The second the trio appeared at the gate to Everglen, the boys sent death glares at each other. Sophie sighed, rapping her knuckles on the gate.
A few moments later, the gate slowly creaked open to reveal a very tired Biana. Through a yawn she said, "Hey guys. Come on in."
Sophie strode up beside her best friend as Biana yawned again. "Woah. What happened to you?"
She cracked a smile. "I've been remodeling my room so I haven't gotten much sleep."
Sophie laughed. "Sounds like a Biana type of thing."
"True. So what's up with them?" Biana hooked a thumb toward the pouty boys behind them.
Sophie's cheeks flamed as she muttered, "They were fighting over who knows me better."
"And?"
"In my opinion, Keefe knows me better."
Biana laughed, her curls bouncing up and down. "Don't let my brother hear you say that. He'll go crazy. Again."
Sophie smiled as Alden opened the massive front doors and they walked inside to find the Collective, Dex, Linh, Tam, and Wylie sitting on the massive couches.
"Ah, welcome, Miss Foster," Mr. Forkle said as Sophie and her friends sat in the open spots in the giant living room.
Sophie nodded at him. "So, what's so urgent that you had to personally hail me? And by the way, that was totally not creepy."
Juline laughed. "I told him not to do it."
"But it was faster and easier than the note Blur wanted to leave," Tiergan pointed out.
Blur looked like he was frowning. "Don't make me slap you."
Wylie laughed. "Tiergan would destroy you anyway so I recommend not doing anything."
Linh nodded in agreement.
"Anyways," Mr. Forkle interrupted before Tiergan and Blur could start fighting. "You probably want to know the reason we've called you here."
Fitz nodded. "Explain."
"Before we do," Tiergan said, stopping his glaring fest with Blur, "we know you'll be very, how do I say this, angry."
Fitz's hands balled into fists. "We'll see. Now tell us."
"As you know," Mr. Forkle started. "The Neverseen are causing chaos in the Lost Cities."
Sophie rolled her eyes. "Sure what else is new."
Mr Forkle turned to her and pretended not to notice the interruption as he continued, "We have managed to locate a few of the members throughout the world, and we need to bring them in."
"And why would I be mad about this? Its a lead," Fitz said, crossing his arms
"Well," Tiergan started. "Given Sophie's powerful abilities, and given that she works best with Mr. Sencen, we're sending them together to round up the members of the Neverseen."
"Yeeeah!! Keefe is coming with see!! Wait. No. FITZ is my boyfriend. Right?" Sophie thought.
Fitz tried to look calm, but the clenched fists and vein bulging in his forehead said it all.
"Fitz," Sophie said, coming up beside him and putting a hand on his arm. "Its just a mission. We'll be fine."
Fiyz took a deep breath and looked into Sophies beautiful brown eyes, calming down a little. "I know. I just.... feel like we should stick together. Cognates and all."
Deep in Sophie's heart she wanted to say,
"We should be more than just cognates Fitz. But thats all you think we could be." But she didn't, and instead she said, "I'll be fine. I have FIVE abilities, remember?" She tapped the side of her head.
Mr. Forkle cleared his throat, reminding Fitz and Sophie had an audience.
"As much as I'd love to see the rest of THAT, we have more important things."
Keefe raised his hand, a smirk on his lips. "For once, I'm with you Fork man. Sofitz is sooo last year."
It was last year. Sokeefe should be forever— why am I thinking like this?! Sophie get a grip!
Miss Foster, Mr Forkle's voice said in her head, care to join the conversation in the real world?
Sophie blinked, and realized all eyes where on her. Wow. You can really zone out when you're in your own head. Especially when you're thinking of ice blue eyes and perfect hair.
But Sophie should be thinking of TEAL eyes and DARK hair, shouldn't she?
"Well then," Mr. Forkle said clasping his hands together. "Miss Foster, Mr. Sencen. A packet will be waiting for you tomorrow morning, it will include clothes and all the info we have."
"Really?!" Keefe said, eyes wide and hands in pockets, leaning forward. "You're REALLY going to give us everything?! Who are you and where did Forklenator go?"
Mr. Forkle looking really annoyed and glittered away with the rest of the Collective.
"This is so unfair," Fitz scowled as he glared at Keefe. "I'm her Cognate! I should be the one going with her."
Keefe opened his mouth the argue but Sophie stepped in front of him. "Fitz, you seriously need to stop being jealous. We have a chance at beating the Neverseen and believe me, I'd go anyway. If it was with you. Biana. Even Stina for Ancients sake."
Keefe smirked, his expression soft. "C'mon Fitzy. We just have to capture these guys and then you'll have your girlfriend back." He cringed a little when he said 'girlfriend'.
Fitz continued scowling. "If you do anything to her, I will kill you. And I'll make sure it's slow and painful."
And with that, Fitz walked away down one of the many hallways.
After he was out of earshot, Biana said, "He's just angry. I've learned to let him be alone."
Sophie nodded her agreement. "Exactly. And that's why I'm going home. It's almost time for dinner."
She walked outside and started to pull out her home crystal but a snapped twig brought her attention to the cute ice blue eyed boy behind her.
"Hey Keefe," Sophie said with a huge grin on her lips.
Keefe put his hands in his pockets, gaze towards the ground. "Hey Foster."
"Are you ok?"
When he didn't respond, Sophie wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "Keefe, everything's going to be ok. I promise."
"But what if it's not?" Keefe finally whispered.
"Then we'll fight. Cause Team Foster-Keefe always, always, wins."
Keefe gently pulled away, a smirk adoring his lips. "Yeah."
Sophie smiled and fully pulled out her leaping crystal and holding it to the light. "See ya tomorrow?"
"See ya tomorrow," Keefe said and winking at her.
Before Sophie glittered away, her stubborn heart fluttered with a million little things.
*~*~*~*~*
Hey guys! Hope you loved the chappie! Me and T work so hard on these chapters. Hopefully, we can update these at least one a week but we can't make any promises, alright?
Hiiiiiiii this is T. We do have school but will work as hard as we can on dis book! Thanks for reading
Have a wonderful day!!
❤️,
E and T