The Alignment by Kristin Andrecheck (reading tree .TXT) 📕

I then raised my fingers three and he knew what I meant. 
He came over and said quietly “Only do a sentence or two about what other people might want to do next year, okay,” He smiled and walked back to his desk.
I finish the second part with ease. I look at the clock, its 2:33, plenty of time. 
I look at the lines on the paper for the third part. I write:
I think the students would really enjoy more wood shop. I also think they would enjoy learning about the way computers or actually work. I love building things that I can actually use, so maybe they would love to do more of that. Some examples would be like cd holders, boxes, chairs, things like that sort. I wish my classmates the best of luck. Thanks for the great technology experience.
That was easier to write than I though it would be. BZZZZZ That’s my cellphone.
It’s Justin! It says….
I need to tlk to u 
ASAP after skool
gym bleachers
alone
God, I am so clueless what he’s going to say. Does he know I’m moving? Usually when he ‘needs to talk’ its a bad thing. Rose then finishes her test and then looks at me, she has an excited look in her eyes. We both look at the clock, 3:50. 
“Is everybody done with their tests,” Warty asks.
One hand goes up and he says, “Yeah, I got one more sentence.”
He then says that he’s done and Warty gets up and starts collecting the tests. He looks like a lab rat in a maze trying to find the cheese. I snicker a little. After Warty was done, he sits down, remembers something and stands back up.
“Listen, here’s the deal. Ms. Jess said that anyone who wants to play in the gym go ahead. Anyone that wants to stay here can. First, go to the lockers and get your stuff. Have a nice summer! Well, get to it,” Warty says, excitedly. Warty sounds kind of delighted that the summers here. I bet to get away from us.
Everybody then dashes towards the door and heads to the gym. I wait until everybody leaves and start walking, Rose is ahead of me, but not by much. 
Rose explains, “Lets get our stuff and then tell me, OK.” 
“Sure,”I say walking.
Rose and I then just talk about what the summer’s going to be like. I throw in a few white lies because, you know, I’m moving. I’m starting to be not so afraid to tell her. Now is the moment we have our stuff and are downstairs. Were sitting on the benches next to the doors.
“Now you’re going to tell me, right,”Rose asks.
“Yeah, listen, I love you, as a friend, and I got to tell you something important. I…I…,” I don’t finish.
“Spit it out,”Rose exclaims.
“I’m moving, to California,” I say, squeamishly and quickly.
There was a silence then a laugh.
“Ha, I knew you were going to pull a prank on me. But, seriously, is that the surprise? Really?” Rose asks. 
I can’t believe she laughed. My theory worked, but she needs to take it seriously.
“No, really, I am. My dad got fired from his job. He got a new one. He also got this house by the shore because now he’s a temporary fisherman. I’m sorry,” I say.
Rose than gets up and walks away. I’m confused, so I follow her. It turns out that I can hear crying.
“Rose, please don’t cry. I’m sorry,” I shout.
She stops, turns around and says “Why does your dad have to be a ‘temporary’ fisherman? He can stay here and be a chef. He does make great food! Why can’t he stay, why can’t you stay,” Rose sounds angry.
“I want to stay, I really do. You know I want to stay, don’t you,” I start to cry.
Rose leans in and hugs me, I hug back. 
“You know I’ll be in touch, all the time. My dad said, if its okay with your parents, that you can come and visit, or vice versa. Nothing, and I mean Nothing will change that, OK,” I’m not crying anymore. I then look at Rose and her eyes are beat red.
“Best,” I say.
“Friends,”Rose exclaims.
We hug each other and the bell rings. The buses come and we walk our separate ways. Oh great, time to meet Justin.


Chapter 4

There he is! Justin is leaning on the door next to the gym. He spots me and gives me the ‘come here’ signature and I follow. We walk onto the bleachers.
“Okay, something is with you. Remember when I was telling you about the tech final? Yeah, you said ‘I can’t’ you can’t what, tell me something?” Justin asks.
“Ya, I do have something to tell you,” I say, weirdly.
“Well, I think I know what it is, and I have something to ask you,” Justin says.
“Okay, go for it,” I say, enthusiastically.
“Here goes. We’ve been friends forever and I think we should be more than friends. Now it took a long time for me to say this because I know that if you say no, it will risk our friendship, and I want to keep that,” he says.
I am stunned. Its been at least a minute before I say anything.
“I want to, but I can’t. Ha, I should’ve gone first. I’m moving, and I won’t see you in California. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t even tell Rose, until just a few minutes ago. Please understand,” I say full of hope.
Justin’s face is blank.
He then leans in and whispers in my ear, “Well then, how about a goodbye kiss?”
I didn’t even have time to answer, he just started kissing me. It felt amazing and I thought an hour went by. Justin looked at me, smiled, looked down, and then walked away. I bit my lip, attractively. I looked up at the ceiling and saw swirls. He was the one, but now I lost him.

