"Okay, kids..." My father announced, rubbing his face wearily.

We were all siting around his dining table, sitting as far from him as we could, an occasional glare was shared between Avery and Reese.

"There are going to be some big changes around here." Dad continues, giving us each a look. "I'm going to be going to court soon to make sure I have legal full time custody of all you kids. It seems to me that your mother just can't take care of you."

"She's a better parent than what you ever will be." Avery sneered.

Dad glared furiously at Avery, but didn't retaliate.

"Does that mean we will be living with you full time?" I asked nervously.

"Yes Alaska, it does. Your Mother will be booking into rehabilitation for her alcohol and mental health issues." My Father replied, looking at me sadly.

I'm not sure why, but I didn't feel sad. Not one bit emotion was shed.

"The second change will be as long as your living with me, you will be enrolled in a school inside the zone. Therefore, all of you will be changing schools. Avery, I expect you to attend every lesson." My Dad says, looking pointedly at Avery.

I looked over to Avery, to see a face full of deep emotion. But Avery wasn't a crier.

Reese, my brother whom I hadn't seen for nearly a week, looked exhausted.

"I will be contacting your current schools and letting them know. You kids won't be walking to and from school anymore since clearly none of you can be trusted, and Avery, since your run-in with the police today, you won't be able to drive your car for 1 year. You are lucky those drugs and cigarettes weren't found in your possession, otherwise you could have been in jail."

I braced myself for a heated argument, but when I snuck a look at Avery, her mouth was clamped shut.

"The third change for you kids is that once you start your new school, you will receive 1 day a week of counselling. And as for Avery, you will be staying behind 2 days a week after school to catch up any work you missed on throughout this year."

I was silent, taking in the new information.

"You kids may leave the table and unpack your things. But Avery, I want to speak to you in private." My father says, gesturing for us to leave.

As I was walking to my room, Reese out his hand out to stop me.

"Alaska?'

"What." I reply bluntly. Reese was the whole reason I was in this mess. Well, he was partially the reason.

"I'm sorry. I can't believe Adrianne fought you. I-I don't know how to explain myself. But I'm just so sorry because I know everything, everything is my fault." Reese whispered, giving his eyes a brief wipe.

"Yes, I can't say that nothing was your fault. You were the reason I fought Adrianne, which I won by the way," I say, smiling a little, "But it's not your fault about anything else. Probably not even for that. It was my fault I decided to go with Avery, it was my fault I joined the gang. It was my fault I got suspended."

"I saw the graffiti at the local school. I guess Avery pretty much hates me, just like the rest of the kids do now." Reese sighed.

"Avery is broken Reese. She doesn't mean anything she says. Avery does all these stupid things for attention and to release negative energy. She is hurting, deep, deep down. She is dying."

"How?" Reese asked anxiously, fidgeting with his hands.

"When I would catch up with her every day before school, she would offer me a cigarette. She's only 17, and I know she has been smoking way before then. I went to her make-shift house and it stank like alcohol and weed. She has boys affiliated with her gang. And you and I both know that if we didn't catch her soon enough she could have become pregnant."

"Then why didn't you just come home when you got suspended? Why did you chose to stay at Avery's house?" Reese questioned thoughtfully.

"Avery... I don't know...I felt Avery understood me. I felt that living with Avery was going to be easier. Avery always seems so cool, self-assured, confident. I wanted to be like her." I answered, a lump forming in my throat.

"How can someone as smart as you, do something so stupid?" Reese mutters.

"I don't know. But I'm so sorry." I say, wrapping my arms around Reese's thin frame. We held each other for a long time, in silence.

The door to the dining room burst open and we both jumped.

"Alaska, Reese, I'm so sorry!" Avery cried, running over to us, her tear stained face melting my heart.

Dad was behind us, studying us.

We all embraced. I knew that we were all crying.

"How about we go out to dinner tonight?" my Dad whispered softly to us.

I broke away from the hug, "What? What! Are you serious?"

"Yes. We can go to any restaurant you want. It's up to you. Be ready by 7:00 so we can find a parking spot." And with one last dazzling smile, Dad left the room.

Without time to lose, we sprinted to our rooms and threw on our best clothes.

This was going to be the first time I had ever gone to a restaurant in 5 years.

Some changes are good. And some are bad.

But I think I'm looking forward to my future living with my father.

I shared a glance with my tear stained siblings.

And I knew they were too.