A/N Hi everyone, this is my first time publishing a story here on. A lot of this is written by me, but my friend edits the story, so you can thank the great grammar and punctuation to her :)) I actually written out the first three chapters to this story already, and I'm working on the fourth one. I should update maybe two chapters every week, depending on how busy I am. If you have any questions about this, then you can just review. For now, I'll just answer a few questions people might have about this story. This is an AU (Alternate Universe) where Sophie and everyone else is human, not elf. A bunch of other elements are taken from Shannon Messengers KOTLC books and incorporated to fit this theme of human life. I have read book 9 of the keeper series, but this will be spoiler-free. Just assume Sophie is 14 in this. Anyway, on that note, for the next sentence here's a STELLARLUNE SPOILER ALERT! This story is probably going to start off a little Sofitz, but obviously the endgame will be Sokeefe just like in the real book series.

Ok I think that's all for now but yeah review if you have any questions about it. If you have any suggestions also review. Now you may continue reading :)

DISCLAIMER: Shannon Messenger owns all the characters and names in this story, this is just how I'd imagine the characters would act if they were humans.

CHAPTER 1

"Do I have to go?" I grumble into my cereal.

"Yes Sophie, we've already enrolled you!" Edaline, my mother by adoption, responds.

She notices my worried look and rushes to my side. Tucking a strand behind my ear, she reassures me, "You'll be fine, all the teachers there are so nice! It'll feel like you've been going there your entire life."

I sigh. "But what if I have no one to sit with at lunch!"

Edaline smiles. "Don't worry! I already arranged for your cousin, Dex, to be your tour guide. Believe it or not, he's super excited to show you around."

"I've never even met Dex before, what if he hates me!"

Edaline rolls her eyes and chuckles. "Oh Sophie, stop worrying! Everything will be fine." And with that, she walks out of the room.

Oh well. Maybe I'll have better luck with Grady.

I trudge up the steps to the home office, where I find Grady staring at his computer.

"What's up kiddo," he says as soon as he notices me lingering by the door.

"You know how I'm starting at Foxfire tomorrow," I start, internally cringing at the weird school name. Who names a school after a fungus?

"Mhm.." he says, peering over his computer glasses. I see curiosity dance over his piercing blue eyes.

"Well... maybe you and Edaline can home school me!" I say, trying to sound passionate about the idea.

Grady gives me a warm smile. "Sophie, you don't need to be nervous about Foxfire, everyone there is so nice!"

I roll my eyes. "Yeah yeah, Edaline already gave me the speech."

He turns away from the screen, now giving me his full attention.

"I know things must be hard, changing everything so quickly."

It's been a little less than two months since my real family died in a mysterious fire. All I thought about for weeks since then was that maybe if I stayed home that day instead of going out with my friends, I could've prevented the tragedy. Sometimes the voice of my little sister, Amy, haunts my dreams. I quickly shake my head, not wanting to think about the past.

Grady gives me a sympathetic look.

"How about this, I'll drive you to school tomorrow so you don't need to worry about finding a seat on the bus," he says after some thought.

My face breaks out into a grin. At least that took one worry off my list. But then a thought comes to me. "Aren't you and Edaline going to be busy at work?"

Grady and Edaline own a veterinary clinic that takes care of animals in need, kind of like how they took me in. They train the animals to be easier to handle, so that people will offer them a home.

"Don't worry, I think Flori can cover us for an hour," Grady reassures me.

Flori is one of my parents' co-workers. Once she came over for a work dinner. She seemed really nice, with her toothy grin and great conversation skills.

I run over to hug him. "Thanks, Dad." I hesitate before using the word, it's still a little new. Thankfully he doesn't notice and hugs me back.

"Ok kiddo, better get to bed!"

I nod in agreement.

"Good night!"