*Okay, ya'll. This may be kind of weird, but I will put a few paragraphs--or chapters--in someone else's perspective, instead of Sophie's. BUUUUT, I won't tell you when the perspectives change. The change shouldn't be too much, though.*
Fitz glanced around. Just a normal day with normal activities. He was bored. Something Fitz thought couldn't happen, but he was just bored.
Suddenly, his Imparter rang (Again, I don't really know what it's supposed to do to signal someone is calling, but I'm too lazy to go reread the series). Fitz sprang out of bed and snatched his Imparter.
"Hello?" he called eagerly into the screen.
"Hey, dude. What's up?" a smirking face stared back at him.
Fitz sank back into bed. He had hoped Sophie would call him.
Keefe frowned. "Dude, seriously. What's wrong? You're sad and... disappointed."
Sighing, Fitz held up the Imparter to eye level. Keefe jumped in surprise.
"Woah! What happened to you?"
Fitz had dark rings under his eyes and complexion had turned pale.
"Finals, that's what," he grumbled.
Keefe chuckled. "Dude, chill out. Wanna hang?" Running his hand through his hair, Keefe added, "And Biana will be there, too, right?"
Fitz groaned. Knowing Keefe was now his sister's boyfriend, he wasn't sure what to feel.
"Yeah, come on over. I'll invite Sophie and Dex, too." Fitz nodded.
Keefe grinned, "See ya, bro," and the Imparter clicked off.
*A/N* OH MY GODS!!! 1K READS! SO SORRY I DIDN'T NOTICE EARLIER! I'm usually very busy with school =( I put this A/N in the middle of this chapter because I will complete this chapter all right now because I have 1k reads! I AM SO HEXCITED! THIS IS AMAZHANG! (Lel, all those references)*
Fitz glanced at his mirror. He wasn't sure why girls 'drool all over him,' as Biana had once put it. He thought he looked quite average, and hopefully that was enough to impress Sophie.
Shaking off his thoughts, he hailed Sophie on his Imparter.
"Hi, Fitz," Sophie smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear, which Fitz thought was extremely adorable.
Wondering why Fitz called her, Sophie asked, "Er, what's up?"
"Who is it?" Dex peeked from behind Sophie while tweaking her iPod.
"Just Fitz," Sophie glanced behind her. It was so nice of him to fix her iPod, her only connection to her old life. Sophie was glad to have a cousin like him.
"Wonderboy," Sophie thought she caught Dex mumbling.
Sophie turned her attention back to the screen.
"Wanna come over?" Fitz flashed his movie-star grin.
Grinning, Sophie said, "Sure! Who else is going to be there?"
Fitz turned pale. "Oh no," he groaned. "Stina. Her mom and my mom are in a meeting, and my mom asked me to hang out with Stina. I don't know why she's always over. Sorry." Fitz grimaced.
Her smile faltering, Sophie shrugged it off. "It's fine. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?"
* * *
Sophie leaped to Everglen. Dex hadn't managed to make it, yet again, to one of their hang-outs. Kesler had called about some 'springing serum' he needed help with. Somehow someone returned a potion they deemed 'unfit for Elvin use' and demanded to have someone test the elixir out. That was all Kesler had said on the Imparter, but Dex had rushed off, so it seemed important.
Arriving outside the gates, they swung open. Biana reappeared, smiling, at the other side.
"So, are you having a sleepover?" Biana adjusted her headband and skipped to the door.
"I don't know, but I brought some stuff over just in case," Sophie switched her tote bag from one hand to the other, "and I hope I can stay over. I've never had a sleepover."
Biana looked surprised. "You haven't? My goodness, where have you been all these years?" she teased. "Under a rock?"
Shaking her head, the corners of Sophie's mouth twitched. "I've just never had many friends. Maybe you can teach me how to have a sleepover."
Before Biana could respond, Sophie heard Alden calling, "You kids alright if I go? I need to run some errands. And track down a missing elf... No reason to worry," he added when he saw Sophie tensing. "Nobody you would know."
Alden strode over to the Leapmaster and called out a word Sophie couldn't replicate.
"Farewell." Alden's warm smile was replaced with a frown as he shimmered away.
Biana stared blankly at the Leapmaster for a moment then turned back to Sophie. "What do you want to do first?" Biana looked Sophie up and down. "How about a makeover?"
Sophie blinked. "What?" It took her a moment to process the idea. "WHAT? No way!"
Tugging on Sophie's arm, Biana led her upstairs. "I have the perfect lip gloss color for you -- and maybe we can dye your hair! Temporarily, of course," she added hastily when she saw the look on Sophie's face.
With Biana chattering away about makeup and nail polish, Sophie thought about Alden. Why had he looked so worried when he left? Sophie was pulled out of her train of thought when she saw Fitz standing at the top of the stairs, smirking. Biana glared at Fitz and hissed, "No! You and Keefe go do something else right now. Sophie and I are bonding." She emphasized bonding as if it was something she and Fitz had discussed beforehand. He nodded curtly and disappeared down the hall, glancing back at Sophie furtively.
"What was that about?" Sophie asked cautiously. Biana grinned sheepishly at her.
"I didn't want Fitz or Keefe to interrupt our girls' night. I hope that's okay with you," Biana frowned.
Sophie shot her a reassuring look. "Of course. What are we doing first?"
* * *
After gallons of nail polish, Biana stepped back to admire her work. "You're perfect," she drawled, giggling. "Just peerrrffeeeccttt."
Smiling, Sophie replied, "Thanks. It's really awesome --"
A snarling voice cut her off. "What are you doing here?" Stina glared at the two girls, flipping her hair and glancing at the door.
"Stina?" Biana frowned. "I thought you were 'studying'."
"Oh, I got bored." With a grin, Stina strutted into the room and promptly spilled a bottle of nail polish.
"Oh, sorry," Stina smiled and sat down next to Biana, causing her to scoot away.
"I thought you were supposed to act proper," said Biana, sniffing. "And is that my mother's perfume?" Biana's eyes opened wide. "You-you can't do that! Take it off, right now!"
"Sorry, I can't," Stina traced her finger down her cheek, imitating a tear. "Della let me borrow it. We're friends now." She cackled and stuck her tongue out at Biana. "Although, to be fair, I'm only her friend by force. Apparently since my mom's never home, it's called bonding."
Rolling her eyes, Biana turned back to Sophie. "I guess we'll have to continue this sometime later."
Nodding, Sophie stood up. "There you are!" exclaimed a panting Fitz, showing up around the corner. "You left and started running -- why? Anyway, get back to studying! That's why you're here, right --" Fitz stopped and stared. "Oh. Hi, Sophie..." Fitz coughed uncomfortably and leaned against the doorway. "How-how are you?"
Sophie was equally as nervous. "I-I'm good. You?"
"Good, good."
"Fitz! Where'd you run off to?" called Keefe from down the hall. "Oh, there you are." He slowed to a stop at the doorway, staring at Biana. His eyes flicked to Stina. "Wait, what is she doing here?"
"None of your business," she sneered. "Now, let's do something fun!"
Sophie and Biana glanced at each other. What?
"Seriously, I'm bored. Like, super bored."
"Er, okay," said Sophie. "I mean, I guess we could..."
Somehow, Sophie had gotten herself into another game of 'truth or dare'... with Stina.