BELIEVE - SCOTT MCCALL [1]

Prologue

Zoe and her mother were seated outside a bakery, looking over the menu while Zoe was looking at her mother with a bored expression.

"Why the hell not?" Zoe whined at her mom.

"I'm not going to be drinking in front of my daughter," Her mother—Veronica—said with an offended look "Besides I'm driving us home."

"Go for it," The teen said smirking to herself, "I won't tell dad." 

Her mother seemed to take her daughters words into consideration as she looked over the menu choices, determining what to eat. 

Maybe she could get away with this...

"One won't hurt," Veronica decides, filling a glass with the pitcher of liquid.

Zoe was smiling to herself, watching as her mom drank the glass down without a second thought. Secretly enjoying that her plan was falling together.

While she and her mother ate in silence, Zoe watched as she downed the whole container within minutes, becoming tipsier by the second as the alcohol set in.

"So," Zoe started, a subtle smirk growing on her face "Can I go to Lydia's party today?"

Veronica glanced at her persistent child, an unamused look on her face "I told you no yesterday, what makes you think I'll change my mind?"

"You weren't drinking yesterday."

Zoe's mother turns a cold glare toward her "And?"

"I-I mean I'd hate to tell dad of this little incident," Zoe says, feigning innocence "It would be a shame to see dad get riled up for something so small.." 

The mother of the teen sighs, now seeing the motive behind her daughter's actions "I was wondering why you were being so nice," She states as the girl gives her a smile. "Fine! Fine! You can go to your friend's party"

With a genuine yet ever so cunning grin, Zoe says "Thanks, mommy!"

Zoe got up from her chair, gave her mother a kiss on a cheek for good measure, then strutted down the road to their car. Knowing she had won, the girl sends a victory text to Lydia saying she would be there. 

She got in the driver seat, knowing her mother was in no condition to drive and thought about tomorrow's school day. 

It is going to be a good year.