"What's that?" Biana asked.

"Well... it's a game where you can either give someone a dare or a truth—a truth is a question you have to answer honestly, and a dare is a thing that you have to do."

Sophie remembered awkward parties in middle school, with truth or dare being the sole focus of the parties—and spin the bottle. She also remembered being left out, being ignored at every party she went to.

"Cool," Biana said, a little smile on her face. "Yeah, it sounds awesome, Sophie!" Dex exclaimed, a grin on his face.

Sophie smiled at them, grateful that someone liked her idea.

"I think it's genius, Foster." Keefe slung his arm around her shoulders, "And how about we add a skip?" Sophie frowned, "Well-" Keefe cut her off, flashing his standard smirk, "—And you have to take off one item of clothing per skip!" He added cheerfully, his smirk crooked on his face.

Sophie flushed, "Uh, what?" Dex chimed in, "That sounds fun!" Biana and Fitz nodded their agreement, and Sophie groaned, resigned.

"Fine." She rolled her eyes and then smirked at Keefe. "You can go first."

The friends formed a loose circle on the plush carpet, Sophie between Keefe and Fitz. Fitz's knee was touching hers, but she thought nothing of it, after all, they were just friends.

Or that's what she thought.

"Hmm, Fitzy!" Keefe said triumphantly, "Truth or Dare?" Fitz hesitated then flashed a cocky grin, "Dare," he said. Keefe pretended to think, and leaned over to Sophie. He whispered to her, "What should I do? Fitzy deserves to sweat a bit."

A small smile played on Sophie's lips, "Dare him to run around Everglen while shouting, 'KEEFE IS THE BEST!'" She whispered back. Keefe whispered back, "Foster, that's lame." Sophie rolled her eyes at him, "Rude." Keefe nodded, smirking at her, "But I'm your rude boy." Sophie kissed his lips, "True," She mused. "Fine, think of something yourself." She smirked. He dipped his head, "'Kay," he raised his head, and announced with an evil grin, "Foster's idea was too nice, so we're going with mine!" He said cheerfully. "Now, Foster, Fitzy, into the closet you go!"

Fitz flushed bright red, "What?!" he exclaimed, shock written on his face. "I said what I said." Keefe shrugged. "Now, no Fitzphie moments! Me and Foster are dating, after all, Fitzy-poo!" Fitz rolled his eyes, "How could I ever forget?" He muttered to himself sarcastically, disdain glinting in his eyes.

"C'mon, Soph!" Fitz called, already pressed into the dank closet. Marella smirked and snapped her fingers, causing a burst of flame to appear. "Want me to provide you some light?" She asked, a slight smile on her face.

"No, no, I'm fine!" Sophie said faux-cheerfully. With a forced smile on her face, she transmitted to Keefe,

"You're going to pay for this, Sencen."

"Oh, I'm sure of it, Foster."

Sophie cut the connection between their minds, and stalked into the closet, closing the door behind her.

She sat, back against the wall, knees pressed tightly to her chest. Fitz mimicked her position on the opposite of her.

"Soooo... you and Keefe, huh?"

Fitz's transmission startled her, causing her to kick Fitz in the shin, and hit the back of her head on the musty wall. Curse her clumsiness.

"Sorry,"

Sophie transmitted sheepishly.

"I didn't mean to kick you."

"Yeah, I know. Don't worry about it."

"Yeah, me and Keefe are a thing."

"Oh... I'm happy for you guys, I suppose."

"Are you okay, Fitz?"

"Honestly?"

"Yeah, honestly, Fitz."

"I'm... not."

"Why?"

"You. I miss you. It feels like we don't talk anymore."

"Us?"

"Yeah. We don't talk anymore."

"We're talking right now."

"Not how we used to, Sophie. Not like we used to."

"Hey lovebirds!" Biana exclaimed cheerfully, throwing open the door, shafts of light falling on the plush, carpeted floor. "Time's up!"

Sophie flushed bright red, "H-hey!" She stammered, mentally cursing herself. Why did he act like this now? Why did he have to break her wrist first? Yes, it was healed, but it was still a horrible thing to do. She couldn't believe she forgave him.

