𝙴𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝙾𝚏 𝚄𝚜- ᴀ sᴏᴋᴇᴇғᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ (𝕎𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕊𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕊𝕠𝕡𝕙𝕚𝕥𝕫)

Jealousy

Sophie is getting ready in her room for the Winnowing Gala..

<Sophie's POV>

Keefe didn't stop by today. Keefe didn't stop by today. Keefe didn't stop by today. Keefe didn't stop by today. Keefe didn't stop by today. Keefe didn't stop by today.

It's scaring the living daylight out of me, plus no reply on my Imparter since 10 this morning.

I shake my head and remember: Fitz is tonight's focus.

I wipe away a stray tear and straighten my shoulders; tonight I'll have fun. Keefe won't notice.

                                                                                       ***

At the Gala...

I leap to Everglen and see the whole estate is decorated and filled with people.

I follow the signs that lead to the reception. I suck in a breath and push open the door..

"Hey! You made it!" Biana wraps me into a hug nervously, she was obviously waiting at the front door for some time.

I look around, stunned at the sight of probably more than a hundred girls, all crowding around Fitz. He looks a little bit flustered but nevertheless soaks up and entertains the attention. Suddenly the girls around me start to glare at me and whisper, what I imagine is something bad, to each other. They inch away leaving me and Biana in a wide bubble of space in the middle of the hall.

"Don't mind them, they're obviously jealous," Biana says to me, yet in a tone loud enough for them to hear.

"Okay.." I nod and start move to the corner of the room, stopping at the refreshments table, Biana hot at my heels.

"My mom's calling me, I'll be back in a sec!" Biana says and hurries off to Della, who's at the other end of the room, looking slightly stressed. 

"You got it," I force a smile.

I grab a couple of brattails and a cup of lushberry juice, then slink to my corner, preferably unnoticed... however.. being Sophie Foster never goes unnoticed.

After just a couple of  moments, a pair of extremely pretty girls approach me. 

One has shiny blonde hair twisted into a half updo that cascades down her shoulders, she has intense turquoise eyes, framed by thick lashes, she wears a tight pink sleeveless dress that shows off her curves. Her heavily make-upped face twists into a scowl when she sees me but quickly smoothens her expression and plasters on a fake smile.

The other girl has luscious black hair that flows freely down her back, perfectly toned bronze skin with a smooth complexion and unusual violet-blue eyes. She wears her pale blue dress like a Greek toga, draping, flowing and loose. She wears lots of make-up too. She has her hands on her hips and pursed lips, not bothering to fix her scowl.

I shirk under their intense gazes and timidly ask, "Yes? To what do I have the honour of your acquaintance?" I hold out my hand to them.

They don't shake it.

"I'm Phoenix," the blonde elf sniffs.

"And I'm Lucky," the bronze-skin elf scoffs.

"Hi.. I'm Sophie..! Sooo.. what brings you to my dingy little corner?" I ask

"Where I'd hoped to go unnoticed," I mutter under my breath.

"So, Fitz Vacker huh?" Phoenix slyly grins.

"We thought you go out with Keefe Sencen," craftily, Lucky arches a perfectly chiseled brow.

"Sophie Foster, you are everywhere- why can't you keep your hands off at least one of the good boys?" Phoenix snarls.

"I-I-I.." I stutter, confused- was this public hate I was receiving? Seriously?

"You- third level in Foxfire, we gave Fitz and Keefe crush cuffs then what do we see? You- wearing cognate rings with Fitz Vacker's  initials on them, and then now you go out with Keefe.." Lucky's eye twitches.

"But you're here, at Fitz's party.." Phoenix cunningly looks at me.

"But- but- but..." I fail to speak

"We'll make you a deal, you leave now, and we don't tell Keefe.." Phoenix continues.

"Or if you don't leave, Keefe will know," Lucky's hands are on her hips again, daring me to defy their deal.

"I'll leave," I gulp, shake their hands and run off.

I hurry through the party saying to myself repeatedly, "This was a bad idea, this is was a bad idea.." 

I finally reach the doors, Biana is fortunately nowhere to be seen, however, Fitz spots me, surrounded by girls he makes eye contact with me. His eyes widen and he rushes towards me.

I stand rooted to the spot as he arrives at my side, sweat beads my forehead.

"Sophie! You came! Were you.. leaving?" a look of disappointment flashes on his face.

"I.. yeah.. sorry, it was just too crowded," I fidget.

"Well.. okay.. follow me outside, the air is fresher, the crowd is less, and besides I've been meaning to talk to you, I just wasn't sure whether you came," he explains.

So, under the eyes of everyone, he takes my hand, kisses it, then leads me outside.

I feel flattered, yet nervous, what if Phoenix and Lucky saw- and told Keefe?!

But I relax my nerves and follow him.

Outside, still holding my hand, he leads me under a willow-like purple tree. He sits on the ground and as I plop down beside him, he scoots ever so close that our knees touch, then he turns to face me.

"Sophie, I've wanted to tell you this from the moment I realised I liked you," he stares at me intently and absentmindedly twirls a strand of my hair.

"And I need to tell you before it's too late," he moves his face closer, his lips brushing my cheek.

"What is it Fitz?" Goosebumps dots up my arm as I try not to stiffen.

"I need to tell you.." he cups my cheek with his palm and looks at me seriously.

"That I love you," 

Before, I know it, his hands are in my hair and he pulls me into a slow, long, passionate kiss, his fingers tracing up and down my arm.

Shocked, flattered, but also not wanting to disappoint, I start to kiss him back.