In the morning, the group played games and had a good time. They enjoyed the old classic, Basequest, the most, though.

"Okay!" Della said cheerfully the next evening. "So, since you have gotten to know the person on your Scroll, you might realize that you are either a good Match, or not a good Match. And because you are all friends, your goal is to confess to everybody who you like. Now, I know this can take awhile, so I will give you this evening  and tomorrow. I also know this can cause... problems, so I want you all to promise me something."

When Della has everybody's attention, she continued, "stay friends. Yes, this is the future of your lives, but stay friends. This will be hard for many of you, but you will regret it if you let a silly crush break friendships. Got it?"

Once everyone nodded Della finished, "Alright. Have fun and remember what I said."

They thanked Della for dinner  and walked up to Biana's massive room and sat on the thick, soft rug in a circle. 

The order they sat in:

                               Tam

                                                               Dex

Linh             

                                                                           Biana

Sophie                                       

                                                               Keefe

                              Fitz 

A/N: just imagine a better circle.

"So," Linh said. "How are we going to do this?"

"Well, since Della split the confessions up over two days, maybe we should have girls confess one day and boys confess the other day," Fitz suggested. Since they didn't have a better idea to do, they agreed.

"I think girls should confess first,"  Keefe said with a smirk.

They voted and (of course) the boys won because they had more people. So that meant the girls had to confess first.

The room was silent waiting for someone to speak and confess. 

"Biana? Linh? Sophie?" Dex asked. "Are you you guys alive?"

They all said yes and gave each other looks saying: go ahead. No way! How about YOU go ahead?

"Guys, c'mon," Sophie said. "We have faced the Neverseen, right? Heck, we DEFEATED the Neverseen. And we are afraid of a silly crush?"

"Very inspirational, Foster."

"How about YOU go first, then?" Biana said with a forced smile.

Wow.

That backfired.

A lot.

"Well, you see...I-I would, really, but ... I was thinking that maybe.... you know-"

"Aww, Foster, are you afraid of a quote unquote a "silly crush?""

Sophie despised his guts right now.

Sophie took a minute, then took a deep breath and finally mumbled, "Fitz."

She looked up and saw Dex with a forced smile. Not surprising considering he had problems with "Wonderboy." But Dex and Sophie were never 'meant to be' — it was clear when they had had the awkward kiss a few years back.

When her eyes moved to Tam, he was smirking, but there was a glint in his eye that told Sophie he was genuinely happy for her. 

And.... Keefe. He looked crushed. Literally. But he plastered a smile on and acted normal.

After a few moments of an uncomfortable silence, Sophie focused her attention Linh. "Um, Linh, do you... want to go next?" 

Linh shook her head violently and pointed to Biana. 

Biana shifted uncomfortably before saying, "Keefe."

She said this almost proudly, unlike Sophie.

Sophie studied the faces of Dex, Tam, and Keefe but they all looked nuertral and none of them showed any emotion.

Biana looked down and didn't say anything further.

Linh took a deep breath and opened her mouth. 

Then closed it.

Finally, she whispered, "Fitz."

Fitz looked shocked. 

"What?" Sophie asked.

Linh looked up at her. 

"I thought you liked Keefe!" Sophie said. 

"It is hard to explain," Linh said softly.

"Well," Sophie said, "I have time."

"Why are you doing this?" Linh said raising her voice as well as standing up.

Sophie stood up too. 

"Because I want to know why you lied!"

"Or, you want Fitz to yourself!!" Linh fired back.

Biana stood up trying to calm the girls. "Sophie, stop yelling. Linh, why don't you tell us what is on your mind? And the truth, preferably."

"You want to know? Fine. I liked Fitz since he first time I saw him. Who couldn't? I liked him for years, but the more time I spent with this group, I... developed feelings for someone else. But it was hard to let go of something you wanted for so long. There. That's the truth. Are you satisfied?"

"Not yet," Sophie said. "Who is that someone else?"

".....Keefe." What Linh said was barely audible and the second she said it, she ran out of the room. Sophie followed to check on her, but first transmitted to Fitz, stay here. I will be right back.

Fitz nodded and Sophie ran after Linh. She followed Linh until Linh stopped outside. 

Sophie jogged up to Linh and took deep breaths to ease her racing heart from running. Linh looked towards Sophie but didn't say anything.

"Linh, why did you run out?" Sophie asked.

"Why did I run out?!? Because you embarrassed me, Sophie! You and Biana were so persistent on knowing everything and then I had to admit to two crushes!"

Linh's shoulders shook with sobs.

Sophie had never thought about it like that. 

"Linh," Sophie said softly. "I am so sorry. I....I didn't mean to embarrass you. I was just trying to understand and sort through the confusion. I...I guess I didn't do that in the right way, I am sorry."

