Author's Note: Thank you, wonderful readers, for still reading this! And reviewing! This chapter is where the action is gonna start. . .

Also, Marigold Elizabeth Everdeen: You want to punch Fitz? Join the club! You have to get in line to sign up. In fact, so many people want to punch him that we've started taking reservations. I think we have a spot open in a few months? XD

Enjoy the chapter!

Sophie was worried. No, she was absolutely terrified. She didn't want Fitz and Keefe to start a fight over nothing. Fitz looked dangerously close to lashing out, and although Keefe appeared calm, Sophie could tell he was annoyed with Fitz.

Because Fitz had been rude to her?

That was. . . sweet.

However, Sophie didn't want Keefe to get hurt.

Keefe, Sophie transmitted. Maybe it would be safer to not do this.

Relax, Foster. I promise, I'll be fine. I'm just going to find out what made Fitz this annoyed and fix the problem. Plus, he shouldn't act like that around you. You're too good for him.

Sophie wished that she had a sixth ability that allowed her to not blush so much, because this was getting out of hand.

Be careful, she transmitted.

Keefe smirked. Please. Careful is my middle name.

That did nothing to reassure Sophie, but she followed the others and left them alone anyway. They began a game of base quest, Sophie and Linh versus Dex and Biana. Throughout the entire beginning, Sophie was wondering what was happening with Fitz and Keefe.

Sophie and Linh won the first round, and then Sophie teamed up with Biana for the second one.

"What do you think is going on with Fitz and Keefe?" Biana whispered to Sophie.

"I don't know. . . I want to go spy on them so bad but that would be wrong," Sophie replied.

"Yeah," Biana said. "I hope they don't fight. If they do, I'm rooting for Keefe. Sorry about how rude Fitz was to you earlier. He's been acting strange whenever I mention you or Keefe, I'm not sure why."

Sophie shrugged, trying not to give anything away.

Biana gasped. "No way girl. Oh. My. God. He's jealous, isn't he? I mean, you two aren't exactly great at hiding your crushes, and he's jealous because he wants you back!"

Sophie blushed. "He's over me, though."

Biana smacked her arm. "What gave you that idea? He's still into you. To be honest, I hope he gets over you. I can see now that you and Fitz aren't good for each other. Once you stop being so oblivious over Keefe, I'm sure you and him will be perfect. I hope Fitz isn't too jealous. . ."

Sophie decided not to remind Biana that Keefe didn't like her back. It was pointless.

Before she could say anything else, she heard Keefe shout, "EVERYONE PAUSE BASE QUEST!" from the other side of the property.

Sophie and Biana bolted up and ran to where Fitz and Keefe were standing. Keefe looked satisfied, and Fitz didn't look angry anymore. Sophie breathed a sigh of relief that no fights had broken out.

"Foster," Keefe said, gesturing for Sophie to come closer. "You and Fitz go inside. He has some things he needs to say to you. I'll take your place in base quest until you're done."

Don't leave me alone with him! Sophie wanted to scream, but she didn't. Something about him creeped her out, now. Instead of saying anything, she followed Fitz inside.

"Listen," he said once they were seated on Keefe's couch. "I'm sorry about how I treated you earlier. That won't happen again. I was angry, and my emotions got control of me."

He put a hand over his heart, reminding Sophie of his echo from the shadowflux.

Sophie's brain was torn. Half of her head said, oh, yeah, sure. Blame it on the echo. Doesn't excuse anything. The other half was ready to forgive him on the spot, and she wasn't sure which side was right. So Fitz did still have some rein over her emotions. Odd.

"It's fine," she finally decided. "I understand."

He smiled at her. "Awesome. I promise I'll never do that again."

She smiled back, standing up. "Well, if we're done here, then I think the others are waiting-"

"Wait," Fitz said. "I have something else to ask you. Do you. . . do you still have feelings for me?"

Sophie laughed. "For you? No. What makes you think that?"

His expression darkened, and she was worried she'd said the wrong thing. Then, she realized she was letting him push her around again. It happened constantly. He was always making her feel weak and unworthy. She had to fight back.

"Oh, I see," she said. "You're asking because you were poking around in my brain earlier. Without my permission."

Fitz looked shocked for a minute. "How did you. . . Well. . . I didn't mean to. . ."

She glared at him. "Don't try to make excuses. What you did was wrong, and I think you should apologize."

Fitz sighed. "Sophie, how many times have we done something like this? How many times do I have to apologize?"

"Once," Sophie whispered. "You've never apologized. So say you're sorry once, and I will forgive you."

Fitz stayed silent for a few minutes. When he finally spoke, it wasn't an apology that came out of his mouth.

It was a threat.

"Do or say anything else that I don't like," he whispered, "and I'll kill him."