Thread:Charlotte O CATS KOTLC/@comment-38091275-20190115145847/@comment-37529955-20190117000937

One Unmatchable. Sophie stared at the screen. This couldn’t be right. Some kind of mistake. Her knees knocked, and she collapsed to the ground in shock. “Sophie...” Juji and Brisa said, as if they didn’t know where to start. “Umm… this is---” Brisa said, and Sophie could feel her eyes starting to burn. Unmatchable. She really had been right all along. No way the world would suddenly go easy on her now. Not only did she not belong with the Vackers, she didn’t belong with anybody. “Does this mean I’ll always be a bad match?” Sophie interrupted, her voice quivering and on the verge of tears. “I’m afraid that may be right, Sophie,” Juji said, and Sophie fled the room crying. She burst out of the office running toward Grady and Edaline remembering the way Ceri had guided her. By now tears were streaming down her cheeks, like endless waterfalls tumbling down her face. Sophie collapsed next to them, and buried her face in their arms. “What happened Sophie?” Edaline asked, concern and confusion in her voice. Sophie didn’t answer, and Edaline pulled her closer. “What’s wrong?” Grady asked, with as much perplexion in his voice. Then, Juji and Brisa strode out of the room. “I’m sorry to tell you this Lord and Lady Ruewen, but your daughter Sophie seems to be unmatchable.” “Unmatchable?” Grady asked. “What do you mean?” “It is a rare case in which one or more of the components used in the matchmaking process doesn’t compute into our program and therefore we are not able to make a match list for them. In Sophie’s case I’m assuming her altered genetics must have something to do with this, and perhaps even her abundance of talents,” Brisa explained. “What?” Grady and Edaline exclaimed in unison. “So you mean Sophie can’t have a match list, and thus will always be bad match?” Grady asked in disbelief. “I’m afraid so, assuming she chooses to get married,” Juji said. “Oh, Sophie,” Edaline said, stroking Sophie’s back, but Sophie didn’t feel any comfort. How could she? She made herself believe in Fitz. She finally accepted the idea of matchmaking, and now, it was at it’s worst. If she did chose to get married everyone and anyone would laugh at her like they did to Dex’s family. Sophie couldn’t even bring herself to think what would happen between her and Fitz. How would he react? Confessing her crush really had been the easiest part of this. Now how was she supposed to explain to him about the match? Would this destroy them as Cognates? Thoughts swirled around in Sophie’s head, giving her a headache and making her feel queasy. She clutched her stomach, her knees knocking, and to her greatest of fears, she made a daunting realization. She did know how Fitz would react.

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It was later that afternoon and Sophie just sat in her vast bedroom on her bed, too tired and miserable to do anything else. After they arrived home from the matchmaking office, Grady and Edaline had left her alone giving her some space. Sophie hadn’t done anything productive since then. She mostly just lay around in her bed shifting positions once in a while. Her mind drifted from thought to thought, but she always came to one place: what was she going to tell Fitz? She knew she’d have to face him in soon in one way or the other, and she didn’t even want to think about it, but she couldn’t help herself. Then, a knock came from the door, and Sophie couldn’t bring herself to speak. “Sophie, you have a visitor downstairs if you’re up to it,” Edaline’s voice rung out from the other side of the door. “Okay, let me just erm… get ready,” Sophie croaked and rushed over to the bathroom to compose herself. She really needed to get her act together. Sophie looked at her expression in the bathroom mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy, with dark circles framed around them. Her face was pale and her lips were pressed together. In other words, Sophie looked miserable. Attempting to wipe the weariness off her face, Sophie doused it with water from the sink several times. This strategy proved unsuccessful, however, and she was left exactly the same but drenched, and with her hair sticking to her face. Deciding consulting Vertina was a bad idea, Sophie pulled her hair into a ponytail and changed out of her ridiculous frilly teal gown. Instead, she put on a plain black tunic, perfectly matching her mood. Finally, giving up on looking nice, Sophie stepped out of the bathroom and trudged down the stairs. And if this day could get any worse, the person she found sitting on the couch waiting for her… was Fitz. “Hi Sophie!” Fitz said, with his usual smile that slowly faded when he got a good look at Sophie. “Wait, what happened?” “What do you mean?” Sophie asked, dreading the conversation Fitz’s question would lead up to. “Umm… well you don’t look your best, Sophie.” “Oh, well nothing happened,” Sophie said. “Are you sure?” Fitz asked. “Yes, I’m sure,” Sophie answered, but the quiver in her voice gave her away. “Okay, tell me what’s wrong.” “No, nothing, honestly.” “C’mon Sophie. I thought we were past this whole trust thing.” “We are. Everything’s fine, really.” “Then why are you crying?” Fitz asked, wiping a tear Sophie didn’t realize was rolling down her cheek. “I’m not,” Sophie said, blinking, trying to stop the tears from welling up in her eyes. But once they came, they wouldn’t stop. “Sophie, seriously. Something’s really wrong.” Fitz said, and offered her his shoulder to cry on. “I’m not going to force you, but you need to tell me. I promise I won’t do anything to hurt you. You know that right?” “I know, but I just--- I can’t tell you.” “Why?” Fitz asked, now looking hurt. “It’s well---” “How about this. Would it be easier if you just show me?” “Maybe? I honestly can’t, don’t want to---” Sophie started, but couldn’t finish her sentence. “Okay, I’m going in,” Fitz declared. “But---,” and before Sophie could stop him, Fitz’s accented voice filled her head. “You went to the matchmaking office!?” Two Sophie didn’t answer. How could she? She wanted to block every single memory that flooded her brain from Fitz, but she knew she had to let them loose. Fitz deserved the truth though Sophie wanted every bit for to conceal it from him. Fitz remained silent even after the train of thoughts ended. His face grim, he looked up at Sophie. I… see… he transmitted, drawing out the words slowly, and Sophie still unable to say anything, a long period of silence followed. Sophie couldn’t stand it. She wished he would just say it already. She’d already done her part, now it was his turn. The part that would hurt the most. It wasn’t like Sophie didn’t know what he was going to say. But that was the worst part. Sophie? You know I can hear your thoughts, right? Fitz asked, and Sophie quickly calmed her mind, flustered. Did you just hear everything? Sophie asked nervously. Yeah, sorry. Fitz said, running a hand through his hair. I don’t care. Wait, what? Oh, um sorry. I mean I don’t care about the Vacker legacy. Fitz said, his cheeks flushed a bright pink. All I care about is you. “GOD are you guys gonna be like this from now on?” Keefe’s voice boomed out all of a sudden. “Sorry for walking in on your little, ahem, moment, but it was kinda getting a little too far with all that staring into each other’s eyes and with Sophie crying and all… well y’know.” “Um, sorry to keep all hidden, but I think it’s time to reveal myself,” Biana appeared materializing next to them. “First of all, yes, I heard everything and yes, I’ve been here ever since Fitz got here. I couldn’t help following him now that you guys are actually a thing. And honestly, Fitz, I agree with Keefe. You are taking this too far. I know you loooove Sophie and all, but save it for when you’re alone, ‘kay?” “We were alone if you guys weren’t spying on us!”
 * skip a bunch of dialogue*