Just a reminder from last chapter: The first obstacle was a tunnel. The second obstacle was a bunch of sharp, metal sticks in the ground pointing up in a seemingly random order. The next obstacle was a ladder leading up to a giant pool in the middle of the field. The pool had a lot of giant lily pads scattered across. The final obstacle was a giant maze made of fire.

"Okay," Grady said with a gentle smile at Sophie. "I knew you would do it. You are so strong."

Or weak.

Stay positive, Sophie.

"Thank you," Sophie mumbles. "So, do we just navigate the course together as fast as we can?"

"Oh no," Alden said mischievously, "one of you will be blindfolded and the other will telepathically instruct the other what to do."

Sophie gulped. Okay, wasn't expecting that. This could be... almost impossible. Who was she kidding? She was going to die!!

Okay, Sophie, what happened to thinking positive?!?!

When Sophie finished debating her subconscious, Fitz said, "I can do the course. Sophie can transmit the instructions to me."

"Are you sure?" Sophie asked.

"Yep. I know that's what you want too, don't try to lie."

Sophie blushed and looked at Grady and Alden to gauge their opinion.

"Actually, Sophie, we are really trying to push you out of your comfort zone here. We want you to be the one doing the course."

Fitz glanced nervously at Sophie. "Are you okay with that?"

"Yeah, yeah. I can do this. We can do this."

Fitz nodded and Grady and Alden explained that this would help strengthen their teamwork and bond and blah blah blah. The part Sophie DID pay attention to was the part when Aden mentioned they would have to complete be entire course in five or less minutes. And the pet where Grady said that if they didn't, they would keep trying until they were able to. 

Sophie almost laughed her head off at that. This was already impossible!

"So, are you two ready?" 

Both Sophie and Fitz nodded. 

"Ok. Grady, can you please place the blindfold on Sophie?" Alden asked. Grady did so and the countdown began. After counting from 10, Alden said "Go!" And Fitz immediately began transmitting instructions.

(Sophie is Bold, Fitz's transmitting is in italics)

The tunnel opening is like, five steps to your right. No, my right. K, wow, that was a big step so take a step in the other direction. Wait, now go, just a little more... STOP!

Okay, can I walk forward? How long do I need to get down?

You should probably crawl through it. Transmit to me when you are on the other side.

Okay.

Sophie quickly made her way trough the tunnel. And let me say, it wasn't pretty. Sophie would have a lot of bruising on her knees after this.

I am at the end. I feel the grass, so I am going to stand up.

Okay, I see you. The next obstacle is navigating the field of metal sticks. Basically, just walk straight and I will tell you when to stop.

Just walk straight. That's a piece of cake, Sophie transmitted sarcastically. She didn't move, this was a field of knives for Pete's sake!

Just trust me.

I do. But these are sharp metal objects and they can hurt me. And I don't want to get hurt. 

Stop talking to me like I am a two year old. Now, walk on.

Sophie rolled her eyes even though he couldn't see that. She stuck her foot out in front of her and slowly, taking about five second, to put it down when she was confident she wasn't going to invoke her foot. She took the next four steps that way until Fitz transmitted.

Sophie, you are taking forever, can you please hurry up.

No, I cannot hurry up. I am scared Fitz! Stop being a jerk! If I step or fall wrong I am severely injured or dead! 

Soph, you know you can trust me. I love you, remember? I wasn't trying to be a jerk but- STOP!!! Ok, two step to the right, and good... keep going straight again.... okay, to the left a little STOP! Okay, to the right... perfect! Now you can walk straight for a while again. As I was saying, sorry if I was being rude. I was simply offended because you didn't trust me.

I do trust you, Fitz. With everything I have in me. 

No offense, but if you trusted me THAT much, you would've made it through the whole entire thing by now. Not that your doing bad — just sayin'. Okay... to the left two steps and walk a step before taking three steps to the right.

Sophie did as she was told, carefully, but faster this time. If course she trusted Fitz — and she wanted to show him that, too.

That was good, Soph. Your almost done, pretty much walk straight and I will tell you if you need to move at all. I don't think you do, but just in case you start to veer to the left or something.

Okay.

A couple steps later and Fitz said she was done and had arrived to the next obstacle: climbing a ladder and jumping on giant lily pads across a pool. Fun.

Don't stress. Now, the ladder is right I'm front of you. Climb all the way up it and step out onto the lily pad. It is right in front of the top of the ladder, so you can't calm in the water, no worries.

Once Sophie was on the lily pad, Futz sent the next set of instructions.

Taking about two large, running steps and jump slightly to your right.

This was nerve wracking.

Nonetheless, Sophie completed the task seemingly effortlessly. Not gracefully — no, that was a whole OTHER story.

Fitz continued sending instructions and Sophie followed each of them perfectly. Her left foot got a little wet when she tripped on a landing, but she was dry otherwise. After Sophie climbed down the ladder, she knew she had to face the last obstacle. 

Fire.

Deep breaths.

Okay, Sophie, you got this. I know you do. I love Soph.

I love you too. I am ready.

Maybe. But Sophie didn't transmit that part.