Chapter 5

I walk outside and see no sign of Justin. My mom pulls into the driveway and I hop in.
I ask her, “Mom, have you ever had a long distance relationship with somebody you really care about?”
“Yes, honey. I forgot his name, uh, Fred. Even though you may care for them, they are too far away and you know boys. They can’t be attached with one girl across the state with beautiful ladies all around them,” Mom says, sadly.
I love my mom, she is like a nosy teenager. She has the fashion and personality of a teen and is super cool.
“So, what you’re saying is that the guy cheats, big time,” I ask.
“Yeah, they just don’t hook up with one chick. Honey, why’d you ask me that,” She asks, being nosy.
“Justin asked me out, but I had to turn him down. Although if you don’t say anything to dad, I can tell you some details that you’ll love,” I laugh.
“Okay, go ahead,” She says.
“Well, he said how about a goodbye kiss and then I was in heaven. I saw fireworks and it was amazing,”I say in one breath.
After that my mom is quiet. I try to start a conversation and it works. We talk about music and stuff like that. We reach home in no time. I run up to my room, hop on my bed, and just lay there. I can’t believe I’m leaving everything.
I hear three knocks on my door, “Dinners up. Darling, is something wrong,” Asks Mom.
I start crying,”Mom, you know how much I wanted to ask Justin out, he asked me and I’ll never get a chance to even see him again. And what about Rose, she cried when I told her. Its just, this town, this school, this state. Its my life and I don’t want to leave. Anyways,” I rub my eyes, “Why does Dad want to be a fisherman anyway? And, why do you approve? Do you want a man to smell like fish when he walks into bed at night. Its just so…..Ew,” I shake my whole body.
“Believe it or not, it’s his dream job. I think it is so disgusting but, you know how you always wanted to have a girl’s night, alone, well how about a girl’s..uh..year,”She asks, her shoulders lift up.
I was confused, I asked, “What are you talking about? Yeah, I always wanted a night but… huh?”
“Come on, dinner’s getting cold, hurry or I’ll eat it all,” Dad shouts.
“We’ll talk about it in the morning, oh and you have a few days to pack more. You can invite your friends over to help and chill out,” Mom says, rolling her shoulders.
“OK, that’s cool. Mom, you can go, I’ll meet you downstairs,” I say, pointing to the door.
Mom walks downstairs, I can hear her footsteps fading into the distance. I lay on my bed for about two seconds and get up and walk downstairs. I smell the aroma of dinner. My mouth is watering just smelling it. I can smell meatloaf and gravy with cheesy mashed-potatoes. I can smell mom’s homemade apple cider. Its delicious. My dad already made my plate, I take it and start walking up to my room.
My father stops me, “No, you’re going to stay here, we’ve got plenty to discuss.”
I nod my head and bring my plate back to the table. The table is round with four chairs. We used to fill the whole table, but my brother, Steve, died. He had this brain disease. I forgot what the doctors called it, but everyday I don’t stop thinking about him. Anyways, mom sat at the chair closest to me. I guess she felt bad about me leaving my friends, so she sat by me.
“Your mother told me that you don’t want to move, you’ll miss all your friends, correct,” Dad says, firmly.
“Yeah, you sound angry,” I say.
“Well your mother and I had an argument. The point is is that you have no choice, were leaving tomorrow,”Dad sounds strict.
I look at mom, and slowly look back at dad, “Mom told me that we had about three days so I could get my final goodbyes. Dad, this is so unfair!”
“No if, ands, or buts about it, young lady. Were leaving and thats final!”
“But dad!”
“No, not another word!”
“OK, how about three? I hate you!” I throw my fork down, smashing the plate.
I trudge to my bedroom and hear my mom get up. She says something, I can barely hear it. I’m already in my bedroom crying.
I hear mom say, “Bob, this is so like you. God, we’ll talk in the morning.”
And, I hear the door slam and dad say, “Why can’t she just understand?”
I don’t know who he is talking about. But I know I’m tired and still crying. I jump on the bed and cry myself to sleep. I wish dad could just….just….leave.
Be Careful What You Wish For….

Chapter 6
RING…..RING….. Ugh, its 7:03 and I forgot to unset my alarm clock. SLAM!!! That can’t be good.
I hear mom screaming, “Bob, you know she wants to stay here. You were a big jerk last night, you know that? She wants to stay! Let her!”
“This is just like you Iris! You put things off all the time. I’m sick of it. You can have your dreams of an artist but I can’t have mine. Just because your a famous artist, doesn’t mean you can be a prima dona,” Dad yells.
“Oh so now you think I’m a witch, is what your saying? So you can poison Katy and you think I’m a witch? This is my house.” Mom replies.
I’m confused, and who’s Katy?
“Yeah,” Dad asks, like something terrible is about to happen.
Mom says it again, quieter, “This