When Shadows find Light (SOTAM FF) ✔️

I am Confusion - Sophie's POV

I widened my eyes in surprised. Tam Song. Tam Song was kissing me. Me. Tam. Us. I felt him lean closer and I didn't pull away just yet. I tapped his shoulder and he jerked away from me and blushed as red as a student doing pushups.*

I saw him turn around shamefully. "I... I'm sorry. I don't know. I had to do that- I mean, well, I didn't have to, but..." I shushed him with a stern gaze and he fell silent. "So, you had to?" I asked teasingly. He seemed to not sense the teasing factor of my voice, since his head dropped and he turned to the door.

I, now annoyed, walked up to him and grabbed his shoulders. I spun him around to face me and his facial expression was priceless. "I was kidding." I pulled him in for another kiss, just so he didn't leave or get the idea to. I also really didn't want him to think Fitz and I were... a thing. I closed my eyes this time, but it definitely wasn't in the standards for a movie-worthy kiss. Pretty close, though. I experimentally wrapped an arm around his neck, and surprisingly, he didn't recoil or do anything of the sort to break us apart. But did I want to complain? No. It felt unlike anything I had ever experienced. No. All I had felt before was pain, hurt, fear, confusion, guilt. But it felt like, during all these moments, they had washed away.

We heard the front door open and Examine and Grady walked in. I opened my eyes wide and pushed Tam away harshly at the noise and saw Tam's eyes glazed with fear. Fear of Grady. I was equally afraid, too. We literally Olympic Long Jumped away from each other and we could've won a world record for jumping three miles away. I looked at Edaline, who looked slightly shocked, and Grady looking murderous.

"Can somebody please explain what's going on here?" Edaline asked politely. Grady shot a glare at Tam, and Tam's arm suddenly punched his own stomach. I watched as Tam doubled over in pain. "DAD, STOP!" I shouted. He looked at me, confused. "But... Edaline told me that if someone kissed you, it was probably forced. And I said I would be awfully glad to deal with that somebody." He growled. I heard Tam groan from the other side of the room and I shot a pleading look at Grady. "Please? For me?" I asked. His eyes glittered maliciously, but then he sighed and nodded. Edaline shot Tam an apologetic look then she grabbed Grady's sleeve and dragged him outside. "Come on. Let's see Verdi and try to fix her diet correctly." I heard her say. The door slammed shut and we were alone again. "But we're definitely talking later, okay, young lady?" Grady called, voice fading as he was dragged away by Edaline.

I rushed to Tam and helped him up. "Whew. Grady's power is strong." he said groggily. I swung his arm around my shoulders and he let go of me. "Tam?" I asked. He looked at me. "I'm fine." He did not look fine. He was pale and he was clutching his stomach with his left arm. He did not seem fine. I whacked his arm softly and he winced. "See?" I said triumphantly. He sighed.

Wow. Dad really outdid it this time. I sighed and Tam looked at me. "So, uh, should I just go or something?" I was slightly tempted to agree. The only sound now was awkward silence and the only sight was Tam blushing profusely and the only thing I could feel was giddiness and the rising heat of my already tomato red cheeks as we both remembered what had happened before Grady came stomping in. I nodded. "But go the other way. Grady will kill you." He nodded and flashed a grin and I couldn't help but smile and wave awkwardly as he turned to leave.

Once the door shut, I slumped down on the floor. The only thing on my mind was how Grady would or would not yell at me or Tam. "Whatever. I'm gonna wing it." I mumbled, standing up. I seriously didn't care. All I wanted to do was run around the whole Lost Cities and whoop. I was that giddy.

I sighed and sat down, twiddling my thumbs. He. Had. Just. Done. That. To. Me. ME!!! The sad, tiny little Sophie Foster. I glared at my thumbs. We had just been friends. We were hunting the Neverseen. When Linh said that he liked brunettes. Back then it didn't hurt me. Not one bit. But why, if he said it now, why would that break my heart?

I shook my head and stood up. I was just so confused! I am confusion! Why is this—

Nevermind.

*Carat_The_Turnip or @Carat_The_Potato, you'll definitely get the reference ;)

also, who's glad for the mass update besides me? because wOw.