Author's Note: This is a Biana POV! Since everyone is separated now, we need some perspective from the other characters. Also, I just love Biana. Who doesn't? We'll get back to Sokeefe soon. Until then, deal with the cliffhanger. Hehe.

But anyway, enjoy the chapter, and please leave a review!

Biana walked through Foxfire, invisible, avoiding the few students still lingering in the halls. The session had already begun, but Biana wasn't planning on attending. She tilted her head back in an attempt to blink back her tears. No one could see her, but she didn't want them to hear her cry.

The past few days had been one bad thing after another. First, her house had been attacked. It had been a scare tactic, but it worked. Then, there was the fight in Gildingham. They had won— but barely. Then came the disappearance of Sophie and Keefe. Taken, like Sophie and Dex had been, years ago.

That had hit hard. Everyone in their group had reacted differently. She and Dex spent days at either of their houses, looking through the Spyball that she'd stolen from Sophie's room as soon as they went missing. They'd tried every name they could think of that might have some connection to them, but with no luck.

Fitz had started punching things. He began blaming everyone, mostly Keefe, for whatever reason. Biana tried to avoid him. She knew, in her head, that it wasn't her fault. But she couldn't stop feeling like she could have prevented it. Her self esteem was low enough at this point, and she didn't need Fitz's help.

Tam had stopped talking, mostly. He had already been a fairly quiet person, unless he was annoyed, but he barely talked at all anymore. He used his shadows to fade into the background. Some days, she thought that maybe no one even noticed he wasn't there except her.

Linh handled it better than any of them. She spent her time working with the Black Swan and the goblins to assess the Gildingham attack, trying to find some clues. Biana had always admired that about her. She was shy, and sweet, but she was tough.

And then, on top of all of that, today had happened. It was her second day back at Foxfire, since she'd taken a few days off, because she didn't have the energy to deal with people. But now she regretted coming back at all.

For a few months, she'd dated Lucin. He was attractive, and popular, and. . . well, she supposed it had just been a physical attraction. But still. Then, this morning she heard him talking to his friends right before orientation. They were telling him to break up with her, that she wasn't worth it. They'd been making fun of the scars on her arms, calling her 'damaged goods'. And that had been okay with her. She didn't care if they liked her or not.

But what had hurt the most had been when he replied with, "Yeah, she's a total loser. I'll dump her later today. Can't wait to see the look on her face when I break her stupid heart."

And so she'd suffered through the day. But now, she didn't have the strength to deal with anyone. They hadn't even had lunch yet, and he hadn't dumped her yet. She knew it was coming, and yet, every time she thought about it, her eyes watered.

It had just been a physical attraction, nothing more. But it still hurt.

Biana was too lost in her thoughts to notice the person right in front of her. Luckily, they dodged, so she didn't slam into them. She was about to keep walking when she realized that she had been invisible. Biana whirled around.

Tam stood there, hands in his pockets. His shoulders were drooping, and his silver-blue eyes were clouded with shadows. He looked tired. "Hey, Biana."

"How did you know I was there?" she asked, dropping her invisibility.

He shrugged. "I heard footsteps, and thought I recognized them. Lucky guess."

"You heard my footsteps," she said flatly. "How the heck do you know what my footsteps sound like?"

He shrugged again. "I pay attention."

She blinked a couple of times. Of course. She hadn't exactly been walking quietly.

He looked at her eyes, which were probably red and puffy from crying.

"Are you. . . okay?" he asked tentatively.

He was one to talk. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. Biana clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms, hoping the pain would stop her from breaking down again.

"Yeah," she said. "I'm fine."

He seemed to consider her words for a moment. It was obvious that she wasn't fine, but how would he react?

"Well," Tam said, "I'm going to take a wild guess and assume you're ditching."

She nodded.

"And I'm going to take another wild guess and assume that you weren't going anywhere in particular."

Another nod. Biana had just been walking through the halls, aimlessly wandering.

"Well, I happen to be ditching, too," he said, choosing his words carefully. "So maybe I could show you something?"

Biana tilted her head to the side, thinking. Considering. This was the most she'd heard him speak since Gildingham. It was very obvious that he wasn't okay, either. Maybe. . . maybe spending time with him would help. Maybe it could help them both.

So she said, "Yeah. Why not? Where are we going?"

Tam pulled a leaping crystal out of his pocket.

She raised an eyebrow. "We're leaving Foxfire?"

Tam nodded. "I'm assuming you're tired of dealing with people, and I doubt anyone will particularly care if we take the rest of the day off."

Biana smiled. It was a small smile, and it didn't quite reach her eyes. But it was a start. "I like the way you think."

Tam held out his hand, and without a second thought, she grabbed it. The glittering lights carried them away.