A/N: New story, yay! :) Those of you that already know me and have read my stories, you're all awesome for reading this new one as well, as I'm really excited about it :) To my new followers and readers: Hi, I'm Joelle, and I think you're all amazing. We'll be friends really quick! :D

I will be working on this story as well as Parenting 101 at the same time, so have no fear, that story is not done yet! You can breathe again haha

Genres include: romance, drama, humor. Rated T for language. Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: don't own A&A.

Ally POV

"Remind me again why we're doing this?" I asked my mom.

She sighed from the driver's seat of the car. "It'll be good for us, Allyson, now quit complaining."

"You know I hate being called Allyson," I told her.

"Look, honey, I know the divorce between your father and I was hard on you, but I'm glad I put myself back out there, otherwise Mike and I would have never met."

My mom and dad had divorced four years ago when I was twelve, and she recently remarried Mike Sandler, a lawyer. This whole new arrangement meant my mom and I had to pack up and leave our old home behind in Miami and move to Tampa, which was four hours away. I left behind my friends, my school. My life. For a completely new one, in a city that I didn't know.

"I don't understand why I couldn't just move in with dad. That way I could stay in Miami and not have to leave everything behind," I said. "I mean, I'm only sixteen! I have a life, you know. Or I did, until I ended up having to ditch it."

"We've been over this, Ally; your father and I talked and we both agreed it would be better for you to come with me. The change will be good for you."

"I hate change," I mumbled. "Besides, Claudia and I don't even get along, so it's not like I'll be getting a tour of the city by her."

"You and Claudia have never tried to get along."

I stared at her. "Mom. Since you and Mike met, which was two years ago, Claudia and I have met twice. We can't stand each other."

"Okay, so maybe you haven't ever hung out together," my mom admitted. "But this is a great opportunity for you two girls to bond! Especially since you're the same age."

Oh, my mother. Always the optomistic one.

"Doubtful," I muttered, but she didn't hear me.

After another hour of driving, we stopped to get gas. While my mom filled up the car, I went inside the convenience store to grab a snack for the rest of the drive.

I was looking in the drink cooler when I heard giggling close to me. I glanced to my left and saw a group of girls around my age looking me up and down, laughing.

I knew why they were laughing at me. It was because I was wearing jean shorts and a black tank top with black combat boots, a red plaid shirt tied around my waist. My long brown hair was loose, flipped in random places. With fair skin, big brown eyes, and little makeup, I was considered an outsider to them.

These looked like girls who judged anyone who didn't look like them. Seriously, they all looked like clones. Same bleached hair, extensions clipped in. Fake nails, makeup covered faces, yoga pants and Gucci sweaters covering their bodies. What is this, Prada Land? People should express themselves.

I ignored them and grabbed my drink, stalking by on my way to the counter to pay.

My mom came in a minute later. "Got what you need?" She asked me.

"Yep," I said, brushing past her and out the door, leaving the snobby girls behind.

When she came back out, she looked at me. "You alright, honey?"

"I'm awesome, mom."

She gave me her look that said Yeah, whatever, but didn't push it. We still had two more hours of driving, so I stuck my headphones in and listened to my music the rest of the way.

"Ally, we're here."

I jumped, opening my eyes from my apparent nap. My mom was driving up a massive driveway to what was an even more massive house. Pardon my choice of words. I meant mansion. HUGE mansion.

"How come I've never seen this place?"

"Because you never wanted to come with me to see Mike," my mom answered.

"It was a rhetorical question, mom."

"Then next time, make it more rhetorical and less question," she shot back as she parked. I climbed out less eagerly after her and pulled my headphones out, eyeing the mansion. I couldn't get over how big it was.

The big wooden door swung open and Mike came out with a big smile on his face. He was a good looking guy who had aged well. He resembled Mark Wahlberg quite a bit.

"Hey guys! How was the trip?" Mike greeted, giving my mom a kiss.

"It was great," my mom smiled.

Mike gave me a hug, which I awkwardly returned. "Hello Ally, it's nice to see you again."

"Hey, Mike," I tried for a smile. Mike was a really nice guy, and I could tell he loved my mom, but it was going to take me a while to get used to the fact that there was a new man in our lives. He would never replace my dad, no matter how hard he tried.

"Let's go inside, shall we? George will get your things," Mike said.

"George?" I repeated.

"The butler," Mike explained. As if on cue, an older man came outside dressed fancy.

"Should have guessed," I said under my breath.

"Penny, it's good to see you again," the guy I assumed was George said, shaking my mom's hand.

"You too, George. This is my daughter, Allyson."

"It's Ally," I corrected.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet you, Ally. Your mother has told me lots about you."

"Oh, joy," I said, glancing at my mom, who shrugged before heading inside with Mike.

I bent to grab my bag from the seat of the car before going to the trunk. "I can take my luggage, George," I told him. "I want to get them upstairs and unpacked."

"Alright, Miss Dawson," he replied. "As you wish."

"Please don't call me that," I begged. "I'd prefer Ally. I want something in my life to stay the same."

George smiled warmly and patted my shoulder. "Things will brighten up, my dear. Just you wait."

"I hope so," I sighed as I grabbed my things from the trunk and hauled them inside. The inside of the house was beautiful too. Jeez, being a successful lawyer really did wonders.

"Oh, Ally, you could have left those for George," Mike said from where he and my mom were talking in the kitchen.

"It's fine, Mike, I'm capable of carrying my own things," I replied.

"Well, okay. Your room is upstairs at the end of the hall on the left. You can take your things up there."

"Thanks." I trudged up the grand staircase and followed Mike's instructions, moving to the end of the long hallway. I stopped outside the white door and dropped my bags.

I sighed and sat on my one luggage. I started school the following week, but since I transferred during the year, my class choices were very limited. At least I was able to take Advanced Music. It was the one thing I couldn't live without.

I couldn't take my piano when we moved, but fortunately, I had my guitar. My songbook and my guitar were the only pieces I had left of my old life. Now, I had to start new. I was always told transitions were a good thing, a way to see things in another light. So far, I wasn't expecting this transition to be anywhere close to good.

I was well aware that this was my new living situation, and there was nothing I could do about it. At least until I was 18, that is. After that, I was out of here. "Might as well make the most of it, since I don't really have a choice," I sighed to myself.

A/N: Pretty uneventful, but it's getting the story started :) The characters will obviously be out of character, but not a WHOLE lot. This is fanfiction after all, not the real show. You're supposed to play around with things, change it up! :)

Hope y'all enjoyed, reviews are much appreciated! Love you guys!

Joelle xx

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