"You ready for school?" Johnny asked me as he drank his coffee in the kitchen where both Franklin and myself were getting ready for school. He used to go to St. Anne's, but since he's in tenth grade, he chose to go to a public high school; Townsend Harris High School. I'm only in eighth, so I still go to St. Anne's. I hate that school so much.

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm ready."

"So, are you moving to another high school, or staying at St. Anne's? You only have-"

"Three month's left." I finished for him. He's been pressuring me into staying at St. Anne's; Uncle Reed and Aunt Sue have been trying to get me to go to a public school to expand my horizons; Franklin and Uncle Ben just want me to be happy with the choice I make. I like their pushing better than anyone else's.

Johnny smiled behind his cup. "Just wanna make sure that you remembered how much time you had left."

"How could I forget? You keep reminding me. Bye." Franklin and I started to head for the elevator.

"Bye." He saw us off.

As soon as we started to move down, Franklin started to harp me. "You haven't told him, have you?"

"Not exactly."

"Common Nito! This is an AMAZING opportunity for you. You have got to tell him. Why haven't you told him?" We exited the elevator and passed by Daniel, the concierge, like we did every morning.

"Good morning Miss Storm, Mr. Richards." Daniel greeted kindly like he did every morning.

"Morning Mr. Daniel." We both said to him as we left the Baxter building.

"Why haven't you told him?" Franklin continued.

"I've tried, but every time I do he's either going out to save the world or going on a date. Between his love life and superhero life, I can't seem to get a word in."

"Then let the school tell him! You cannot let this scholarship go to waste."

I sighed. "I know. But...it's really far away-"

"It's only across the Atlantic."

"Which is pretty far away." We got to the corner where we separate. "Look, when we get home, I'll tell him. Okay?"

Franklin nodded. "You better. See ya."

"Bye."

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

"Someone tell me what this is an example of: Love is a river." Mr. Dully said to the class that day. He was helping us get ready for 'the test' as the teachers liked to call it. God this was so easy, so I raised my hand. "Yes, Miss Storm."

"It's a metaphor."

"Very good, Miss Storm. And since you seem to be the only one in class, can you give me an example of personification." Mr. Dully peered over his half-moon glasses at me.

I thought for a second, "Um... the clock waited with bated breath as it ticked the last minute in the four o'clock hour. For that hour, would change the lives of not only the clock, but of the world." I recited like I had more than a second to practice.

Mr. Dully smiled. "Pure poetry." Then the bell rang, telling us to go to eighth period. Ad everyone filed out, Mr. Dully caught me. "Miss Storm, can I speak with you for a minute?"

"Yes, sir." I said, finished packing my bag, and went over to him.

"So, I hear that you got a full scholarship to the Gordonstoun preparatory school in Duffus, Moray, Scotland. Is that correct?"

I nodded. "Yes sir."

"Well, you are going, aren't you?"

"I'm not sure."

"How are you not sure? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! They never come to the states to recruit unless they are requested."

"I understand that. But I just haven't talked to my dad yet. And I know he's not going to let me. I-I don't even know how they found me."

He said sheepishly, "I can answer that one. I called them. You have the best grades I have ever seen in my entire thirty years of working here. You deserve it."

I shook my head started for the door. "No I don't."

"You don't think much of yourself, do you?"

"I don't own self esteem." Then I left to go to Latin.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

I slowly walked into the game room after school that day to see if dad was there. He wasn't. But Uncle Ben was. "Hey, Uncle Ben." I said, and he turned away from the TV, and smiled at me.

"Hey, sweetie, what's up?" I went over to him, and sat on the couch next to him.

"Um, can I talk to you? Privately?"

"Of course. Tell Uncle Benny all about it?"

"It's about what school I'm going to." I started. I just didn't know what to say.

"Okay," He urged me to go on.

"Well, a private school in Scotland came to my school, and was looking to recruit a couple of kids. And, they picked me, and I really really want to go, but I don't know how to tell dad." It all kind of fell out of my mouth in one long winded quick sentence.

"Well that's incredible! I don't care what Johnny says, you're going." He was smiling.

"But see, the thing is, I don't know how to tell him."

He nodded. "Oh, here's what you're gonna do: as soon as he comes home, you need to go up to him, and tell him that you know what school you're going to. He's going to be intrigued, and you're going to tell him, the school in Scotland."

"Then what?"

"Then you take it from there." Le sigh, I hate doing things by myself.

I sat in the kitchen, and was bouncing my leg in antici-(say it!)-pation. What if he says no? Oh man, he's not going to be happy. I rubbed my eyes as I heard someone walk into the kitchen. "Hey, Squirt. How was school?" Dad came up and ruffled my short hair before he went into the fridge.

"Fine. How was your day?" I said, prepping myself for the bomb.

"Fine. I met your future mother today." He came and sat down next to me with a bottle of water.

I rolled my eyes. "You always say that." He chuckled, which caused me to chuckle. After a minute of silence, I said, "So, I picked what school I want to go to."

"Really?" I nodded. "Well?"

"I'm going to Gordonstoun." I said simply, and Dad stared at me.

"G-G-Gordonstoun?" I nodded. "Where's that?"

I swallowed. "Scotland."

He had a shocked look on his face, and he said, "I-I don't quite understand. How?"

"Um, they came to my school, and were impressed at my grades, and they requested that I go to their High School. And I really want to go." I gave him puppy eyes. He can't resist the eyes.

"No." He stood up and started to leave.

I followed him. "What do you mean 'no'? This is a chance of a life time. I have to go."

He turned. "I said 'no'. End of discussion." He then left me standing the kitchen, full of disappointment. I was going. No matter what he said.