Greetings. Welcome to my 100% cliché Sophitz story.

[Oh, this is chapter four? You already knew that? Whoops.]

Heh heh. I'm really not funny.

Well, I'm just going to get on with it. Enjoy!

[Wait….a disclaimer? Oh! On it!]

DISCLAIMER: I'M A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL THAT'S WRITING FANFICTIONS. DO I SOUND LIKE SHANNON MESSENGER?

Sophie lay in bed, resorting to her staring technique. She figured that it helped her to cope.

She was wrong.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to fall asleep.

Being only two days after Linh left, Sophie still saw the memories fresh in her mind. Why, oh why did she have to have photographic memory?

She was glad that her echo had been chased away with Flori's songs. If not for that, it would not be pretty.

She thought back to the events two days ago.

Linh's words had really stung Sophie's heart.

I must ask myself if you are my true friend.

Deep down, Sophie knew that this was something Linh had to say to play it out. To get Sophie to stop nagging.

She had heard the apologetic tone in Linh's voice when she had said, Don't blame yourself.

But Sophie had been more concentrated on getting Linh to see logic, that she hadn't really been able to think about the density of the situation until now.

It was like a natural urge - to blame herself.

She was the only one that had been there. The only one that could've stopped Linh.

Sophie had watched as Linh walked away with the Neverseen. On purpose.

Who does that?

Okay, maybe Keefe had done it. But Sophie had reacted the same way to his departure.

The only difference was Tam had gone with them to keep his twin sister safe. To keep her away from the bad guys.

But Linh had failed to see that. She walked right into a trap.

If Sophie was being honest with herself, she probably would have had a broken mind by now if it weren't for everything Fitz had done for her.

Fitz.

Sophie couldn't ask for anyone better. He stuck by her when she wasn't always fun to be around, and always knew what to say to get her heart to flutter.

She didn't know how to express her thanks to him. For everything. So she had said, "thank you".

Those two words didn't even begin to explain how much she cared about him, but it was a start.

Stop.

A new wave of guilt washed over her. Once again, she was thinking about herself. Something other than a solution to the big problem hanging over her head.

Another reason for her not to be able to sleep.

She sighed.

By now, she knew nothing would get her to go to sleep besides a sedative – which she refused to even look at – so she slid her legs off the side of the bed.

The cool, smooth floor sent goosebumps up her legs.

Outside her door, she knew Sandor would be intently standing guard along with the others. Lately there was no tricking them. No way around them. They would just have to follow her.

Sophie tiptoed to her wardrobe and slid on a heavy cape.

After tying her hair up in a sloppy knot, she opened the door as quiet as possible, so as not to wake her parents up.

"Going somewhere?" Sandor asked softly.

"I was wondering if you would accompany me outside. I need some fresh air." Sophie tried for her sweetest smile.

"Normally, I would say no. Now is not the time to saunter around in the darkness outside."

Sophie's face fell.

"But – ''

Sophie looked up.

"I will make an exception tonight. You could use some fresh air."

What's that supposed to mean? She thought as she said, "Thank you, Sandor."

He nodded sheepishly, and as she made her way down the stairs, her bodyguards sought out positions around Sophie.

She grasped the handle and opened the door. A cool wind whipped round her face.

Sophie realized that she had no idea why she was really out here or where she would go.

She decided to improvise.

Sophie found herself at the fountain in their front yard. For some reason, she was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

Sitting at the edge of the fountain's base, it clicked.

Linh. Fountain. Water.

Just another area to place guilt heavily on her shoulders.

It felt like all the weight of the world was being dropped onto her and she had no way to fix anything.

All the concerns just came to her at once, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

Then another.

And another.

The tears gradually sped up until Sophie was sobbing quietly into her knees.

Sophie?

Oh. She had forgotten about how Fitz would transmit to check up on her every night.

I'm here. Fudge. The words sounded so small and weary in her head. Despite her efforts to sound okay, it sounded exactly like she had been crying.

What's wrong, Soph?

N-nothing. Really, Fitz. I'm fine. This time was no better.

It's okay to be sad, Sophie.

She sighed. I know. It just feels so wrong to cry at a time like this.

What're you thinking about?

Everything. It was true. She didn't know why, but at that moment, everything hit her like a wall. Every mistake she had made. Every slip-up. Not knowing what to do. Watching her closest friends join the Neverseen.

The tears collected in her eyes again.

Oh, Sophie. Don't think like that. Oh, right. Fitz could hear her thoughts.

