Chapter Sixteen: Easier to Let It Burn

~Loki Laufeyson, Thor: Ragnarok

Reviews:

FosterJacksonPotter: (1) haha, so, I wrote it as 15.5, but I guess chapter titles don't accept periods... (2) Aw, thank you so much! And no judgement. But, uh... since I'm an idiot... what do you mean by "writing voice?" Like, my writing style? (3) Ooh, very close... (4) Okay, at this point, I pretty much like all Jamie ships, but Tamie is in my top three. Cannon-wise, I ship him with Marella. What about you?

Fitzphieistrash: (1) to be honest, I don't really like Zoe—but that's probably because I'm the author... But I do feel bad about separating them... sometimes... (2) Oh my gosh, that would be amazing! I was so sad when Kenric died... I still am...

Guest: hmm... LinhxJamie—you know what, I'm just going to call it Jinh—would be great... Linh is such an underrated character, it's just sad.

Fitzphieistrash: (1) *laughs so hard, everyone looks at me like I'm crazy* okay, you're hilarious. There's no room for argument. (2) yup! (3) personally, I think that if Fitz controlled his anger, like, a lot, and stopped saying all those offensive things he says, he'd be fine. Oh, and if he stopped trying to destroy Team Foster-Keefe. (4)...maybe... (5) yeah, when you become a verb XD. (6)...maybe... (7) I stand by what I wrote XD. (8)...maybe... (9) yeah, I think I read/heard that somewhere a while ago... I don't know, but it made its way into When Wishes Come True, so... (10) I know, right? Don't worry, Jamie is going to call... well, everyone out when they say things like that. Or at least think it, because she's Jamie. (11) *laughs again* (12) glad you found it funny! (13) yeah, I agree... (14) okay, so I'll try to update at least once a week :). The good thing about having to stay home is that you have a lot of time on your hands lol. (15) ugh, when Fitz is being especially annoying, I wish I could... (16) so, Lady Willa is an OC, as I said, and a Psionipath. She's also going to be Jamie's psionipathy mentor, and her last initial starts with an E. That's all the official information, at least. To be honest, I have no idea why I made Willa seem lowkey mysterious. My brain was just like, "Okay, this is boring, I'll just make Willa mysterious, and I'll figure it out later... if ever." I know, I'm such a smart person. (17) yeah, since the first chapter takes place in 2022. It was 2020 originally, but since there are only supposed to be nine books in the series (probably why Shannon Messenger is writing an 8.5), I figured I'd just make it when the series ended. But when she meets Sophie, it's in 2012, when the first book was released. (18) isn't there a meme where Tam says that to Keefe? (19) yeah, I guess... (20) great! But just because it's easier to keep track of, can you vote that on the poll? Thank you much for reviewing... 22 reviews? Either way, thank you!

Okay, so, I'm a very dramatic person, right? I exaggerate. A lot. But I'm actually being honest when I say that I thought that I accidentally logged into through someone's else's account when I saw how many other reviews When Wishes Come True.

Call me stupid, but, seriously; how do I have 27 new reviews in one day?! I don't get it. Not I that I'm complaining. So, thank you, everyone!

Recap: okay, so, Alden dropped the whole "You have to leave your families" bomb, I realized that I'm never going to see Zoe again... Now we're going back to the Forbidden Cities!

Word count: 2,255

ONTO THE NEXT CHAPTER!


Jamie was confused.

The previous night, she had her notebook. She didn't think much of it as she was occupied by her newfound photographic memory, but now she wondered how it got here. She also wondered why the notebook, of all things, was one of the two things she had from her life in the normal world. Sure, it was also one of her two most precious possessions, but it seemed like such a random thing to have. Besides, when she opened it last night, all the pages were blank. She wasn't a very sentimental person (she only wore the beanie because she was too lazy to take it off and it was comfy... and it may have had a little sentimental purpose, but she was mostly unsentimental; easier to let it burn, right?), but what was the point of having it if she didn't have the pictures she drew in it? She might as well buy a brand new one. Also, the first page showed her and Sophie stargazing, when she was pretty sure she never went stargazing with Sophie. That was her and Zoe's thing.

Still, a small part of her wasn't complaining and honestly couldn't care less. Why wouldn't she? By having only two items from the real world, she had less to carry, and she could literally wear one.

And so she quietly creeped outside of the house, careful to not alert her foster parent.

Speaking of...

That lady was creepy. Jamie didn't know why, but she seemed familiar, almost. Except her high cheekbones, pale skin, and azure eyes weren't exactly common, forget the fact that Jamie couldn't have possibly met her because they were from different worlds. So, how?

The questions plagued her mind as she walked over to Sophie's home. Fitz was standing outside by the door, and his sad expression brightened a little when he saw her. That was weird, because the opposite normally happened, and this was Fitz, but she didn't comment on it.

"Hey," he greeted softly when she was close enough that they could have a proper conversation in a quiet voice without having to strain their ears. "Are you all right?"

Jamie nodded. "'Course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, you're kind of leaving your parents, the people who love you unconditionally, and to be completely fine would be kind of heartless."

Jamie blinked before lifting her gaze from the ground to look him in his eyes. They were searching and a little frustrated—the kind of look you typically give to infuriatingly hard math problems.

He just called her heartless.

Was she heartless? She didn't think so. But she didn't want him to think she was heartless. She didn't know why. Then again, people didn't typically want to be perceived as heartless.

But putting her wants aside, it was painfully clear that he didn't know that she was a part of the foster care system.

