Moving Forward (Completed)

Chapter Forty Nine

"It's coming along nicely in here." Mrs. Andrews smiled while entering Katherine's classroom.

MJ ran to her, wrapping her arms around her middle as Mrs. Andrews patted her back. "I'm going to miss hanging out with you after school this year."

"From what I hear you'll be plenty busy after school with homework."

"Yes," MJ nodded, "I'm going to do all my work, even if it's boring and something I already understand, and if I finish early I'll study something new. Kate took me to get a library card at the branch closest to the apartment and Rafael said all I have to do is tell the driver if I need to drop books off after school... I have to wait until one of them is available to actually look for books since I have to come straight home, but," MJ shrugged, "that's not a big deal since I plan to check out lots of books at once. Oh! And..."

Mrs. Andrews chuckled, "you're definitely excited."

"I am. I was nervous... still am a little, but less so now."

"I was thinking we could grab lunch at that burger place around the corner." Katherine had finished arranging the items on the cabinet behind her desk and joined the two by the door.

"What do you think Mrs. Andrews?"

"Sounds good to me."

"Great, I'm going to the restroom and then I'm ready." MJ didn't wait for either adult to reply before skipping off down the hall.

Mrs. Andrews watched her. "She seems happier."

"I don't know if she's happier, but she's adjusting well to living with us." Katherine moved closer to her desk where her purse was sitting. The small bag would soon be exchanged for the much larger teacher bag she carried back and forth everyday, her wallet thrown along with her key in an outer pocket. It was a transition she dreaded every year.

"What about you? How are you and your husband adjusting to a preteen living in your home?"

Katherine smiled as she slipped her phone in one of her back pockets. "It's been easy, probably too easy, but I think she's afraid that she'll be sent away if she acts out." Her eyes darted to Mrs. Andrews. "She won't." She was fairly certain Mrs. Andrews new that, but wanted to clarify it none the less. "There also hasn't really been anything for her to fight us on yet. I assume as she gets older, with puberty and middle school, we're in store for a few disagreements, but that's part of life."

"Does Rafael get along with her?"

"He does. They aren't as close as MJ and I are, but I had a bond with her before hand. They're getting closer."

"Who's getting closer?" MJ returned to the classroom much quicker than expected, garnering curious looks from both women. "I was just washing my hands." She held them up as if to prove it. "That last box I went through was really dusty."

Katherine chuckled, messing MJ's hair on her way to the door. "You and Raf."

"He's an interesting mix of personality traits." MJ's statement was just that, a statement, thrown away without intention of explanation. She exited the classroom waiting for the other two to follow oblivious to the humored look Katherine and Mrs. Andrews had shared.

"An interesting mix of personality traits?" Katherine locked her classroom door, her eyes cut to her former student.

MJ rolled her eyes. "He's serious when he's working, it can be intimidating, but he's also funny, smart, and really nice. It's fascinating."

"Well, he'd be really boring if he were one dimensional." Katherine smirked.

"I agree." MJ nodded seriously, continuing to look forward as they headed down the stairs, both adults snickering silently behind her.