Unedited.

"Unpacked already?" Elwin asked Sophie as she brushed Myth's fur.

Dex had gotten more money to last them a life time. Sophie however chose the nicely sized house, that was in a seemingly quiet neighborhood. Biana, Linh and Sophie shared the master bed room, and Fitz and Tam shared a room, Dex and Keefe shared another, and Elwin got the last.

"Yeah." Sophie answered. A stove, and a refrigerator were already set up to be installed the next day. Elwin had worked miracles, with his soft toned voice he had paid for all utility bills to be activated, including internet, within an hour of buying the house. Sophie found herself unpacked in her shared room, in a matter of minutes. Due to only having a nightstand as a dresser for the moment. The house was empty, no furniture, no lamps no beds, nothing, it was heaven for Myth. He ran around the rooms, up the stairs and back down again, through all the bedrooms, his armor leaned against a corner, and now Sophie brushed his fur with the brush she had found for him in her back pack.

"You seem upset." Elwin said as he sat on the clean white carpet. Sophie shook her heads she wasn't upset, she was just confused. "Elwin?" Sophie asked, she sighed in embarrassment. "Have you...ever had someone confess to you? Someone you had no idea liked you like that?" Sophie asked quietly. Elwin laughed embarrassedly. "More then once..." He chuckled. "It's confusing isn't it?" Sophie asked. "Yes." Elwin nodded in complete agreement. "But I learned, some things you just have to say, even if a person doesn't like you like you like them, a pressure in your chest will start too grow until you can't hold it in any longer."

"So you've been confessed to and the confessing?" Sophie asked. "Yeah." Elwin nodded. "Neither went well."

"What didn't go well?" Keefe asked as he hopped down the stairs. "Nothing really." Elwin said as he turned away. Sophie returned to brushing Myth.
"Well Foster's emotions are all..." Keefe wrinkled his nose, as he tried to figure Sophie's emotions out. Sophie listened...she wanted to know what she was feeling, she wanted to know what to feel. "Wonky." Keefe said. Sophie sighed. "Leave her alone Keefe." Fitz said as he walked down the stairs, a book under his arm he sat beside the window, with most light, and opened it. Sophie didn't look at Fitz...she couldn't. What had that kiss been about? He had said it was a mistakes before it even happened...but he had still kissed her.

So what was going on with him?! Did he think he could play with her?!

"Now she's just angry." Keefe said. "She is not." Fitz said, slapping his book closed. "Excuse me, can you read Foster's emotions?" Keefe asked. "I don't have to." Fitz said as he got up, to set his book on the kitchen counter. "Oh please, like any mind trick could do anything better then fell her emotions." Keefe said. Fitz stood in front of his best friend. "At least I'm not so rude enough to blurt out every single thing I know about her." He said.

As the argument pressed on, Sophie's anger bubbled up. She stood up, 'if they ever start arguing knock their heads together, for me, would you?' Alvar's word echoing in her mind, she strode over to Keefe and Fitz. Who were arguing. Her hands slid to the back of each boys' head. Their hair was silky soft, and they both abruptly stopped arguing. With a firm shove with each hand, Sophie shoved their heads together, successfully head butting them both they both fell back. "What the heck was that for?!" Keefe groaned, rubbing his head wincing. Sophie glared down at both boys. "What ever this argument is about -and I don't care what it's about- I want it ended." She turned and sat back in the corner, brushing Myth.

"That was epic." Dex laughed as he sat next to her. Sophie shrugged as she glared at the two boys who were having Elwin check their heads. 'Any room you three are in, they'll find something to argue about.' Alvar had said. Sighing, Sophie leaned head back against the wall. "Let's take a walk." Dex said standing up, he held his hand out to her. The living room had gone quiet, Dex's face was calm and serious with no hint of sarcasm or mischief in it.

Sophie smiled gratefully and took his hand. Dex pulled her up and wrapped the leash around Myth's neck, handing the clip to Sophie, she hooked it on the belt loop of her jeans. "Elwin we'll be back before dusk." Dex promised as he opened the front door. Sophie walked out, with Myth beside her. They walked around the neighborhood aimlessly. What was Sophie supposed to do? Fitz had kissed her, Alvar had said he loved her, and Keefe had...well Keefe was confusing her anymore, but Sophie wasn't about to get between two brothers and cause a rivalry...that'd be like some cliché book or show, not only that it would hurt all three of them...somehow.

