Chapter One
"You know, that's never going to work," Fitz grinned as he watched Sophie clamber up onto Keefe's shoulders. "You won't be able to reach it."
"But I need it!" Biana wailed, gazing up at her makeup case. It was wedged in the branches of the tallest tree on the grounds of Everglen. "In case you forgot, I'm going shopping in Atlantis tomorrow, and I'm not going looking like I got mauled."
"Just because I don't wear makeup doesn't mean I look like I got mauled," Sophie argued. "This is all your fault," she told the top of Keefe's head, giving it a light smack.
Keefe faked a look of great agony as he straightened and began to levitate. Sophie shrieked and smacked him again as he lurched, almost throwing her off. "Stop hitting me, Foster," he complained. "You'll mess up my hair."
"Oh, to heck with you and your hair," Sophie retorted. As they drew near to the makeup case, it rose and flew away, cackling.
"Why did you ever think it would be a good idea to give my makeup case a Malicious Mauve potion from Slurps and Burps?" Biana sobbed.
"I didn't think it would be a good idea," Keefe grinned. "I thought it would be fun. They're usually different, you know."
"Hey, can I talk to you?" A voice whispered in Dex's ear, making him jump. He whirled around and glared at Fitz.
"Isn't that what you're doing right now?" Dex shot back . "Unfortunately," he added under his breath.
Fitz looked hurt, but he plowed ahead anyway. "I mean, in private," Fitz replied, emphasizing the last word.
Dex felt his cheeks get hot and forced his blush down. He didn't know why he was blushing. He shouldn't be blushing, really. He didn't trust himself to speak, for some reason, so he nodded.
Fitz led Dex into Everglen, up a flight of stairs, and into his bedroom.
"We need to talk," he started, as the door swung shut behind him.
