A Chosen Destiny (The Samantha Project Series #3) by Stephanie Karpinske

 
    “I don’t see why we had to move here,” I heard a girl say. I recognized the voice but the image was blurry. I could hear sirens blaring outside and the beeping of garbage trucks backing up.
    My vision cleared and I saw that the girl was Allie. Mrs. Taylor, her mom, was nearby. They were unpacking boxes in what looked like a loft apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked Central Park in New York City.
    Mrs. Taylor walked over to the window. “Darling, how could anyone complain about living here? Look at this view! You have the park right outside your window. And the world’s best shopping is just minutes from our door.”
    “I miss Minnesota. That’s our home. This isn’t home. I can’t believe you made us move. I only had a few months left of school. My last few months of high school! I don’t even get to graduate with my friends.”
    “You have a wonderful private school here, dear. You’ll make friends quickly. The people at your new school are much more like you. Good breeding. Well-educated parents.”
    “I liked my friends in Minnesota. And what are you talking about? Sam was my best friend and her parents were well-educated. Maybe Colin’s parents weren’t, but who cares? What difference does it make?”
    “You’re getting older, Allie. Everything you do now affects your future. You can’t be friends with the wrong people. You need to think strategically. Think about what people can do for you. Who can have the biggest influence on your success.”
    “I’m not one of your investment portfolios, Mom. I’m your daughter. And I don’t choose my friends that way. I’m not you.”
    “Why must you be so difficult? I’m only trying to do what’s best for you.”
    “You don’t know what’s best for me! You don’t even care! You’re never even around. You and Dad only care about your jobs and making money.”
    “And that’s why we can afford nice things for you. You should be grateful for all we’ve given you.”
    “I never asked for those things, Mom!”
    Allie sat on the floor in the corner of the room, staring down at all the people walking by on the street. “I miss Sam and Colin. I miss them so much.”
    “They’re your old life, Allie. This is your new life. Samantha and Colin ran off together like a couple of reckless teenagers. They ruined their lives. I don’t want you around people like that.”
    “They’ll never find me now. I have no way of getting in touch with them.”
    “It’s for the best. You need to move on. You’ll be in college soon. You’ll be so busy that you’ll forget all about your old life.”
    “But I don’t want to forget,” Allie mumbled.
    “Get up. Let’s go have some lunch. There’s a fabulous bistro over on 66th and Park. And then we’ll go shopping. I’ll buy you something special at Bergdorf’s. Hurry up. Get yourself cleaned up and we’ll go.”
    Allie sighed. She got up slowly, still looking out the window. “Sam, Colin, please come find me.”
    “Allie?” I reached out and grabbed someone’s hand. I opened my eyes to see it was Colin’s.  
    “Sam, were you dreaming?”  
    I looked around. I was still in the hospital bed, but the room was brighter. The lights were all on now and Erik and Jack were no longer there. Neither was Dave.
    “Where is everyone?” I asked Colin.
    “Dave went to get a cup of coffee. He’ll be right back.”
    I glanced at Erik’s bed. Colin noticed. “Jack and Erik are back in their room. Or actually, they’re probably having lunch.”
    “It’s lunchtime?”
    “You’ve been asleep for a while. Were you having a dream? You were calling for someone.”
    “Allie. I had a dream about her. She was in New York City with her mom. She lived there.” I sat up in bed. “I guess I didn’t tell you about Allie.”
    “I already know. Dave told me.”
    “She was never my friend, Colin. Her mom made her be friends with me all those years. It’s just another way GlobalLife has