"We're not lovebirds, Biana," Sophie said, flushing slightly. "I'm dating Keefe, remember?"

So low she barely heard it, Fitz muttered, "Of course, you're dating him."

Sophie arched an eyebrow, "Excuse me, Fitzroy Avery Vacker? Do you have anything to say?

Biana snickered, "Ooh, the middle name!"

"Soph," Fitz tried, reaching for her hand. "I never stopped liking you, y'know that? I still care."

Sophie laughed, tilting her head back. "I don't care. You broke my wrist, remember?"

He grabbed her hand, looking at her with pleading eyes. "Look, Soph, I just—"

She tore her hand out of his grip and slapped him in the face, leaving a faint red imprint.

The entire room gaped at her, speechless. Except for Dex, who snickered and said, "Your middle name is Avery?!"

Fitz glared at Sophie, "Why do you keep choosing him over me?! I'm the better one, not him!" Sophie scoffed, "You? The better one?-" She laughed, high and cold. She smirked at him, a cold thing. "You're a horrible excuse for an elf. I thought you were perfect once, you know that?" She paused, drawing breath. "I was wrong." She spat out, drawing out the syllables.

Fitz flinched away from her like a kicked dog. "Is that what you think, Sophie?" Hurt dripped from his words, and his eyes were vulnerable.

"Would I have said it if I didn't mean it?" She said simply.

His face crumpled, tears starting to well in his eyes. "Soph-"

"Don't call me that." She snarled at him. "Get. Out."

He fled, and Sophie smirked at his back.

No more running. Never again.

Biana looked between all of them, noting the tense expressions. "So, are we going to my room or not?" She asked, trying to break the tension. Keefe rolled his eyes, "'Course we are!"
He strode over to Sophie and wrapped her in a hug. "It'll be okay," He whispered, holding her close. "You'll be okay."

She fell into him, feeling tears prick her eyes. "I- I don't feel bad," she choked out. "I should feel guilty, right?" Willing the tears not to fall, she drew in a strangled breath.

Keefe smiled gently at her, "You don't have to feel bad. Fitzy's a jerk!" But as he said that, she caught the flash of remorse—and anger flash across his face.

Sophie smiled at him, tears still pricking at her eyes. "Okay."

"Should the rest of us leave?" Biana snarked, a satisfied smirk on her face. "No!" Sophie said, "Sorry, guys." Biana flipped her hair, "It's fine, let's go, c'mon!"

The others followed Biana to her bedroom—and it was an explosion of pink. Pink bed, pink desk, pink walls, pink everything. Sophie had to admit it looked good, in a very... pink-y way. "My EYES!" Keefe screeched, his eyes wide.

Biana rolled her eyes, "Chill. Let's just sleep, 'kay?" The others nodded mutely, looking around Biana's room.

"Okay, so," Biana directed, pointing everyone to their sleeping areas. "Me, Sophie, Stina, Linh, and Marella in my bed," She paused, thinking. "Uh, Keefe, Dex, you two can use those couches over there." The fluffy pink couches did look very comfortable... Sophie thought, snickering at the look on Keefe's face when he realized where he would be sleeping. "And Tam, you can sleep... right there!" Biana said triumphantly at a small bed arranged in the corner. It was patterned with little purple unicorns with pink horns. Tam blanched, "Uh, Bia, that's a lot of colors..." He mumbled.

Biana smiled brightly at him, "Exactly!"

Tam sighed, resigned to his fate, and headed to the unicorn bed, flopping down on it.

Grizel sauntered in, Woltzer on her heels. "We'll be outside," She informed them, with a wink. "Don't get up to anything too bad, okay?" With that, she slunk out of the room, blending with the shadows, Woltzer in her wake.

"Night, guys." Sophie yawned, exhausted. She was snuggled in between Stina and Biana, in the middle of the huge bed. "Night," Everyone replied sleepily. Sophie closed her eyes, and darkness came.

A thump! echoed through the room. Sophie sat up, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She scanned the room, looking for what could've caused the sound. She froze as she realized something, ice skittering down her spine.

The window was open, the night breeze wafting in—and Keefe was gone.

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