Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-2601:647:4000:5CE0:FC5C:33DA:7CF0:60A-20191024050134/@comment-2601:647:4000:5CE0:58D0:9622:BE86:8D91-20191025020730

Chapter 1

TAM.

Sophie's head hurt so much as she sent the thought whirrling into darkness. Her eyes were puffy from crying. Her cheeks were pale, and her hair in tangles. She nestled back into her fluffy covers.

''Tam. Tam. TAM. TAM!''

''Please. If you ignore me, you ignore Linh. Or Biana!''

The last word triggered a flame of hope and joy and something else.

Sophie?

''Tam! ''Sophie transmitted, feeling the new whispery voice wash over. Thank god.

'''What happened? Are you okay? Are Linh and Biana safe? Sophie, I couldn't stop Gethen... he knows everything but the Black Swan identities, hideouts, and the little pieces of information I was able to hide with Shadowvapor... like this conversation.'''

''You did what you could, Tam. Are you okay? And what about Shadowvapor?''

'''I'm fine, though the food is disgusting. And I used a trick from Umber's old journal.'''

I'm so, so, sorry Tam...

'''Don't be. It was my choice.'''

''Still. I shouldn't have dragged you into this.''

'''Where Linh goes, I go. Also, the Black Swan fights for a good cause. A cause I support.'''

Sophie felt some of the weight off her back lift.

'''Shadowvapor is running out. Listen, Sophie. Tell Linh I love her, and... tell Biana to stay safe. Only contact me at night- that's when the vapor is thickest. Stay safe.'''

''Don't worry, Tam. Stay safe as well.''

Good-bye, Sophie.

Sophie felt his whispery mind drift away. She rubbed her temples, feeling like half of her burden had been released. Then there was the last part.

Telling Fitz she was unmatchable.

She needed to get over it, like her silly crush. Plus, Fitz loved her no matter what, so he would definitely still like her... right?

Sophie slipped into an ice blue tunic, black leggings, and soft boots. She had just finished brushing her hair and styling it the way Vertina instructed her to, when someone knocked.

"Come in," she called, figuring it was Keefe. After all, the Council had called them both to check on the alicorns, which were safe in Havenfield. Instead, the cutest boy who was the last boy Sophie wanted to see right now walked in.

"Oh. Fitz." Sophie's heart exploded and started beating faster than a hurricane could spin. Her palms felt warm and sweaty. Her brain pounded as Fitz flashed his movie star smile, fingering his pocket, where another present wrapped in silky teal paper flecked with silver and tied with a soft white sash arested. "I have something to tell you."

"Oh?" he said, raising an eyebrow. "I already know. Grady and Edaline told me you went to the matchmakers. They said you... should tell me what happened."

Sophie's heart started to pound like a thunderstorm. ''BA-BAMP. BA-BAMP. BA-BAMP. ''Each one thumped even louder.

"Fitz.... I'm unmatchable."

"WHAT?" he asked in disbelief. "No- that's not possible. No way. Uh uh." Sophie could see his eyes filling with unease and slight scorn. His emotional center was exploding, and Sophie could only make out one emotion.

Guilt.

Guilt about admitting he was worried about the stupid Vacker legacy.

"Go."

"What?" Sop-"

"Go."

Fitz stumbled out the door and raced downstairs. Sophie sank to the floor in a cold, sobbing, heap. "I'm sorry," Vertina said softly, a tear tracing down. The tear vanished and Vertina tossed her black hair out of her eyes. "Don't be," Sophie said, glaring at Fitz's retreating form out of the open door. "He deserved it."

Sophie yanked off her teal heart necklace, which was warm after long hours of resting on her neck. She ripped the pendant off and threw it at the glass. It shattered into three pieces. Sophie flung each one out the window, satisfaction filling her as they shattered. And when they shattered, they shattered hard. A voice behind her cleared his throat. She whipped around.

"Keefe!"

The obnoxious but adorable blonde boy flashed her his trademark smirk as he folded his arms. "How's our Mysterious Miss F? Mad at Fitzy, eh?" He gestured towards the teal shards littering the ground under Sophie's window.

"Yeah," she mumbled, staring at the ground. "Is it time to go already?"

"Pretty much," Keefe said, staring intensely at her. "But clearly that's not the problem. What's wrong, Foster?"

It took Keefe about five seconds to get the story out, but he didn't tease. He only wrapped his arms around her and let her tears soak his tunic. "Hey," he added, putting his hands on her shoulders and looking her in the eyes. "Foster, no matter what alibi- Mysterious Miss F, Little Miss Heartbreaker, Lady Lecutres-a-lot- you will always be Sophie, and that's what matters. Not Wonderboy, not Dexy poo. And by the way, how's Tam?"

"Thanks, and I just reached out to him," she told Keefe, wiping her puffy red eyes. "He says to only contact him during night. And... he told me to tell Linh he loves her and Biana he misses her." Keefe's eyebrows shot up at the mention of Biana's name, but he didn't say anything. Only draped an arm around her shoulders and dragged her to the Leapmaster.

"Let's go see the Sparkle Tushie fam!" he told her cheekily, pulling her into the beam of light.