Nine years later…

"Elizabeth!"

I hate when she calls me that. It's not as bad as when she calls me Mary Elizabeth. When I hear that, I prepare myself to hear about death or to get into serious trouble. Calling me Elizabeth is just a mom thing. I am doing the best I can to hide my laptop before she reaches my room and barely make it.

"How many times have I asked you not to call me that, Mom?"

My frustration distracts her from what else I have been doing. There will be no questions about the laptop kicked beneath the bed.

"Would you rather I call you Mary?"

I roll my eyes.

"No. Can't you call me Liz? It sounds so much more modern."

"Both of those names are royal names. They're beautiful."

"I'm not going for beautiful or royal right now. Can you just call me Liz?"

She smiles and nods. My mother has aged considerably over the last few years. I can see the wrinkles around her mouth when she smiles.

"Okay, Liz, it's time for history."

It is my favorite subject, so I'm more than willing to leave my room for home schooling. Mom and Dad have homeschooled me for as long as I can remember and I will be testing out of it soon with a diploma from the state of New York. They like to think that I still am oblivious to the reason as to why I rarely am allowed out of the house alone, but I know.

"I'll be downstairs in a few minutes, okay?"

She nods again and leaves the room.

I wait until I hear her reach the bottom of the stairs and pull my laptop back out from beneath the bed. I log back into the Facebook that neither Mom nor Dad know I have. I am listed under the name Summer Wind, which I unfortunately realized too late sounds like a pornographic name. Nonetheless, I am not about to use my real name. If they discover the account, I'll never hear the end of it.

I'll meet you tonight.

I am fast when it comes to keyboarding. I guess I have learned my speed due to the fear that I would be caught time and time again. I hide the laptop beneath a floorboard where I have hidden it for the past six months.

"You're doing very well, honey."

I look up from my history book that is highlighted tremendously. I wasn't even aware that she was standing over me.

"Oh, thanks," I mutter, still concentrating on the book.

"You can take a break, you know."

I know this, but I have been so concentrated on school lately. I am getting the chance to graduate early after testing very well. I want to keep that record going. Bringing the studies to a halt will not help that. Still, I know I need a break.

The two of us eat a small lunch. We talk about the morning and I bring up a topic I know will upset her. I don't want to do that, but it will never be talked about otherwise.

"Mom, I need to start filling out college applications."

She sighs.

"We've talked about this, Liz. All of this."

"Not really. You and Dad just told me that I wasn't going to college."

"We didn't say that. You're only sixteen. You don't have to go to college for another two years."

"No, I don't have to. But I can. Why is this an issue? Aren't you proud of me? Don't you want me to make something of myself?"

"Oh course I do. But you're too young to be out there on your own."

"You've been saying that since I was born."

"Well, it's true. Besides, we don't have the money for college."

"Don't try that one on me again. We don't need the money. Haven't you seen my national test scores? I'm practically a national merit scholar."

"Elizabeth, I'm not having this conversation again, do you understand? You're my daughter and you'll do as I say. I'm only looking out for your well being. It's not like I'm trying to make your life miserable."

I hate that tone. There's no getting around it.

"Where's Dad?"

I leave the dark attitude in my voice on purpose, mainly just to annoy her.

"He's at the shop."

"I thought he had the day off."

"He did, but something came up. Some customer that was willing to pay a lot to have their transmission fixed by tomorrow came by. He couldn't exactly turn it away. But you know him. He'll have it done in a few hours."

As much as I love my mom, I'm closer to Dad. Mom is far too protective of me and Dad is the one who is often in my corner, especially when it comes to the college argument. I could use him at a moment like this.

"I could go to school around here-"

"Now, dammit, Elizabeth, I don't want to hear any more of this!" she suddenly yells, slamming her hand on the table hard enough to make me jump. "It's over. And I don't want to hear of you going to your father either. We're both on the same side in the matter."

I grab my history book and bring it upstairs to my room, locking the door behind me. I hear her footsteps follow me, but the moment she reaches the door, she turns and goes back downstairs.

I'm waiting until I can be positive they are asleep. It is never a for sure thing, but I feel I have gotten it down to a near art. The house is dark and the surrounding area is silent, with the exception of various animals that dare to venture near our property. It finally reaches a point where I feel they have been in bed long enough that they will not notice if I leave.

"They are asleep. You can stop worrying."

Castiel, my little confident since a young age, is sitting beside me in the armchair. He is watching me silently chat online.

"I'm not worried," I say, without looking away from the screen.

"Yes, you are. You're worried about the wrong thing."

"I'll be fine out there. I'm always careful."

"I know you are."

He is a strange creature, parent-like in nature, but not as judgmental. He's incredibly cryptic in nature, which I don't particularly appreciate. He also smiles very rarely, but is comforting nonetheless. He tells me he is my guardian angel, sent to protect me, but I'm not sure if I believe him.

I carefully unlock the window and pull it open. It's not too steep of a drop to the ground, but I always figure it is best to crawl to the tree next to my room instead. It is sturdier than any I have ever seen and I wonder if my parents really have no idea how it is utilized.

"You should find a better way out. I'm afraid you'll break your neck one of these days."

I was nearly out the window before she spoke. I turn back to see the girl I have come to know as my Aunt Dawn standing behind me. Being able to see supernatural figures, such as ghosts, angels, or whatever else, really messes with me at times. I don't know who or what anyone is. She is looking at me with a disapproving glare.

"You know, I wasn't much older than you when I died."

"I'm aware, Dawn. That's why you always look like you're seventeen."

She folds her arms across her chest, annoyed.

"I just wouldn't want to see my niece die from a slip from a tree when she has so much potential."

I wish I knew what she was talking about when it came to that potential. She always mentions it, but Castiel quiets here when she speaks of it.

"I've told you, just like I've told him," I point to Castiel, "I'm careful. Just calm down."

I crawl out and shimmy my way down the tree. My bag is on the ground in the bushes, as I hid it there hours earlier. I throw it on my back and head out to my destination in the cool rain.