Soon the mentors dismiss us to go to lunch. I go through the line with Biana, grabbing all my favorite foods. We go find Sophie, and apparently sit down halfway through a conversation.
“He still has detention today.” Marella says. “I seriously can’t believe he helped Fitz do that!”
“Wait, what did Fitz do?” I ask.
“Oh, you should’ve been there. Apparently, he felt like Foxfire needed a tribute to Keefe, so during lunch the other day, he pressed a button that unraveled a banner that said ‘ALL HAIL LORD HUNKYHAIR!’ and ice blue slime fell right on Magnate Leto’s head! IT. WAS. AMAZING. So, naturally, he has detention until midterms. You must be Lori?”
“I am.” I say. “And I can’t believe you forgot to tell me about that!”
“I was talking with Magnate Leto when it happened. I only heard rumors about how he might have done it.” Sophie says.
“THAT’S why he was holed up in his room the whole time you were staying with us.” Biana notes. “He was planning it. Mom and dad were LIVID when they found out. By the way, I think we should have a sleepover at Everglen Friday night.”
“Um, why?” Marella asks. Biana shrugs.
“Just for fun. We’ve all gotten so busy with the Neverseen, that we never get to just have fun anymore.”
“I’m in,” Sophie says. “But NO MAKEOVERS. At least on me.”
“Me too, except the makeover part.” I add.
“I’m down.” Maruca says.
“I’ll come. It’s not like I have anything better to do.” Marella says.
“We’re coming too.” Linh says when she sits down.
“We are?” Tam says, sitting beside her.
“Yes, Tammy. We are.”
“Fiiiiiiiiiine.” Linh can get Tam to agree to anything.
“Count me in.” Stina says. I hadn’t noticed her sit down. “And I think Wylie should come too.”
“That’ll be fine. I’m so excited!” Biana squeals.
“Calm down.” I laugh, because I’m excited too
“Why? It’s going to be so fun!” She says. We all spend the rest of lunch making plans. Me and Sophie are in charge of activities, since we know about human games, which are mostly better than the games elves play at sleepovers. Biana and Linh discuss food while Marella, Stina, Tam, and Maruca set up a backup plan in case anything goes wrong and we can’t do our original plans.
“Ok, so we were thinking brattails for dinner, with mallowmelt for dessert, and then sugarknots in the morning for breakfast. Is that ok with everyone?” Linh asks.
“In terms of games,” Sophie says when nobody objects. “We were thinking truth or dare, a different version of spin the bottle, and would you rather.”
“Biana, you can give anyone who is willing makeovers when it’s not their turn.” I add.
“The backup plans will remain a secret until we need to bring them out.” Maruca says, while Stina and Marella die of laughter behind her. Even Tam looks like he’s holding back giggles. I really hope we don’t need to bring any of them out. We talk for a while longer, then the bell rings, and we have to go to our next sessions. I gulp when I realize that I’ll have inflicting with Councillor Bronte. At least Sophie will be there with me. We go there to the silver tower together.
“You’re here.” Bronte says when we walk in the door. “Well, I know you, I’m sure you used to know some version of me from wherever you came from, but I’m sure that I’m worse than whoever you used to know. Might as well cut to the chase, you girls are in this session together so we can compare your abilities. Inflict on each other.”
“What?” Sophie exclaims.
“Use positive emotions if you must, just inflict.” He says. Sophie sends me a look that says are we really doing this? And, as much as I don’t want to, I don’t think we really have a choice. So I nod at her and gather as much happiness as I can. I focus it on Sophie and let the red beam do the rest, until I see one coming from her forehead too. I have a millisecond of panic before the beams collide, and the world goes black