cascade | kotlc

27. Fixing Exilium

 "You were right," Fitz said as they climbed the stairs to their treehouses. "I do like the twins."

"You better mean that platonically," June warned.

Mr. Forkle had left to update the physicians in Lumenaria on their findings about the plague. All they had left to do was to, somehow, manifest hope in its purest form.

That was not an easy task.

"Someone needs to tell Shade Boy the role of Troublemaker with Daddy issues is already filled," Keefe mumbled.

"Seriously?" Biana asked, raising an eyebrow. "He's quite nice, and you have a lot in common with him. Why aren't you friends?"

He rolled his eyes. "That's because you have a crush on him. Don't pretend we didn't notice."

"We kinda did," Dex admitted. "Not very subtle there."

She flushed red. "That's not my fault!" she defended.

"Let's ask your other crushes if they realized," June suggested. "Let's see, how many crushes have you had at this point? There was one on Keefe-"

"Shut up!" she yelled.

"I totally noticed," Keefe piped up. "And so did your brother, by the way. We had a long conversation."

"In which he assured me he didn't like you back, thus I didn't have to worry about him 'stealing my sister', quote unquote," Fitz added. "And then I punched him for not liking my sister."

"And you had another one on me-" June continued.

"When did that happen?" Biana asked, incredulous.

Dex snorted. "Please. You, miss, are a bisexual mess. You were following her around like a lost puppy. You insisted on sitting with her literally all the time, and whenever she sat with me you'd pout-"

"That didn't happen!"

"It totally did," Fitz said. "I saw. And you somehow didn't notice I had a crush on her either."

"Wait," Sophie said, holding up her hands. "Biana's bisexual?"

"Got a problem with that?" Biana snapped.

"Well, no, but why haven't I noticed?"

Everyone chuckled.

"I have no idea how," June said, giggling. "Because her next crush was on you, sister."

"What?"

"This conversation is over!" Biana yelled. "Any further discussion about me or any of my crushes is prohibited!"

June smirked at her.

"Good luck on this one, then."

"I should hail Oralie," Sophie mumbled, her cheeks tinted pink. "Uh, I'll just- head out over here."

Biana followed her into the girls' common room, and Granite was waiting there along with Della, who looked wrung out after another visit with Prentice.

"Hey," she said, catching up to Sophie. "I'm sorry about them. You know what it's like with them and crushes."

Sophie managed a smile, though she still looked mighty embarassed. "It's fine. I deal with that a lot. I'm more worried... about Keefe, to be honest."

"The Council has decided to keep Silveny's pregancy secret," Granite told Sophie. "And they've accepted your offer to help them communicate. In fact, they gave me some questions they'd like you to ask her today, so Vika can prepare before she visits."