Free A New Beginning (Second Chance #1) by Christina Escue

semester, no matter what comes up. Come on Karla. Please just let me do this for you.”
                  Karla sighed softly. Leslie and Andrew had done so much for her and she knew she could give Leslie this little bit in return. “Okay. We’ll get me a whole new wardrobe. Now, can I look at my schedule please? I want to see what classes I’m going to be taking.”
                  Leslie handed Karla the schedule and school list. She looked at her schedule and frowned. Advanced Algebra, Advanced U.S. History, Advanced Literature and Physical Education. “Only four classes?” She asked confused.
                  “Yes. You’re on what they call block scheduling. You have four classes this semester and four different classes next semester.”
                  “Oh, makes sense I guess.” Karla turned and looked silently out the window. “Leslie, I’m scared. What if I don’t make any friends? What if I don’t fit in?”
                  “Oh honey. I think that’s a fear all kids have going into high school. High school is a scary place and you haven’t had a stable school life since second grade. I can completely understand your fears, but I also know that you are a likeable young lady and you have a big heart. You’ll make friends.” She pulled the car into a parking spot and stopped. “Now, let’s get you some outfits that’ll help you feel more confident. I’m ready to shop.”
                  Karla got out of the car and smiled at Leslie. She wanted to believe Leslie was right, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was going to go horribly wrong come Monday morning.
                  When they entered the clothing store Leslie immediately went to the juniors department and started pulling clothes from the racks. Karla rolled her eyes at Leslie’s enthusiasm before she walked over to her and started looking through the racks and tables of shirts; this is going to be a long day, she thought to herself.
    ****
    Sunday night, after Karla had showered and was in bed, she lay awake and thought about what would happen the next morning. She knew Leslie was going to take her to school, she also knew Leslie wanted to walk her in. What she wasn’t sure of was her feelings about that. She had grown to love Leslie and Andrew, but she didn’t trust all of this happiness to last.
    She had another Skype conversation set up for tomorrow afternoon with Manuel and Kiara and she hoped it went as well as the first one. She’d have a lot to tell them about school tomorrow and she was anxious to see their faces again.
    As she fell asleep she pictured Manuel’s and Kiara’s faces and wondered what their father looked like.

Chapter Twenty-One
                 
     
                  When Karla’s alarm clock sounded the next morning she laid in bed for a few minutes and remembered the dream she’d had. She was walking along a beach with Kiara and Manuel. It was a bright, sunny day and they were just walking and talking, like they’d been together forever.
                  Karla sighed and rolled out of bed. She took a quick shower then walked to her closet to choose an outfit for her first day of high school. When someone knocked on her door she knew it was Leslie so she said, “Come in Leslie. I need your help picking out something to wear.”
                  Leslie walked in with a smile on her face and went straight to the closet. She pulled out a black and pink tunic and black capris with pink vertical pencil stripes. Then she went to the shoe rack and took out a pair of black sandals. “When you picked this out the other day I thought it’d be perfect for the first day. I hope you agree.”
                  “I do agree. Thank you, it’s perfect.”
                  “Go get dressed then come down to breakfast. Andrew and I have a surprise for