I scanned again through the list of available houses. None of them seemed right. And I was the easier barrier; once I made my list, houses had to pass my Papa before they would even be considered. Living in a room at a bed & breakfast was really starting to get on my nerves. I glanced at the mirror, which was remarkably small. I was wearing jeans, the first pair I had ever owned, and a light blue shirt. My hair was back in a ponytail, and I was wearing hoop earrings - I had finally gotten my ears pierced (with magic). I was wearing silver sneakers, which Emmy had picked out. That little kid was cute. I thought I looked pretty good, but that didn't mean I was ready. I wasn't sure I'd ever be ready to embark on the biggest adventure of my life. Michael knocked on the door.

"Come in!" I called.

He walked into the room. "Liz, you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," I said. "I just wish we were starting in the same grade."

"Well, I'm a year older than you," he said. "So you're just going to be a freshman." He stuck his tongue out.

"Watch it dude, I'm still a pirate. You sure you know everything you need to know?"

"Yes! I read every textbook from the second-grade curriculum to the first half of the tenth grade curriculum, I've got it down. What about you?"

"Read up through the eighth grade and the beginning of the ninth. We're ready."

"Awesome. What about your friend?"

"Charlotte? I think she's ready to start school for the second half of senior year."

"Good luck to her."

"Yeah. Is Emmy ready for the third grade?"

"I believe she is. And very excited, I might add."

"Of course. She's excited about everything. Anyway, let's go."

"Going, going. I promised your nephew we'd meet him at the bus stop."

"Great. I'll be seen with an eighth grader."

"His mother is the mayor."

"Fair enough. Let's get out of here."

"Let's." On the way, Michael asked, "Found a house yet?"

"Nope. None of them seem right, and even the okay ones would never pass my Papa and there's no use trying."

Michael chuckled. "He's a bit harsh, isn't he?"

"He's never lived in a house before. Neither have I. Pirate ships suffice for both of us."

Michael raised his eyebrows. "Okay, then..."

I laughed. "Anyway, we're about to start school!"

"I know," he said. "It's pretty exciting. Having a real life and everything... it's just a little bit terrifying."

"Need me to hold your hand?" I teased.

He raised his eyebrows. "Well, you are my girlfriend, right?"

"Uh... Have we agreed we're going to use that word?"

Before Michael could say anything, my nephew walked up to us. "Hey Elizabeth," Henry greeted with a smile. "Hi Michael."

"Hi Henry," I said. "How's it going?"

"Fine," he replied. "Are you excited to start school?"

"Sure," I replied. "School is... a thing."

"Just don't start acting like you're better cause you're a couple centuries older," he said.

I raised my eyebrows. "Don't worry, kid. Not a problem."

"Also, Dad said to say 'Good luck' from him."

"Thanks," I replied, rolling my eyes at my big brother's attempt to embarrass me. "You don't have any messages from my Papa, do you?"

"No," he replied. "Let's get on the bus."

We did.

"Elizabeth, how was school?" my Papa asked when I got back to Granny's.

"Fine," I replied. It had been pretty cool. I had known what I needed to know to understand the material (thank you, books), I had arrived to all my classes on time, and I had made a new friend - Rebecca. The lunch had been gross, but that was only a minor detail.

"I can't believe you're actually going to school. You're going to be exceptional," he said. "You'll be top of your class and get into a great college and -"

"Papa!" I interrupted. "Wait till I get my first graded assignment back, would you?"

"Fine," he replied. "But I just want you to know how proud I am of my daughter. I love you."

"Love you too," I replied, rolling my eyes.