Chapter 21: Coming Clean

Disclaimer: You know the drill.

I ground my teeth in frustration. I finally had my work done and all I wanted was to hang out with my friends but little did I know they were all having a slumber party. I called Tyler and he answered but soon dismissed me saying that he was busy with college forms and he would call me back later. He did sound distracted but it was how he so abruptly had to go. Now, I understand, he was here and was oh so busy.

At the time I let it go with a shrug and went over to Kate and Sarah's room. I knocked and called out to them but either they weren't in or were asleep. Now I, once again, realize they were here. I finally just decided to go see Reid and talk a while. He was surprisingly sweet when you got past the cocky bullcrap he fed everyone.

I rapped loudly on the door and pushed it open to reveal Tyler, Reid, Sarah, Kate, Pogue and Caleb all in Reid and Tyler's room. I smiled a fake smile to hide the hurt that I'm sure was betraying me. Kate and Sarah exchanged a panicked glance. Tyler looked shocked and quickly smiled. Reid was just looking at me. I swallowed the lump that was in my throat.

"I'm sorry to intrude. I wasn't aware of the secret club house meeting. Your mistake." "Sophia! I swear it's not like that." Tyler said getting up. I held up a hand and said icily, "No. You're all obviously busy. Go back to what you were doing. I'm sure it's not any business of mine." I let the last sentence imply that it was my business because it seemed like it was about me.

They had to be discussing me if they made it a point to leave me out. Maybe they forgot? A part of me asked hopefully. No, I remember now they all asked throughout the day if I was busy. They made sure I wouldn't barge in.

"We weren't talking about you." Sarah said calmly. I nodded slowly, "Right. I was purposely left out and made sure to have plenty to do for you all to sit around and chat." I cocked my head to the side and inspected them all. Liars. I could see it on their faces. They all looked guilty even Tyler. Especially Tyler. My stomach turned over and my eyes were threatening to release tears.

"It wasn't fucking about you! We were talking about things we can't talk about around you." Reid said rashly. Pogue kicked him and glared. Oh, so it was just a secret. Okay. Just something that they have been lying to me about… to my face.

I'm standing here, anger coursing through my veins. They were all lying and obviously had to be something big for all the hidden looks and exchanged glances. "Just what exactly is it that you can't tell me?" I asked struggling to keep my voice at a volume that was acceptable in a dorm room.

"Look, Sophia." Tyler said and began moving forward. I looked at him and my body trembled with pent-up rage.

"Don't you dare! Don't you dare tell me to calm down. I may be overreacting but I can't stand it. I get physically sick when I know someone I care about has been lying straight to me. I've found out today that not only are you hiding something but also my five closest friends too, so don't go there." I felt the tears begin to prickle at the surface. I pushed them down. I could cry later when I was alone. I wouldn't lose what's left of my pride.

"I'm sorry." He said softly looking at me. I met his sad gaze and I felt like a lead weight was pressing me down.

"Me too. I won't put up with being lied to. I can't be in a relationship with someone who's hiding something this big from me. I know it's big because of the looks you all have been exchanging. It's not a petty trivial matter. I've noticed too how Kate was acting, so distant, and now she's suddenly fine? No, she figured it out." I saw the looks and knew I was right.

"I thought that it was supposed to be different. I thought you all were different. I guess money means more than friends and honesty here too." I gave a small smile. I saw Tyler close his eyes for a minute and he opened them I saw pain and sadness that I'm sure mirrored my own.

"Don't do this." He asked weakly. My chest felt painfully tight at the thought of leaving him. My legs were unstable. "I don't want to. I love you, I do. That's why it hurts so much to know you don't trust me; that I'm not important. I hate to give you an ultimatum but you know that I can't stand here and know the one person I care most about doesn't care enough to tell me." I said and turned willing myself to not cry here. That was my mantra: Not here. Not here. Not here.

I didn't see the imploring look that Tyler gave Caleb nor did I see the nod to Tyler allowing the Covenant of Silence to be broken for me. "Okay. I know how that makes you feel and I'm sorry I did that to you. Do you want to talk here or go somewhere else?" he asked me quietly. I spun around and jumped into his arms.

