Sophie rolled out of bed and stumbled over to the bathroom in her bedroom at Havenfield. She brushed out her messy blond hair and even tied some hair back in a yellow pastel ribbon. Usually Sophie didn't care about how she looked, but today was the first ever Foxfire Ball. Everyone has been talking about over the past few weeks. Sophie didn't really care about the ball, but it was better than having to scoop dinosaur poop all afternoon. All of the Foxfire prodigies were allowed to dress up in a fancy gown instead of their uniform to school today, and everyone was of course going to dress nice. Sophie finally chose a dark red dress, which looked nice with it's beautiful embroidered flowers, but Sophie really chose it because it was one of the most comfortable dresses in her closet. She made her way downstairs to the huge kitchen and greeted Grady and Edaline. "You look so pretty!" Edaline exclaimed, making Sophie flush. "Thanks," she mumbled in reply. Edaline offered her some warm pastries and some fruit that tasted super sweet. "Who is that?" Grady asked, squinting out into the fields, where someone had just light leaped. "I'm not sure," Sophie said. "There's two people," Edaline said, pointing out to the other figure that had just appeared. Suddenly, the two figures started to dart into the woods surrounding the right side of Havenfield. "I'm going to check it out," Grady said. "You aren't going without me!" Sophie argued. "Stay here with Edaline and hail Alden, I won't get near them I promise," Grady said. "Just, stay safe," Sophie said as Grady rushed out the front door. Sophie turned back around and saw Edaline already hailing Alden. Edaline walked into the grand living room, and Sophie waited just outside the door, eavesdropping on their conversation. She couldn't make out what Alden was saying. "Oh, she'll love that," Edaline laughed. What in the WORLD were they talking about? They were supposed to be talking about the intruders, not about whatever else they were talking about. Probably Alden is surprising Biana with a new dress or something for the ball. Edaline walked out of the room, just in time for Sophie to sit back at the table casually, continuing to eat her sweet fruit as if she hasn't been eavesdropping. "By the way, the reason I hailed you is because there are some mysterious people outside of our house, and we were wondering if you could come and help Grady check things out," Edaline said. Alden's voice was louder now and Sophie could hear him say, "I'll be right there." Sophie watched Grady out of the ginormous window as he jogged across the field and 8nto the woods. "Alden is on his way to check things out with Grady," Edaline said. Sophie nodded as Alden leaped on to the property, running into the woods after Grady. "We should go help," Edaline said. "What?" Sophie blurted out. Edaline has never been the one to volunteer to go help with these kinds of things. She was always scared that Sophie or Grady would get hurt. "We'll be extra careful," Edaline said, already walking out of the door. Sophie followed her, nerves twisting in her stomach. They went into the woods on a small path that has been worn over time. "Grady went this way," Sophie told Edaline, pointing to where she saw Grady walk. "Let's go," Edaline said. They walked for about a minute before they caught up with Grady and Alden. "We have to be very careful," Alden said, "but there is no reason to worry. Alden saying "No reason to worry," always seemed to make Sophie worry. Eventually they reached a small gazebo, where two tall people in dark navy cloaks were faced away from them, with their hoods up. Suddenly they whipped around to face Sophie. "FITZ?!" Sophie shrieked. Fitz had wide eyes as he took off his hood, "Good to see you too," he said. "What in the WORLD ARE YOU DOING?" Sophie demanded. "Well," Fitz started. "Oh my goodness, you're bombing it," the other person said. The person whipped around, taking off the cloak's hood. "BIANA?!" Sophie shrieked again. Biana's perfect eyebrows shot up, "What did you guys tell Sophie to make her so freaked out?" Edaline laughed, "We'll tell you the story later, Fitz I believe that you were saying something?" Fitz smiled, flashing his perfectly white teeth. "Thank you," Fitz laughed. Biana shoved something in his hand, but Fitz threw it back at her. It was some small paper. "Sophie Elizabeth Foster, do you want to go to the Foxfire Ball with me?" Sophie's entire face flushed a brighter red than her dress. "Told you you bombed it, she's completely terrified," Biana laughed. "I, well, um," Sophie started, not quite being able to find the right words. Grady saved her from having to answer when her said, "Why don't we just go back inside and let them have their privacy." Sophie sighed, "Thanks." Biana shoved the paper back at Fitz. Alden laughed, "Don't listen to your sister, Fitz." Alden and Biana followed Grady and Edaline back out of the woods to the house. "Well you see, Biana and I were trying to surprise you by decorating this little gazebo, but I guess you saw us. Sorry if we scared with with these dark cloaks and stuff." Sophie smiled, "No problem, and I'm assuming that Alden was in on this too? Edaline actually wanted to come out into the woods after you guys after Grady left." Fitz nodded, "Alden told Grady on their way into the woods, so he didn't attack us or anything because he didn't know who we were. Then, they both answered Edaline's hail and told her about the plan, and told her to play along." So that's why Edaline said, "Oh, she'll love that." Sophie looked down at the ground. "I'd love to go to the ball with you," Sophie said, "Sorry that I didn't answer right away, I guess that J just wasn't expecting this." Fitz smiled. Biana suddenly appeared between them, shoving the paper back at Fitz, "JUST GIVE HER THE LETTER!" Biana yelled. "She's gonna hate it," Fitz argued. Sophie laughed, grabbing the letter from his hands. She ripped open the pretty yellow envelope. It read, Dear Sophie, There is a nice restaurant in Atlantis that my mom suggested for us to go to, but only if you want to of course. If you do however say yes, then I guess that I'll have to go through Grady's long lecture about keeping you safe and stuff. From, Fitz. Sophie smiled, "Of course I'll go with you, and good luck with Grady." Biana smiled, "See? I told you that she'd say yes!" Sophie's face flushed even more, knowing that Fitz and Biana actually took the time to plan out how to ask her. "Let's go back to the house, then," Sophie said, "School awaits!"