Eep. I'm changing a ship! And this new one is one of my favorites!

Actually, almost all of them are my favorites. But still! You'll figure out what it is at the end of the chapter.

Sophie's POV:

When I arrive at Everglen, Fitz is standing right there at the gate. "Hi Sophie!" he greets me, letting me in. I'm terrified, and also preemptively embarrassed, and sad that I'll probably be losing him as a friend. But there's also that tiny glimmer of hope... that I can't seem to shut down.

"Hi! Do you want to go sit down somewhere for Cognate training?" I ask, trying to stall stall stall stall stall-

"Sure, we can go up to my room." He takes my hand to lead me there, and my thought process is basically:

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-wait, is my hand sweaty? It better not be- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH- He's holding my hand? What does this mean? - AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH -I think butterflies are about to eat my stomach. Blarg, there's a disturbing mental image- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH- This really isn't helping to shut down that tiny glimmer of hope- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-Oh, wow, look at that. We're here.

Then he lets go of my hand, which is disappointing.

"Can I enter your mind?" Fitz asks, sitting on his bed.

I sit down next to him as I squeak out a "Sure."

As soon as he's in, Fitz wastes no time in forcing my inevitable humiliation. So, what's the big secret?

I take a deep, deep breath, and then force it out. I like you.

I like you too. We're friends, of course we like each other. Was that really your secret?

I sigh, thinking Is he really as oblivious as I am? Or is he just trying stall turning me down. I then transmit to him, coming closer and closer to my doom, I didn't mean as friends.

Oh. Did that tiny word really just shatter my entire heart?

Yeah.

I'm really sorry, Sophie, but... um... well...

"Can you keep a secret?" he says out loud. I nod, unsure where this is going, but dreading it nonetheless.

A smile spreads across Fitz's face, though it's obvious he's trying to fight it. "I'm... I'm dating Dex."

"What!?"

Fitz puts a finger to his lips, frantically. "SHHH! My parents can't find out that I'm bi! Wait, you're okay with that, right? Oh mallowmelt, please be okay with that."

"Yeah. Yeah, it's fine." I answer. And it's true- I don't care if Fitz is dating a boy or a girl- his boy/girlfriend being anyone other than me will hurt exactly the same either way.

It's not that you're not amazing. Fitz transmits, going back to telepathy. It's just… I've always seen you as my little sister.

I stared into his teal eyes. Teal eyes that no longer made my heart flutter. Eyes that only saw me as a sister.

"Bye, Fitz." I whisper, before leaping away.

Keefe POV:

Foster leaps back into Havenfield, where I just happened to be waiting.

"How'd it go? Can I be best man at your wedding? Ooh, and you should name your kid Keefe Jr!" I fake enthusiasm over Fitzphie, while simultaneously wanting to cry and puke. My jokes stop short after seeing the expression on Foster's face, and feeling the waves of heartbreak she gives off. (Okay, I seriously do not need her heartbreak adding onto my own, but whatever.)

"He's dating Dex." Foster says, her voice wobbling as tears fill her eyes. "Apparently he only sees me as his 'little sister'"

"Wow. I can't believe anyone wouldn't like you." What is wrong with Fitz? Like, seriously. IF FOSTER LIKES YOU, YOU ARE THE LUCKIEST PERSON ALIVE. DO NOT THROW THAT AWAY!

"Why would anyone like me? I'm the girl with the freaky eyes and the freaky powers." Foster sniffs.

"Because you're Sophie Foster." I want to kiss her so much... but I figure that would be kind of insensitive considering she just got her heart broken.

"Come on." I squeeze her shoulder. Even the Empath has no idea how to comfort her, but what kind of friend/unrequited lover would I be if I didn't try? "We can go upstairs to your room and watch human movies on your i-pod while you eat junk food and cry." I'm pretty sure that's what teenage girls do when their heart gets broken... but then again, I'm not a teenage girl.

"Thanks, Keefe."

FedEx! FedEx FedEx FedEx! And also Sokeefe! Yayyyy!