Sophie panicked, and her concentration fell apart. She accidentally closed her mind off from Fitz's, forcing him out. She could see Fitz's expression change to one of worry, for Tam, and hurt, because she forced him out. Linh bit her lip worriedly.
"What happened? Did you guys get in contact with Tam?" Linh asked anxiously. Sophie reached up for an eyelash. She tugged it off and flicked it away. She knew it was stupid and childish of her, but she made a wish.
Please let Tam be alright, she thought. She looked over at Fitz, His beautiful teal eyes were filled with hurt, but Sophie couldn't care right now. She felt bad for not caring, but what about Tam? Poor Linh! She was too sweet to deserve this.
"Linh . . ." Sophie started, then hesitated.
I can tell her for you, if you need me to, Fitz transmitted. Sophie hesitated. No, she needed to tell Linh herself, she was the one who promised Linh she'd find Tam. She hoped she wouldn't hurt Fitz's feelings.
No, she transmitted back, It's fine, thanks. I think it needs to come from me.
"We . . . well, we contacted your brother," Sophie said. Linh's face lit up, and Sophie felt the slight sting of tears in her eyes at having to tell her what happened. "But . . . the connection was severed by someone else before we could see if he was alright." The last sentence started slow, then came out in a rush. Sophie regretted the way she said it. Had it been too harsh? She just didn't want to sugarcoat it or anything. Linh deserved the truth, and Sophie had felt she was strong enough to take it.
"He's not alright, then?" Linh said, her lip quivering as tears started glimmering in her eyes, threatening to spill over onto her porcelain cheeks. Sophie felt like her heart was cracking, seeing Linh so sad.
"We don't know that," Sophie said, desperate to provide a bit of hope, even if it was so clearly baseless, wishful thinking.
"Yes, we do!" Linh snapped. Sophie recoiled, as if Linh had slapped her. Linh had never raised her voice, ever since Sophie had met her. She didn't know how to react.
"Well, Biana's expecting me . . ." Fitz said, and left. Sophie glared at his back, receding down the stairs. Way to run away, she thought bitterly to herself. Hypocritical, because she refused his help earlier, but she just wanted him there, at least. She understood, she guessed. No one liked high pressure situations like this.
"Linh, it's okay," Sophie said, hesitantly wrapping her arms around the other girl in a hug. "The black swan will come up with a plan to save him, and if they don't, I will myself. We'll get him back. I promise."
Linh ended up staying over that night as well. Sophie convinced her to stay for dinner, so that Sophie could cheer her up. They had gone out into the animal pastures, and pet every soft furry, friendly creature they could find. They played with Luna and Wynn, and came in for dinner which was a licorice black soup that tasted like melted caramel.
Then, they had hung out in Sophie's room, where Sophie had convinced Linh to stay the night, as well. Sophie enjoyed spending time with the quiet black-haired girl.
**********
Sophie woke up. She could see the rising sun's light through her curtains. She looked over to the other side of her huge, fluffy bed. She could see Linh's peaceful sleeping form. They had figured since Sophie had a huge bed, that could easily fit three people comfortably, and still have a little room left, there was no point in setting up a different sleeping arrangement. They were both still wearing their clothes from yesterday. Sophie remembered them lying on the bed together, above the covers, talking. They had been about to get pajamas on, but they had both drifted to sleep. Edaline or Grady must've come along and tucked them in.
Linh stirred as Sophie got up from the bed. Sophie noticed Linh was awake, and clapped her hands twice, opening the blinds. Sunlight streamed in, making Sophie's eye water. She turned away from the window, towards Linh.
"Oh," she said, "good morning, Sophie," She said, giving Sophie a soft smile. She seemed a bit happier. Maybe she was just imagining it, but the circles under Linh's eyes Sophie had noticed yesterday were gone. Sophie gave Linh a soft smile of her own.
