My dad told me this morning that I was to be training with a talented telepath named Sophie Foster-Ruewen for a cognate. I remember looking for her for all those years. Then Alvar found her. I didn't even get a chance to really meet her. She always hung out with her best friend. So, I just stayed my distance. She had 3 abilities, which was awesome. Enhancer, telepath, and polyglot.

I really hoped she wouldn't be one of those overly clingy people. I had done this only once before. It was a girl named Rosemary Cidere, I had sat next to her in ability detecting. And oh my goodness, she wouldn't let it go. She would brag about it to everyone, my parents even thought I was dating her by how much Keefe teased me about her. Finally one day she came over to my house, without asking, and I had to explain to her that she had to stop doing this. Then she slapped me and left. Everyone in my family except me found that funny.

Biana was a lot more protective of me around other girls from then on out. She scared them off. So when Sophie Foster started to come to our table, I looked her in the eyes and shook my head.

"I'm going to have a lesson alone with her later. Let me do this." I threw a look at my bodyguard to stay down too. I braved myself for a touch on the arm, a hug, a flirty tone, but nothing like that at all.

"Fitz Vacker?" I turned around.

"Sophie Foster?" She nodded. Biana was so angry that there was a random girl talking to me. This was Dex's cousin, but apparently he was too busy with the Black Swan to hang out with her. So they drifted apart.

" I'm just wondering why my schedule says we have a class together." I looked into her eyes. They were a rich brown with gold flakes in her eyes. They were really pretty. I realized I hadn't answered yet.

"I- umm. Uh, I d-dont know." I shrugged and Keefe nudged me. She looked me right in the eyes. Then at Keefe.

"No idea either?" She grinned. Oh my gosh she is so pretty. I could feel my cheeks heating up just a bit.

"Nope! Anyway, I'll just see you at class I guess. Right?" I looked around for support from my friends. Keefe winked, Tam scowled, Linh rolled her eyes, Dex shrugged, so they didn't give any. My sister however...

"I'm sorry, your intruding on our lunch." That was the most civil she had ever been to one of the girl's that seemed to maybe be into me.

"Right. I'm sorry." She said cowering away a bit. Maybe I should invite her to sit with us. "I guess I'll see you later Fitzy." I grinned.

"Right! See you later!" I yelled while she was already walking away.

Then she sat back down with her friend and they started laughing about something. "Fitz? Hello? Hello? Linh asked you a question!"

"Oh sorry! What's up?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out later as a group." I think I was free.

"Of course. I have some Elementalisk homework, but we all have that. So, as long as nothing comes up from telepathy. I heard Sir Tiergan is teaching us!" He was a member of the Black Swan too. I know Sophie is only in year 4(age 14) while I'm in year 6(age 16). But becoming cognates could be a great thing for both of us. Maybe I could even recruit a new member. One with with golden brown hair, and pretty brown eyes with gold in them, not to mention her adorable walk. It was almost like she was skipping back. And I ...

"FITZ!"

"What?" Keefe started snickering.

"She's only been calling your name for the past 5 minutes. No big deal." Biana's face was red and my arm hurt. Did she punch me and I didn't realize? I grabbed it, "She also hit you a couple times."

"How hard?"

"Full force. But Fitzy was too-" Linh started but I interrupted.

"Don't call me that. I've told you guys that I hate it." She cheeks went pink.

"Oh but Sophie can." Oh yeah, she called my Fitzy. She addressed me, by my name. And gave me a nickname.

"Biana, I've told you all not to call me that. I'm not going to act rude in the middle of the cafeteria to a girl I might be cognates with in the future. So cool it, I was nervous to make a good impression and I failed miserably to make one." Also she was pretty. And seemed really nice. The girls almost looked relieved. Tam shook his head, and Dex looked disgusted.

"Do you have a thing for my cousin, wonderboy?"

"No Dex, I hardly know her name." He barely was satisfied with that answer. Then Keefe spoke up, he just had to.

"Maybe you should invite her to hang out with us later, if you are sure of that."

"Maybe I will."

"Great you should."

"I should!"

"Perfect then!"

"Yeah! It is!" What just happened. "Wait you guys are all cool with that, right?"

"You are actually going to invite her?" Biana looked shocked.

"If she's clingy no, but if she's cool then yeah."

It was time to move to the next class now. I really hoped things would go well. I went through the halls and got to the door and paused.

"Time to do this," I mumbled to myself. I went through the doors and she sat there, 2 minutes early, just looking pretty. Her hair looked really soft. I wondered if she knew that. Probably not. And I should stop acting like a creep. I walked over and sat next to her. Then Sir Tiergan came in.

"Well then, let's get to it kids. Have you introduced yourself?" We nodded. "Then get into each other's minds, after giving permission and that stuff." We nodded again.

"I give you permission." We said at the same time.

"I'll go first Fitzy." She grabbed my hands. Then she was in within seconds. I'm here.

Wow.

So, what's up?

My turn?

Sure!

She pulled out my mind. I tried to get into her mind but after 15 minutes of trying I gave up. Why was she good at everything, seems nice, and pretty?

"Mr. Vacker, were you able to get in."

"No, Sir."

"As expected. Neither could I when I tried at first with getting in Miss Foster's mind. I still can't, so why don't you two try sharing some secrets to build some trust for later on. Mr. Vacker, I assume you can still transmit to her."

"Yes, Sir."

"Then you two build a foundation of trust and I'll try to think of ways for Sophie to get her mind to let you in."

"Yes, Sir." we said that the same time. Then I transmitted, So you or me first?

Definitely you Fitzy.

Can you not call me that it front of my friends? They teased me about it a lot.

But can I when we are alone?

Sure.

Fine. I'll tell my secret first. I still sleep with stuffed elephant named Ella at night. Don't you dare laugh.

I sleep with a sparkly dragon named Mr. Snuggles at night. Don't laugh. She failed. Laughing at me.

We're both dorks! She transmitted and I started laughing too.

Okay, my turn still. Oo! Before I came to the lost cities - don't judge me - I wasn't a vegetarian.

What do you mean?

I've eaten meat before.

Ewwwwwww! That's gross!

Your turn! Her cheeks were pink. It was adorable.

When I was 4, I broke a vase and cried because I thought I would go to Exillium.

She started laughing. It was my turn to be embarrassed.

Hey would you want to come over later? My friends are hanging out.

I don't want to push my way into your friend group. I'll feel bad.

I insist. You're awesome so they'll like you for sure.

I'm not awesome.

Yes you are, you have 3 abilities, your nice, your eyes are so ... she looked at me with raised eyebrows. I instantly went silent.

Well if you insist. She giggled. I was mortified that I had done that. By the end of two hours she knew of most of my little secrets but nothing about the Black Swan. Then it was time for study hall. I sat next to her and her friend seemed to be freaking out.