For SilverSkyAngel and Rozberryxoxo and last but not least FuzzyTheCakeEater this chapter is for you. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

Unedited.

"Plant your feet Sophie." Sandor scolded. "Bend your knees." Sophie dug her feet into the sand, and bent her knees.

A stick jabbed her stomach. "Keep your guard up." Sandor chided. Sophie brought her arms back up, somehow her arms felt naked without sucker punches. Her fists looked small and puny, "Good now..block!" Sophie cross her arms in a 'X' shape as a heavy boot slammed into them. Shoving her back she dug her feet in the sand. Grunting in pain she shoved Wylie back. "Go in!" Sandor snapped like a army general. Sophie jumped forward, swinging her fist. "Put your weight into it, add a swing to your hips." Sandor shouted as Wylie blocked her fist easily, and pushed her back, and brought his own fist back, Sophie managed to swing to the side just as the fist came down, she grabbed it. Turning again, she stood next to Wylie as she pulled his arm out straight.

She pushed her palm in the locked elbow, and Wylie bent forward in pain. "Cut." Sandor said, Sophie dropped Wylie's arm and he cradled it close. "Are you okay?" Sophie asked. Wylie nodded, as he accepted the elixir from Sandor. "Alright, back in stances." Sandor said. Sophie, Wylie and Sandor had went to the caves, after school was over, and Sophie's chores were finished. Sandor was teaching them hand to hand combat, on the beach.

Sophie held her fists up, and planted her feet in the ground. Wylie faced her, Sandor was carrying a stick. He poked out all mistakes with. "Wylie...block." Sophie swung her own booted foot up, and slammed it as hard as she could into Wylie's arms. "Go in." Sandor shouted. Wylie grabbed Sophie's foot and she bounced on one foot for a moment trying to get her balance. Wylie twisted, making her twist her own body, her back facing him, he slammed her leg to the ground, successfully making her flop in the sand. Sophie flipped over and brought her legs up, slamming her feet into Wylie's gut, she scrambled back up as he fell back a step. "Good recover." Sandor praised.

Wylie managed to judo flip Sophie to the sand, but she got him back by getting him in a leg lock he couldn't get out of. Wet sand clung to them as they rolled through the sand dunes and managed to reach the shallow salty waters of the ocean.

Sophie bucked her whole body, managing to throw Wylie off balance. Bringing her leg up, she wrapped it around his chest and to the side of his neck, she locked her ankles together, and pulled Wylie down as he fell back. He gave a strangled yelp as he splashed in the water. "Recover Wylie." Sandor coached. Wylie lifted his arm and managed to pry Sophie's leg lock open, and slip out. They both stood panting and breathing heavily.

"Well done. Sophie, attack." Sandor said. Sophie didn't move. She kicked water at Wylie, distracting him for a moment she managed half a scissor kick, slamming her foot into Wylie's underarm. His shoulder hitched, and his face twisted into a wince, as he was knocked off balance. Sophie continued her assault. Swinging her burning knuckles forward she punched his rib as hard as she could, Wylie reached for her, Sophie and he had been training for weeks together, she used his arm as a brace, and swung her leg up, hooking it around his neck, she twisted her whole body back, pitching them forward, she managed to unhook her leg and land in a crouch as Wylie fell into the sand, Sophie knocked his side, but his arm shot out.

He wrapped his arm around her neck, tightening his muscles, she felt her oxygen being cut off. She slammed her fists into his sides, digging her head into his sternum she started seeing spots. Bringing her hand up weakly, she tapped out and Wylie let her go. "You good?" He asked. She took deep breaths. "Good." She nodded. "Call it a day." Sandor said. The sun hadn't even started set. Sophie looked at Sandor, he usually made them train till sundown. "Take a swim, it's hot." He said. Sophie had realized that, but hadn't realized she was regulating her body temperature. "Um...just to be clear there aren't any sharks in these waters. Right?" she asked looking at the clear waters. Wylie was already pulling off his tunic.

"Of course not." He laughed, as he pulled off his boots. Sophie shrugged and pulled off her own boots. She had wondered why Sandor had insisted her wear the navy blue shorts and white and blue striped shirt under her clothes. She pulled off her tunic, the shirt left an inch of skin exposed, but Sophie was thankful it only Sandor and Wylie were around. Wylie had become like a brother to her over the past weeks. He had his own bright orange swim trunks on, he waded into the water. Sophie quickly pulled off the sweaty layer of pants and tunic, leaving her in an Elvin swim suit. Peeling off her socks, she waded in after Wylie.

