine. That's the way it was. Even when she got sick. I made sure I was there whenever and wherever I could be." I get up and return my book to its rightful place on my shelf.

"I understand you're still grieving, I am too. But just try and get along with Olivia, for me." I turn around and look to Dad standing up and walking over to me.

"I'll try." I hug him tight before he leaves to go to bed for the night.