Okay. Walk forward three large step and turn to your left. Good... now continue straight for about twenty paces or so... Stop! Okay, again, to the left, good, continue on, and.... alright don't move... now to the right...

Sophie followed his instruction, but was still nearly hyperventilating because she could FEEL the heat of the flames and it scared her. She also could not keep a mental map of where she was in her mind. If she got stuck in this maze than that was not good. Duh.

Sophie followed Fitz's carefully crafted instructions for what seemed like hours. Never once did she get burned.

"You did it Sophie!" Fitz shouted.

Someone removed her blindfold and she was immediately crushed in a hug. 

"I knew you could do it, Soph," Fitz whispered in her ear.

"It was all you. I love you Fitz."

"I love you too."

Grady cleared his through and Alden was the first to speak. "That's as very good. You learned how to trust each other more. But... that took you forty seven minutes. You're totally active moving time was seventeen minutes, so you spend a lot of time transmitting. So, we will have to try again until you get five minutes or under.

Sophie and Fitz both groaned and Sophie reminded herself not to cry.

You can do it. You've done it already. You've got this.

It took them eleven tries to get it to a passing time. Finally, on their twelfth try, they did it. 

1 — 47 minutes

2 — 42 minutes

3 — 35 minutes

4 — 29 minutes 

5 — 26 minutes

6 — 26 minutes

7 — 24 minutes

8 — 17 minutes

9 — 12 minutes

10 — 11 minutes

11 — 8 minutes

12 — 4 minutes 37 seconds

Sophie dropped to the ground when Grady said they had passed. She felt like dying. Not really, but all of her energy was drained. All of it. She didn't even talk in conplete sentences.

"Inside," she ordered.

Fitz scooped her up and carried her into Havenfield. 

"I know," Edaline said before Sophie could ask for Mallowmelt.

A giant bowl of it appeared on the table next to the sofa, so Fitz brought her there. Sophie started stuffing her mouth with the creamy, amazing dessert. Who wouldn't?

"Well," Alden said, "there were two more trust experiences we wanted you to go through but we won't do those because you look exhausted. We will have our next lesson in two days and it is on self defense."

After the conversation died out, Alden tunes to leave.

"Son?" He asked.

Fitz looked at him.

"Are you staying here for the rest of the week?"

"Um, yeah dad, if that's ok with you and Grady and Edaline."

"Oh, it's fine by us," Edaline said with a wink. Grady looked less enthusiastic.

"It is fine by me, but ... remember, you both have your whole lives to live with each other. Don't... just don't rush thinks, ok?"

Sophie smiles and nodded. 

"Ok, dad. You can stop being embarrassing. I love you."

"I love you too, Fitz. Bye Sophie."

"Bye Alden."

After they ate a DELICIOUS dinner, Sophie walked upstairs with Fitz at her heel.

"Hey, Soph. You don't think... you don't think I am rushing things do you? I mean... I know we've kissed and made out and stuff but if you-"

"Fitz, I am going to stop you right there. I love you Fitz. I do. And I am not afraid of telling you if I am uncomfortable doing something. I also know that even if I was afraid of telling you, I know you have the best intentions in mind and wouldn't do it anyway. You have taken such good care of me... please don't doubt yourself. I love showing my love for you.... that is... unless it is um.... you know, doing that before we're married..."

"Thanks Sophie. And yeah, I don't want to do 'that' before marriage either," Fitz said with a wink.

Sophie blushed and they spent the night talking like two best friends who haven't caught up in years. Anything and everything was talked about and there was lots of laughter.

Sophie loved him so much and couldn't imagine herself with anyone else.

Before they went to bed, Sophie kissed him fiercely.

"Fitz..." she cried. She literally had tears coming down her face.

"What's wrong baby girl? Do you  want me to leave? Was it something I did?"

Sophie smiled through her tears. "No, no... I just, I want you to know that I am so grateful for you. I don't know where I'd be. I love you so, so much. More than I could describe."

The look of pure love melted into Fitz's eyes as he looked down at his girlfriend. He gave her a beautiful smile that made Sophie nearly die.

"Me too, Princess. I love it more than life itself. Don't ever doubt that, k? I love you and I will always love you and I promise to cherish you. Goodnight, Sophie."

"Goodnight Fitz," Sophie whispered back and buried her face into his string, safe arms.

It was the best night sleep of her night.

Well, but that she could remember any night, but nonetheless it was pretty darn good.

Hey friends. Wassup?

How was this chapter? More action? Less fluff? More fluff? What are we thinking?

Due to NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month) I will not be able to update my story in November. BUT, (before you freak out) I will update before the month of November starts WND twice within the first two weeks of December. 

Please don't hate me! It's only a month!

Also, love you guys. You are amazing readers, sponsors, and aupporters.

Please vote!!! It would make me smile 😁

And comment! I love to hear what you think!

Remember! You are an amazing person who will do great things! Someone once shared some great wisdom with me: "you do you, be you, stay you, and be nothing but yourself, because, in the end, if everyone were themselves, the world would be a happier place."

Love you and remember to love yourself! 😘