She sighed as the cool water engulfed her. "Let's go cliff jumping." Wylie said splashing water at her, before pointing at the cliff hanging off the caves. "Race you there." Sophie called. "Don't go far." Sandor called grumpily, as he posted up a white blanket, to make shade. Sophie had wondered what weapons he had packed in the picnic basket, but apparently he had been planning on a beach day, he pulled out a fan and a book. Sophie grinned before diving under the clear water. Wylie's long arms cut the water easily, and he practically swam circles around her, teasing her.

Sophie turned on her back, and lifted her arms out of the water, slicing it as she paddled. She kept having to spit salty water out of her mouth but she managed to keep pace with Wylie. When they reached the ledge, they found a trail already going up to it. Like someone had created long ago. Sophie glanced over the edge, as Wylie peeked over. The water looked a lot farther below. Sophie's palms became clammy, and her heart shuddered at the thought of jumping. The water was clear and no rocks were below, but the jumping and knowing she wasn't going to teleport made her heart hammer.

"Well." Wylie said brightly. "Off you go." Sophie screamed as he shoved her off the ledge. He laughed as he launched off the ledge after her. Sophie straightened her body, crossing her arms across her chest, she pinched her nose taking a deep breath as her stomach flipped.

Splash!

Sophie wanted to jump again. Swimming to the surface she splashed water at Wylie who laughed. "You should have seen your face." He said as he swam just out of reach. Sophie found herself laughing as she swam after him. Sophie found herself jumping off the cliff, again and again, having a water war with Wylie, which Sandor had to wade in the water to stop.

After eating an early dinner, Wylie and Sophie sat on the beach, letting their food digest. Sophie had tied Calla's braid, back in a bun. "Sophie!" Sophie looked up as Biana, Dex and Keefe appeared over the sand dunes. Fallowed by Tam, Linh and Fitz, Stina and another girl.

"Should I go?" Wylie asked, as Fitz glared at him. Sophie shook her head. "Of course not. You are welcome here, just as much as them." She said. Wylie smiled. "You went swimming without us?" Keefe asked. "Yes." Sophie said. "We came over since you weren't answering your imparter." Biana said.

"I don't have my imparter on me during training." Sophie said. "Training?" Fitz asked. Sandor looked up from his book. "I would like Sophie to know how to defend herself without abilities." He said. "Well Stina needed to talk to you." Linh said. "Oh...okay." Sophie shot Wylie a look, who shrugged. Sophie stood, and wrapped the navy blue towel around her. "We can talk inside." She said. They only walked out of ear shot when Stina stopped with the other girl. "This is my cousin Caroline, she has something to tell you." Stina said. Sophie looked at Caroline, she had thin caramel colored hair, and light blue eyes. Stina pushed her cousin forward, "I saw a Neverseen." Caroline blurted.

"I was walking home from shopping right? And I just got this cold feeling and I looked behind me to see a cloaked figure, it had the blind eye of the sleeve." Caroline said. Sophie looked at Stina who nodded. "She drew it out and everything." She said. Sophie looked back at Caroline. "May I search your memories?" She asked. Caroline stepped back. "Um-"

"Not all of them. Just think of that night, and when you looked back." Sophie said. Caroline nodded, and Sophie pressed her fingers to Caroline's temple.

Caroline was happy with the deal she had just made with a seamstress. Carrying bags, Caroline strode confidently through Eternalia. It was dark but Caroline would make it home. Chills. Looking back, Caroline saw the cloaked figure of a Neverseen. The blind eye staring at her, she didn't wait she turned and ran.

Sophie drew out of the thoughts., and dropped her hand. "Sorry you had to go through that Caroline." Sophie said, knowing the kind of cold fear that surely kept Caroline up all night. "That's it?" Stina asked. "Shouldn't we do something about this?" Stina asked. "We're already on it." Sophie said looking at Stina. "Wait....that means there have been more sightings." Caroline said. Sophie looked at the thin girl, who was just as tall as Sophie. "Listen to me both of you. I need you both to stay quiet about this. Don't tell anyone else. I can guarantee both of you, that we're on it. There is no reason to worry." Sophie said, using the words that had calmed her the most. Caroline seemed to calm down.

