Lane Changes — Anna J. Adams

I waited until the last two years of high school to take Spanish and am now one of only three seniors; Sam and Rob are the others. Every day we have to conjugate verbs and today, the teacher was in a rare mood. Amar: to love That's what I associated with Rob Holland, the newest student at Naylorville High who somehow has the power to make me blush, stammer and trip all at once. Molestar: to annoy That should be Sam Seeley's middle name. Since seventh grade he has annoyed me to the point where I should earn a gold medal for ignoring him. Matar: to kill This is what I want to do to the person putting black origami roses in my locker, writing hateful notes, rude emails and texts and throwing a rock at my bedroom window. Nadar: to swim My one talent. A college scholarship I desperately need. Something I never thought I wouldn't be able to do until an "accident" cuts my swim season short. Aprender: to learn I have a lot to learn. About Rob and how emotionally stunted a person can be. About Sam and how his life isn't better than anyone else's. About how one friend's mental illness can have lasting effects. About love. About myself...Lane Meyers.