The day before the move, I didn't argue with my parents. I let them silently think I had accepted their decision, and all of my things were packed.

"So, how long should the trip take?" I asked at supper.

"About a year, but we'll be sleeping most of the time. There are faster shuttles, which would take about three months, but we don't want to risk it."

"What I don't understand is, why didn't they just choose actual astronauts to complete this mission alone? And mum, you do realise that nobody's lived there before us, and you'll have to do work to survive, don't you?" I asked.

"Of course, darling. That also includes you, don't forget."

"Oh, I'm all set to work," I assured her. "May I be excused?"

I went up to my room, which was filled with boxes of my junk. Not all of it was coming with me, however. Only my clothes, CDs, guitar, and some books were accompianying me. I sat down, took out a notebook, and started writing:

Dear Jen,

I know we both have different views on this mission, but I trust you, as I should, so please don't tell anyone, and help me. I'm not going on the trip, but I'm not staying here, either. I suppose you've known that the whole time. I can't say where I'm going, but if you ever come back to Earth, I know you'll figure it out. What I need you to do, so Mum and Dad don't find out until they're in another galaxy, is make a double of me. I know you're further than me in our magic studies, and you can do this. By the time you read this note, I'll be far away, since I'm leaving tonight. I rely on you for this."

Love, Alex.

"Alex, honey, go to sleep! We have an early morning tomorrow," my mum called.

"Yes, mum," I said as I set my alarm for two hours later. Early morning, indeed.

When I woke up again, I sent my note to Jen by way of magic, so I wouldn't wake her. Oh, I forgot to mention that my family has a history of magic, which skips every few generations. My mum doesn't have it, nor does she know about it. Jen and I learned how to use it from our cousin (yes, the Queen). Once I knew my note had reached Jen, my bags vanished, and I hoped they reappeared in Brian's car, which was parked down the street. Without hesitating, I picked up the cage my cat was in, and climbed out my window and down the trellis.

"I hope you know what you're doing," my cat, James, muttered (oh yeah, he was cursed by a spell that made him talk. It's a curse for us, at least).

"Of course I do," I replied. "It's me mum who's not sure of what I'm doing, or what she's doing, for that matter. Now, you're going to love it where we're going. We've got a small island, all to ourselves, except of course when Brian comes to visit. Now, you can't talk, since they don't know you can." We had reached the car.

"Hey," Brian said quietly. "First, before we go anywhere, we have to prepare, since they'll recognise you."

"What do you think I should do?" I asked, knowing the answer but regretting it.

"I have a friend in the hairdressing department...she can cut and dye it brown, then nobody would recognise you," Brian suggested.

"Yeah, nobody including me! I haven't cut me hair since I was five! It'll never grow back!"

"Well, how about you cut it for charity?" Brian asked.

What do you mean?"

"You know, one of those organizations who send it to a company to make wigs for cancer treatment kids," he explained.

"Well, I guess, since it's for charity..."I mumbled.

"That's the spirit!" Brian's father said. "Now come on, we have to hurry or we won't make the plane in time."

An hour later, a girl who looked nothing like myself boarded a plane set for Sydney, Australia. From there, she would travel to a small island off the coast, where she would live. Of course, this girl was me.

"Would you please stop looking in that mirror?" Brian snapped, quite pestered. "I never knew you were so vain."

"I'm not," I protested. "It's just...new. I mean, do you think I make a good brunette? I've never really thought of myself as anything except a blonde. I mean, this isn't natural."

"I think you look beautiful any way," Brian said, with a somewhat frightening look in his eyes. Then he turned away. "Besides, it worked, the worker didn't recognise you."

"I don't recognise myself," I complained. "Maybe going to that planet would have been better."

"Don't be silly," Brian replied. "Now, no more talking of this, people are coming on." And thus ended our conversation.

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