Linh has stopped crying and looked at Sophie. "It's fine. It my stupid fault, anyway, for saying Fitz when it is actually Keefe. I just, I didn't want to compete with Biana. She is one of my best friends and I didn't want to hurt her. But l, of course, knowing me, in the process of trying not to hurt someone I hurt multiple other people including myself," Linh said miserably.

"It's okay. I know it doesn't feel like that right now, but we are all friends and through this crazy process, we are going to stand friends."

Sophie wrapped Linh in a hug and Linh whispered, "I am so sorry for how I acted."

"It's okay. It's not your fault."

At this point they weren't hugging anymore and Linh gave Sophie a skeptical look. 

"Okay," Sophie agreed, "it kinda is your fault, but it is in the past, okay?"

Linh nodded and the two girls walked back inside.

Linh walked back to Biana's room but Sophie walked to the kitchen to grab some water.

On her way back to Biana's room, she overheard two people talking in a guest bedroom. 

"What did you want to talk to me about?" A female voice questioned.

Biana. 

"I already know who you like..."

The deep voice had to be Tam.

"But I need you to know that I like you."

Tam liked Biana?

Sophie could hear Biana gasp. 

"I...I just needed you to know that. I know your heart is set on Keefe, but I want what makes you happy. And I am not even going to ask for you to give me a chance-"

Tam abruptly stopped talking and when Sophie chanced a peek through the door, she saw Biana leaning in, kissing Tam. After only a second or two, Biana pulls away.

"Why did...I thought," Tam stuttered, "Why?"

"I do like Keefe — you're right about that. But, I also know he doesn't like me back. He obviously likes Sophie and he kissed Linh once. I know that I will never get him... plus, I would rather be with someone who actually likes me. No, I am not suggesting we date or anything, but maybe we could give it a chance?"

Sophie knew the conversation was about over, so she quickly walked away before she could hear Tam's response. Plus, she had already discovered one disturbing secret: Keefe liked her. As in, Keefe liked Sophie Foster. But she liked Fitz. So, there was going to be a problem tomorrow when Keefe finally admitted to who he liked.

She walked back to Biana's room and found only Fitz and Dex. They were talking about who knows what but they stopped when Sophie entered. 

"Hey," Sophie said. "Where is everyone else?"

"It's pretty late," Dex said, "so they went to bed. Fitz was waiting for you and I was talking with him, so that's why I stayed." He yawned and then added, "I am going to bed, too."

Dex walked out of the room once he and Sophie had said good night. 

"Is Linh okay?" Fitz asked.

"Yeah. We talked and we are back on good terms."

"Okay, that's good. Are you ready for some sleep?"

"Yep. It has been an.... interesting day."

"It sure has," Fitz agreed.

They walked back to Fitz's room, hand in hand. 

Sophie went off to get dressed into her nightgown.

Before they had turned the light out, Fitz asked, "so, for the trust exercise tonight, what question are you going to ask me?"

Sophie had to think about this one for a minute. What was the one thing she wanted to know right now?

"The time under the Pankakes tree...... what were you going to do?"

"Well.... I was going to confess my secret with you and maybe... um, kiss you?"

Fitz said this without blushing, but Sophie blushed enough for both of them. "Oh," is all Sophie said. 

"My turn," Fitz said. "Show me the most embarrassing thought you've ever had about me."

Sophie opened her mind up to his reluctantly and thought back to a memory she'd had only a few days ago when she walked in on Fitz. For a second, she had thought he was naked, but only his shirt was off, all other clothing was on.

Fitz laughed and said, "wow, you are really that afraid of seeing someone naked?"

Sophie tugged our an eyelash. "Uh, yeah. Aren't you?"

"Eh, not really. Nobody is. I mean, it's an invasion of privacy, but it is not like it is that bad. I mean, it is just natural."

Sophie looked at him, horrified. "Natural?"

"Yeah... Is this something that humans were grossed out by?"

"Yeah. I mean, being without your clothing... that was like, I don't know, really really awkward."

"Huh. People in the Lost Cities don't see it that way. The body is just natural so it isn't like is that big of a deal if you walk in on someone. I mean, like I said, it is an invasion of privacy and a little weird, but it isn't a huge deal like your thinking."

"Why are we even talking about this?" Sophie asked.

"I don't know. We can stop, if you want."

"Yes, please."

Sophie and Fitz both snuggled up and then Fitz clapped his hands making the lights turn off.

Fitz let out a deep breath before whispering, "Good night, Sophie."

"Good night, Fitz."

Guys, I know that was a short chapter. It was about 200 words shorter so I am sorry!! But, because of that, I am going to make it easy to earn another chapter. When I publish this, I will have 56 votes. For me to publish next time I have to have 200 votes. I know your probably thing "so much for EASY." Trust me, I would be thinking that too. But it IS easy. Every chapter gives you an opportunity to vote. So, if you vote on every chapter (if you haven't already😊) then you are adding a lot of votes. Plus, I have over 1 THOUSAND reads. If everyone hit the vote button only once, you guys would have the next chapter in no time.

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