The Stars Said Hello [1]

C H A P T E R - 8

"She's Alive!" Fitz teased when Sophie wandered into the living room the next day. He sat in an overstuffed armchair reading a book called Twenty-Five Ways to Catch the Wind. "You do realise you slept through breakfast and lunch, right?" Meredith was roaming around the room reading another copy of the same book.

"I did?" Sophie looked around, trying to find a clock, but everything was covered in weird clothes—like a costume shop threw up on the furniture. "Sorry. I guess I was tired."

"You had a rough day yesterday. Plus, your body needs rest while it detoxes," Della said, materialising in the centre of the room.

Della frowned as she met Sophie's eyes. "How are you doing?"

Sophie shrugged.

"Well, you look great. Not that you weren't pretty before, but I think that detox made a difference. You should see how shiny your hair is, and your eyes are so . . . exotic. You're going to be quite the heartbreaker when you grow up."

"Who is?" Biana strode into the room in a fitted dress with intricate gold embroidery that shimmered with every step. She looked way more glamorous than any twelve-year-old had the right to look.

Meredith from her corner waved and greeted Biana who greeted her back with a smile.

"Sophie," Della said, smiling at Sophie. "Doesn't she look pretty today?"

Biana shrugged, and asked, "Isn't that the same dress you wore yesterday?"

"All my other clothes were—" she started to explain, but Della held up her hand.

"I'm sorry. I should've sent something up for you. I've been shopping all morning." She waved her arms at the explosion of clothes. "Behold. Your new wardrobe."

"That's all for me?" 

Della winked. "I got you everything you'll need, plus a few extras. The only thing I didn't get was a new nexus. I figured you'd want to pick your own. Unless you want to keep Fitz's old, beat-up one."

Sophie stared at the cuff on her wrist. "This was yours?" she asked Fitz.

He nodded.

"Do you want it back?"

"I don't need it anymore. It's yours if you want it."

"Might as well keep this one then, so it doesn't go to waste."

"If that's what you want," Della agreed with a smile. "I should be done packing all of this in a few minutes, and then I'll get you some lunch."

"Packing?"  Alden entered the room holding her backpack and Ella. "Are you kicking me out?"

Della rushed to take her hands. "Of course not. We thought you'd want to get settled into your new home. If you want to wait a few days, we'll unpack your stuff right now."

Sophie swallowed to steady her voice. "No, it's fine. In fact, I don't really want lunch. I'm not hungry."

Della smiled sadly. "You're going to like Grady and Edaline."

"What are they like?"

"They're great," Alden promised. "They run an animal preserve at Havenfield, so they always have all kinds of exciting things going on."

"Do they have any kids?"

Della glanced at Alden.

He looked away. "Grady and Edaline lost their only daughter about fifteen years ago. Her name was Jolie. She was twenty when she died. It was . . . . terrible accident."