He laughed shakily and reciprocated my intense hug. "I love you. Please just allow me to explain fully before you run off okay?" he asked me in my ear. I nodded.

My brain barely registered the 'I love you' from Tyler. It barely did but it did nonetheless. My heart was lifting and the anxious twisting feeling deep in the pit of my stomach was replaced by a fluttering, bubbling sensation that left me tingling.

I sat down on the Tyler's bed bracing my back against the wall. Tyler tentatively sat down beside me. His side was barely touching me and if the object of space was not an issue I could tell he would have been out of reach. The thought disheartened me a bit.

His hands rested on his thighs instead of holding my hand or wrapping around me. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye like he was waiting for me to resume screaming, burst out crying, or run away. He looked apprehensive and my heart thumped. I reached out and secured his hand with mine then looked at Caleb. I missed his look of relief and comfort.

The four boys took turns explaining things: the history, the consequences, Chase. I sat there taking it all in even Kate looked mildly surprised by something but then again she was just getting used to it too.

I let the information sink in. The four of them were magical. They could do magic. I was a little shocked, I seriously though it was something much worse. "You four can do magic?" I asked a little shell shocked. Tyler looked uneasy and nodded. Reid smirked and his eyes turned black and I felt myself being lifted so I was sitting in mid air above the bed.

I shrieked and then felt myself being bounced back onto the bed. Caleb was yelling at Reid for being irresponsible and Pogue was shaking his head. Tyler looked murderous. I just started laughing. "Do it again!" I shrieked happily. That was bloody fantastic! They all looked at me amazed. "You guys have powers! Do you know how freaking awesome that is?" I said still laughing. "Finally! Someone who shares my excitement." Reid exclaimed happily.

"So this doesn't freak you out or anything?" Pogue asked me. "No. I know each of you and I would still be friends with you with or without your ability to levitate." I said and smirked at Reid.

Tyler wrapped me in his embrace and said quietly to me while the others were talking animatedly, "I really am sorry I didn't tell you. I was afraid that it would scare you and I would lose you." He kissed my forehead and I leaned against him. Joyous that he lifted his ban on touching.

"Remember what I said to you went we first started going out? You know, when we just got back from that party?" I asked him. He murmured behind me, "I'm not sure. What?"

"I told you that you could never scare me away. I meant it then and I mean it now. As long as you're you and you're honest with me I'll be here." I told him sincerely.

"Understood." He said and started laying kisses against my neck. "Ty!" I said. He didn't stop. "Tyler. Stop. There are people here." I said. He smiled against my skin. "They're big kids." He said and kissed behind my ear. I shivered. "Tyler." I said again but it was more of a sigh then a reprimand. He chuckled and it sent vibrations against my skin and I sucked in another breath.

I looked across the room and noticed two people watching Tyler and I: Reid and Kate. Kate had an amused expression and was grinning.

Reid had an eyebrow cocked and said, "Nice show. Have you guys thought of making home movies?" I grabbed a book from Tyler's nightstand and threw it at Reid's head.

"Hey! What the hell is with you two and throwing things?" Reid demanded. He was laying on his bed and he leaned over to pick it up. I whispered to Tyler, "Go all Harry Potter on his ass." Tyler grinned and his eyes turned black.

Reid suddenly slid off the bed resulting in him banging his head against his own nightstand. "Damn it." He yelled as Tyler's eyes went back to a deep blue. I called over to him, "What's with you and saying stupid shit?" He growled in anger as everyone else laughed.

Author's Note:

1.) Sorry if her reaction seems over the top but it has to do with two things: First, the whole reason she transferred to Spencer abruptly was because one of her best friends of many years betrayed her and lied to her. She constantly fears someone close to her repeating that so when she found them all doing that panic set in.

Secondly, she felt excluded and hurt. She may seem strong and able to push off bullies but she is only able to really get hurt by people close to her which is what happened. So there you go!

2.) The purpose, if you remember, of this meeting was to tell Kate and Sarah about Alex but Sophia came in before that happened and then in the excitement the whole matter was forgotten much to the boy's pleasure. (Pogue and Caleb were dead set against it, Tyler was for it, and Reid was indifferent.)

3.) Any questions? Comments? Those go to the review button or PM me. Oh yeah, reminder: 5 reviews for the next update.