Jess

I take a deep breath and open my mouth to sing.

I'm in another school play, started by some teachers from Alcott High.

It's a summer thing, and as soon as I heard about it I was over to Alcott in a second to try out. I got the part, too.

And Zach Norton is also in the play, similar to middle school, but this time I don't want to mess up.

I guess Zach won't be giving me a red rose this time, I think, laughing. I have a boyfriend now.

"Good job, Jessica." Mrs. Crawton's voice rings through the multi, where we're rehearsing on the stage. I'm playing the part of Laura Ingalls Wilder, from the Little House Series.

We're acting out the book, These Happy Golden Years, and its been interesting. Zach's playing Almanzo Wilder, and Zach's acting has improved quite a bit.

I'm surprised that Cassidy got a part though, and that she even tried out for the play, with her hockey practice and all that.

Somehow she got casted as Nellie Oleson. She thoroughly enjoys teasing Zach on stage.

I never took her as the acting type, but she doesn't have a singing part, so that's fine. She playing her part well, too.

It almost seems like she has a crush on Zach, even though she doesn't. I guess Zach kind of likes the fact that Cassidy is pretending to like him, because he still kind of likes her.

And although Cassidy won't admit it, she is completely head over heels in love with a certain Tristan Berkeley. I sigh and am jolted awake by Mrs. Crawton.

"Jessica?"

"Yes, Mrs. Crawton?"

"Let's start from Scene 1."

I open my mouth to sing, and suddenly I am Laura Ingalls, skipping along the prairie land in my calico dress, being wooed by Almanzo Wilder.

And I have to deal with Nellie Oleson, who is like how Sophie used to be.

It's really funny seeing Cassidy act though. She really has some skill-not in singing, but she's really got the acting part down.

We skip through a couple of lines and finish up the rehearsal.

Mrs. Crawton thanks the entire cast, Cassidy, Zach, me, and a ton of other kids either casted as small parts of extras.

We all leave in a rush, and as I leave I feel someone tugging on my jacket. It's Cassidy, with Zach right behind her.

"Can we ride along with you?" Cassidy asks.

I look around for Darcy and finally spot him. "Darcy! Can Cassidy and Zach ride with us?"

"Sure!" He yells back.

We all pile into the car and drive off.

Cassidy says, "Drop me off at Tristan's. We have a practice session today."

Zach gets a funny look on his face. "Tristan's in Concord?"

"Yeah," Cassidy replies, "They own a vacation house near the Hawthorne's."

"Really." Zach says.

"Yeah." Darcy, Cassidy, and I say in unison.

We pull to a stop in front to the Berkeley's house and Cassidy gets out of the car. She motions for us to come too. We walk in, and see that everyone is home.

"Hey Tristan, Simon," Cassidy, says, nodding her head in their direction. Zach, Tristan, Darcy, and Simon make small talk as Cassidy grabs her duffel. Cassidy clears her throat impatiently.

"Come on Tristan. We gotta go."

"Ok," Tristan replies, "Bye Jess." As he passes by me he gives my braid a "signature Darcy Hawthorne tug" and leaves, skates in hand.

Zach stares after him, then coolly says, "We should go." We all pile out the door and head back into Darcy's car.

We stop next at Zach's, then at Half Moon Farm, where I finally get to be alone with Darcy.

"Hey," He says softly, "You did great at the play today."

I smile. "Thanks."

"Bye Jess."

"Bye Darcy."

He kisses me on the cheek, then departs to his car and drives away.

I stand there for a little bit, and then head inside the house where my brothers are there to greet me.

They're taller than I am now, and its a bit shocking. As I pass them, they start staring down at me, because again, sigh, they're taller than me by like two inches.

They'll be growing even more soon too.

"Hi Jess!" Dylan and Ryan squeak.

"Hey guys," I smile, ruffle their hair and go inside. My mom is busily working in the kitchen and she smiles as I come by.

"Hey honey, bookclub meeting soon." My mom smiles at me. She looks tired, I can tell, because today Dylan and Ryan had no school.

"No school today! Haha!" They scream in my face as I walk out the door.

"I don't care!" I call back. I'm feeling happy as I run up into my room.

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Britt