"Are you sure?" Stina asked. "Yes." Sophie said. "Now let's not worry about this. Why don't you come down for a swim. I'm sure it'll cool you down." Sophie said as soothingly as she could, brushing Caroline's stringy damp hair off her forehead. "Call me Carrie." Caroline said with a smile. "It's nice to meet you, Carrie. I'm sorry it couldn't be under better circumstances." Sophie said, with a disarming smile. She could see Stina's jaw slacken at her attitude. "I don't have a swim suit on." Carrie frowned. "Neither do we." Biana said climbing up the hill next to Sophie, with Linh behind her. "Why don't you all go home and get swim suits, then come right back here." Sophie offered. The girls nodded, and called their brothers over.

Before long Sophie had hailed Marella, Rowan, Blossom, the triplets, Eli and Joanne. She and Wylie sat on the beach, in front of Sandor who was grumbling about having to watch more than one kid. Sophie invited Melody who's eyes burned with excitement. "Can I bring a couple of friends?" She asked. "Sure." Sophie agreed, and the hail ended without a goodbye. "You have a lot of friends don't you?" Wylie asked. Sophie thought about it, before smiling. "I guess I do...not nearly as close as, Dex, Biana, Fitz, Keefe, Tam and Linh...and you." She said. Wylie started at that. "Me?" He asked. "Well yeah." Sophie nodded. "You guys are some of my closest friends." She said. Wylie smiled, "I never really...hung out with people outside of school." He said.

Sophie shrugged. "You are now." she smiled. Wylie grinned and leaned back. "Yeah I am." He said, stretching out across his towel. Sophie copied him on her own towel. Soaking in the sun. "Today we can be normal." she said. "That is the best thing I've ever heard you say." Wylie said. Biana showed up in a purple and black swim suit. It was much like Sophie's but the top left a thicker line of skin to show. Biana had tied up her hair, and laid out her towel, a basket and sat beside Sophie. As the other's showed up, Sophie found most female swim suits were the same, though Linh had been the most daring, with a light top that showed her belly button and slim waist she had tied a white towel around her black bottoms.

Before the others showed up, Wylie nudged Sophie. "Race you?" He asked. Sophie shoved him back down on his towel and took off running. "Cheater!" Wylie called as she waded in the cold water, she diver beneath it, using an over hand stroke she reached the hidden trail, and hurried up to the ledge, Wylie right behind her. "I won!" She laughed as they reached the top. "That's because you cheated." Wylie said. "I still won." Sophie said. Wylie went to the ledge. Sophie watched with a smirk, he shook out his shoulders, before he could step back Sophie shoved him forward. A strangled shout came from him as he fell. Sophie backed up and jumped off after him. Screaming with the rush of adrenaline, she hit the water in a cannonball.

"Sophie!" Wylie shouted splashing her with water. Sophie squealed and dived back under water, she managed to make it to the beach, and ran down the beach with Wylie chasing her. Sophie couldn't remember herself being this happy in a long time. She managed to stay out of reach of Wylie, ducking behind Fitz who had just arrived, she ran away, kicking up sand, laving Wylie to slam into Fitz. The last time she had been this happy was when she was with Josh at the water park. Sophie ran for the water. Wylie tackled her, and she got ducked. She came up spluttering and coughing. "Serves you right." Wylie said. Sophie splashed water at him, and he splashed back. "Coming through." Keefe shouted, jumping in next to them.

Sophie squealed as water got on her. Biana and Linh were in the water next, Sophie and Wylie raced them to the cliff. Keefe followed and everyone was one the ledge. Keefe took Linh's hand and pulled her off. Biana grinned and shoved Dex off, and jumped after him. Tam and Stina jumped with Carrie and Wylie. Leaving Sophie and Fitz. Sophie shyly looked up at him. She hadn't know Fitz had abs until he had his shirt off. He wore white and brown swim trunks but smiled just as shyly at Sophie. "What do you say?" He asked holding out his hand. Sophie blushed as she took it, Fitz smiled and pulled her close, "Good choice." He said and jumped off the cliff. Sophie jumped with him. Feeling like she had jumped off a completely different ledge.

A ledge she was going to fall head over heels over, and perhaps splash into something sweeter than water, and drown in the teal eyes she had jumped after.

She had jumped off the ledge she needed time to gain her courage to jump off of. She had jumped off of the safe spot, over the line of friendship and partnership, and into something new.

She didn't need time anymore. With Fitz holding her hand, as long as he held tight, she knew whatever she was facing she could beat, with Fitz she knew she had jumped off the cliff of fear and uncertainty and into the new waters most people called love.

(Yay! Sophie! Fitz! Sophitz!)