I just don't want to cry Fitz. I want to be strong. It feels so impossible right now.

Ask anyone, and they'll tell you what a strong person you are. Everything that you have been through – you didn't give up and stood tall. I, for one, could never be as brave as you.

Of course you could. You are. I just don't know why I'm feeling like this. I want it to stop. She didn't care if she sounded like a pouting baby. It was true.

You have every right to cry. What you've been through is hard enough – and we had to add Linh to the pile.

The name caused the tears to spill over. Yeah, Linh.

Sophie could almost hear Fitz's sigh on the other end.

I'm guessing you can't fall asleep, he transmitted gently.

She nodded, then remembered that he couldn't see her. But he got the message.

Me neither.

See what I mean, Fitz? I'm over here complaining about my stupid problems when everyone else in the world has their own.

For a while, he said nothing.

I'm sorry. I'll let you go now, she transmitted.

No, it's fine. It's not like I'll be falling asleep anytime soon. Hearing your voice is better than lying her alone.

Sophie understood. She felt the same way.

They sat in silence for a few moments.

I – I don't know what to do, Fitz. Everything is so messed up. I feel so…useless.

Don't say that.

Why not? It's not like I'm helping by sitting here pouting.

But you are. I could list so many times you saved everyone.

She waited for an explanation.

"The night you almost faded because you were worried about Dex. The day you helped stop the barrier of Atlantis from crashing down. The way you think about everyone else's problems before yours, even when yours are so much bigger. When you fixed my dad's mind even when it almost cost you your life. How you did everything you could to save those alicorn babies. How Grady and Edaline were never the same since you came – they are stronger. Because of you. Without you, I never would've found the one I love. The list goes on and on, Sophie."

Her heart warmed with each word.

The one I love.

She was too distracted crying over his beautiful words that she didn't notice how his voice was right behind her. Real.

Not until he sat beside her.

Even in her distracted state, she jumped up and grabbed a throwing star from her boot, ready to throw.

But the boy beside her was no threat.

"Oh, Fitz," she whispered. Tears still streamed down her cheeks.

She plopped back down beside him and hugged him so tight, she was afraid he would start gasping for air.

But he didn't.

"I don't deserve you," she sobbed into his embrace.

"You? Not deserving me? I'm pretty sure it's the other way around."

She laughed sadly.

Even though Fitz made it better, she still felt overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the good and the bad.

She truly, truly didn't deserve this boy.

Look at her. Outside on a chilly night, a teary mess, and he still comes all the way just to give her a hug.

A hug.

He was rubbing slow circles on her back just like Edaline always did.

She wanted to make it up to him.

But right now, she needed this.

She racked her brain for a way to thank him while she still sat in his embrace.

She couldn't just say "Thank you."

But she also couldn't think of anything else to say.

Nothing that really held the heavy meaning of what she wanted to say.

And then it hit her.

"Fitz?"

"Right here," he replied so soft, Sophie barely heard it.

This was it. Now or never.

"I love you."

There. She had done it. The three words that explained exactly how she felt about the boy that first told her the truth. The one that pushed them into becoming cognates. The one who seemed to care about her so much, he came to see her in the middle of the night when she was still in her pajamas.

He pulled away.

Uh-oh.

She had done it now.

Fitz grabbed her chin and made her look into his eyes.

"Sophie Foster, I love you too."

Whoa. Fitz Vacker, Wonderboy Supreme, just said he loved her back.

Sure, she was hoping he would say it back to her.

But now that he actually did, it felt so much more real.

So despite the heavy weight on her shoulders, despite the world seeming like it would end, she smiled.

She actually smiled.

Then she pushed her lips against his.

Sophie didn't know why she did it.

It just felt right.

When they pulled away, her mind should've been fuzzy like it was whenever she kissed him. She shouldn't remember her name or where she was.

Instead her mind was clear.

Fitz gave her clarity.

She smiled again, because in that moment, she knew what to do.

She had a plan.

AAAAAH! That was honestly really difficult to write. It took me forever to decide how this would play out.

I've actually had this story planned for a while, which means I already know what will happen next. Which also means that there will be more chapters. Yay!

Anyways, please tell me what you think. If I'm telling the truth, I had planned for Edaline to be the one that knocked some sense into Sophie, but you know how it is – once you start, it just starts spilling out and you can't stop.

No? Just me?

Well, I hope you enjoyed the clichéness (not a word) and stay tuned for the next chapter!

Please review!