"Humans have this thing," she started. "Called foster care. It's when the parents die or can't take care of their kids, or simply don't want them."

Horrified realization dawned on Fitz's face.

"People volunteer to take care of these kids. Except it doesn't always work out. Sometimes, they only volunteer for the money they get."

Fitz flinched.

"Of course, it's not always the volunteers' fault. Sometimes, the foster kids decide that they don't want to have certain people as their parental figures. They'll do the things that annoy their foster parents, and once the foster parents decide that the kid is too much of a handful, they'll be shipped of to the next set of volunteers.

"Either way, they normally don't make connections with their foster parents. And they're used to leaving people. At least, I am."

Regret washed over Fitz's face.

"I-I'm so sorry," he stammered-yes, he stammered. It was pathetic. "I didn't mean to—"

"Oh, you meant to," Jamie cut him off.

He didn't answer.

Jamie rolled her eyes before walking to Sophie's front door with a purposeful stride. "Come on. Her five minutes are probably up."

She could hear his footsteps as she opened the door. "Jamie, I am so, so sorry—"

"Do you ever know when to shut up?"


Jamie did not expect to see Sophie crying on the floor.

Was the bond between parents and families really that strong?

She shoved the thought away. That was not what she needed to focus on. Besides, jealousy did no good to anyone.

She saw Fitz softly walk up to Sophie's figure and pull her into a hug. She couldn't hear very well, but she still knew what he was saying:

"It's okay, Sophie. It's going to be okay."

He may have been a jerk, but at least he was good enough of a person to put his thoughts aside and help Sophie—unlike Jamie.

As Jamie awkwardly watched Sophie cry into Fitz's shirt (of course, Jamie was sympathetic, but was an awkward person by nature. When she saw someone crying, she was normally at a loss for words, but still able to make them feel better. But when said person was also being comforted by someone else, she didn't know what to do; did she butt in, or did she just awkwardly watch from the side?), she heard her whisper, "I drugged my family."

"You did the right thing," Fitz reassured her kindly.

"It doesn't feel like the right thing."

Sophie sobbed louder.

"Look, Sophie," Fitz started. His voice seemed rushed, and a little ashamed. "I feel like a jerk for saying this, but we have to get out of here. The Washers could be here any second, and they can't find us here."

"Washers?" she heard Sophie mumble the question, and she was glad she asked that, because she had a feeling that she wasn't talking about washing machines, but that was the only thing her stupid brain could come up with.

"Telepaths trained to erase memories." Fitz explained. "I'm sure the Council has sent them by now."

Sophie took a step away from him and wiped her tearstained face on her shirt. "Just give me a second."

"I'll go get your bags." Fitz offered. "Are they upstairs?"

She pointed to a purple backpack. "This is all I'm taking."

"That's all?" Fitz sounded surprised. He probably didn't expect a girl to be capable of not overpacking, because that was so impossible.

Geez, how sexist.

"What am I supposed to take?" Sophie asked. "What am I going to need it for?"

But Fitz wouldn't let her go like that. "It's now or never, Sophie. Don't leave anything behind that you might regret later."

"No, there's nothing—" She stopped herself before whispering, "Ella."

Jamie's eyebrows skyrocketed up, and she would've said that she doubted that she'd be allowed to bring a human with her to the Lost Cities if she didn't think that this was too sensitive a time for her to speak in.

Then, Sophie continued, "I haven't slept without her since I was five. I thought I should leave her behind, but—"

Fitz spoke up. "Where is she?"

"Upstairs, on my bed. She's the bright blue elephant wearing a Hawaiian shirt."

If it wasn't such an emotional moment, Jamie would've laughed at the description. She knew it.

"I'll be right back," he promised before heading upstairs.

Jamie swallowed. You can talk to her, she scolded herself for being nervous, but her conscience didn't understand; it was awkward, and emotional, and overall terrible.

Still, she walked over to Sophie, and eloquently said, "So, uh... Hey."

She almost slapped herself for saying something so stupid, but then figured she'd Sophie do that.

"I hate this," Sophie whispered as her warm brown eyes welled up again. "I—I just drugged my family. They cared for me, loved me, and I—"

And then she seemed to realize something.

"Oh, Jamie, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. You don't even have parents—" She flinched at her own words. "No, that sounds horrible. I'm making a big deal about leaving my family—"

Jamie cut her off. "You overthink things." She paused before adding softly, "You know, Sophie, a wise person told me that one of the worst things you can do to a person is belittle their pain."

"Who said that?"

"I did. It just sounded better to say that someone else said that."


And... that's Chapter Sixteen!

Questions:

1. Favorite quote?

2. Favorite character in all sixteen chapters of When Wishes Come True?

Please review on the poll!

Poll status:

Linh SongxJamie Blair(Jinh): 1 vote

Fitz VackerxJamie Blair: 1 vote

Fitz VackerxJamie Blair(Jiana): 1 vote

Jiana, Jinh, and Fitz VackerxJamie Blair, are in a three-way tie, holding 33% of 3 votes each.

However, if I add all the votes written in reviews, it becomes something like:

Linh SongxJamie Blair(Jinh): 2 votes

Fitz VackerxJamie Blair: 2 votes

Fitz VackerxJamie Blair(Jiana): 2 votes

Tam SongxJamie Blair(Tamie): 2 votes

Jiana, Jinh, Fitz VackerxJamie Blair, and Tamie are in a four-way tie, holding 25% of 8 votes each.

And, remember; please review!

~Sarcasticsnark13