Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Sophie (Dex POV)

A/N: @SssuperiorFandoms requested Dex's POV of the day he met Sophie. This will be told in two chapters.

"We're going to get it this time," Dex muttered, eyes on the elixir he and his dad were trying to perfect.

"Seventh time's the charm," his dad agreed as the door belched, announcing the arrival of another customer. Dex didn't look up; he was totally focused on their work in the laboratory.

"I'll be with you in two minutes," his dad called out. "Get ready to add the amarallitine, Dex."

Dex used his longest pair of tongs to grab the vial, hoping they could get it right this time. "Ready?" He asked.

"Not yet." He glanced up to see his dad slip on his protective glasses. "Okay. Now!"

He jumped back as Dex carefully poured the vial into the other beaker. It sparked, but this time there was no explosion—only a lot of stinky smoke.

Dex hoped that whichever stuffy Noble was waiting on them would be particularly grossed out by the stench.

His dad gave him an appreciative pat on the back before removing his glasses. "First one we haven't exploded all day," he commented as he looked up. "Edaline! Is that really you?"

Dex shifted his gaze from his father to the two figures standing before them. He was surprised to see that his dad was right—it was Edaline. She never came to the store. In fact, Dex didn't think he'd ever seen his aunt and uncle outside of Havenfield.

"Hello, Kesler," Edaline said in a tired voice. She always sounded tired.

"'Hello, Kesler,'" his dad repeated, imitating her voice. "That's all you have to say? Get over here and give me a hug!"

He wrapped her in a big hug as Dex's eyes finally found the figure that had been standing next to her.

It was a girl about Dex's own age.

A really, really pretty girl.

There was something strange about her, but before Dex could figure out what it was, he heard his dad release Edaline from the hug and say, "You look good, Eda—but what are you doing here? You never come to town."

"I know." She held out a piece of paper.  "Elwin said I need to get these for Sophie."

"Sophie? Did I...miss something?"

"Yes." Edaline took a deep breath. "Sophie lives with us now."

Whoa.

Dex still had no idea who Sophie was, but whoa. His brain didn't even know what to do with that information. He loved Edaline and Grady, and knew they'd lost Jolie before he was born, and his parents had always told him how badly the grief had affected them. They hadn't always been recluses. Did this mean they were starting to come back out of their shells a little bit?

His dad was just glancing back and forth between Edaline and the girl--Sophie--like he'd never seen anyone or anything more fascinating in his life. "Since when?"

"Since yesterday—it's a long story." She gestured for Sophie to join them, and the girl stepped up timidly. "Sophie, this is my brother-in-law, Kesler, and my nephew Dex."

"Hi," Sophie mumbled, not quite meeting Dex's eyes.

"Sophie will be starting at Foxfire on Monday," Edaline explained.

"Cool," Dex exclaimed, taking his cue. "What level will you be?"

"Level Two."

"Me too! Do you know your schedule al—whoa!" He leaned in when he realized what was different about her. It was her eyes, which were most definitely not blue. "How'd you do that? I turn mine red sometimes—totally freaks everyone out—but I've never seen brown before. I like it."