Dex let her think for a while before he decided to ask. "So what'd wrong?" Sophie smiled, he had used her very own question against her, the very question that got him to admit he liked Biana. "Lots of things I guess." Sophie said looking up at the orange sky. The sun had only just begun to set, and was casting orange rays across the indigo sky. Grey clouds had thinned to streaks, the edgings turning pink. "Want to talk about it?" Dex asked. Sophie stayed quiet for a long moment. Before letting out a scoff. "Things have just flipped me upside down. I guess I'm confused, and I don't know what to do about it." Sophie said running a hand through her hair.

"Well living here sure has flipped us all upside down, but in guessing you aren't talking about that." Dex said. "Why did I have to go to that masquerade ball?" Sophie asked herself. "So this has to do with Wonderboy or Sencen, or is it both?" Dex asked. "No...it's..." Sophie swallowed as they strolled around a small park. Passing a pool on the way. "It's not Fitz or Keefe...but..well yeah it's Fitz and his brother."

"Alvar?" Dex blurted. Sophie nodded, as she felt her eyes stinging suddenly. "What am I supposed to do? I...I don't know what to do Dex." Her voice cracked. She didn't know why she was crying, she didn't understand why she was so frustrated and confused all at once. Dex didn't seem to get it either but he smiled kindly. "I do." He said. "Here." He said pulling her closer he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

Sophie hugged him as hard as she could. Placing her head on his shoulder, her tears rolling down her face. Sophie did what she hadn't done in a long time, she cried. Her body shook, but because Dex hugged her so tight she barely shivered. When she pulled away Dex bent his head to look in her face as she rubbed away the tears. "Everything is going to be okay." He promised. Sophie bit her lip nodding before taking a shuddering breath, she tried composing herself.

Dex smiled. "See? Don't you feel better?" Sophie let out a half laugh and half sob as she nodded. "Yeah."

"Alright then...let's head back." Dex said taking her hand. Sophie rubbed her eyes one last time, and let Dex walk her back. At the house, Sophie let Myth off the leash and hurried into the second bathroom in the house. She washed her tear stained red face, she did feel better. Smiling she walked out to the living room where everyone was surrounding Elwin as he flipped through a yellow phone book.
"What are you guys doing?" Sophie asked as she watched Elwin's forefinger skim down all the letters.

"We're looking for a place to buy food....that doesn't have meat." Biana said. "We don't even have a phone to call." Sophie said, making everyone groan, along with their stomachs. "You guys are really that hungry?" Sophie asked. "Yes!" Linh and Keefe said. Sophie sighed, her eyes rolling up to the ceiling, what was she thinking bringing them to the forbidden cities? "Alright fine." Sophie said, as she reached for the thick bag, Dex had managed to shove all the money in. "Biana in my bottom drawer, is an orange scarf, get it for me please." Sophie said as she started counting out money. Biana was up and down the stairs in seconds. Sophie pulled her leather jacket on, shoving the money into the inside pocket with her journal.

"What are you going to do?" Elwin asked. "I'm going shopping." Sophie shrugged, as she tied the orange 'helper dog' scarf on Myth, she put the leash back on. "I'll come with you." Fitz said. "No!" Both Sophie, and Keefe said, "I'll go with Foster." Keefe said. "No, Elwin is coming with me." Sophie said. Keefe opened his mouth to protest but the glare Sophie shot him, made him close it. Elwin frowned. "I'm not sure Sophie, I don't want to leave these knuckle heads alone." Elwin said his eyes darting to Fitz and Keefe. Sophie shrugged. "Suit yourself. I'll be back soon."

"We are not splitting up." Dex said standing in front of Sophie. "Here we go in groups, no single trips." Dex said. "He's right." Tam said. Sophie looked at Tam before looking at the door, then doing a double take. Tam looked like and edgy guy, someone most people would try to avoid, he was strong and looked like a trouble maker but if Sophie walked in with him, people might just shrug it off. Most people would leave her alone...and he had a strong enough stomach to see what was in the stores. He could also help pick veggies for the others. He could also carry heavy bags...he was perfect to go with her. She smiled brightly at Tam who gave her a weird look.

"Well, thanks for volunteering Tam." Sophie said. "What?" Tam asked, but Sophie grabbed his wrist and pulled him out the door. "We'll be back." She called.

~

"Alright so there is some reason you are avoiding Fitz and Keefe now?" Tam asked, as he observed an apple before placing it in the bag Sophie held Myth stood by her side, looking like an obedient helper dog. Sophie was right to have picked Tam to come along. He grimaced at the meat but followed her.

"It's just kind of hard being around them right now." Sophie said, as Tam flipped his bangs as he stared at the 'organic' apples. "But not me?" Tam asked as he placed two more carefully checked apples into the bag. "You don't talk as much, and you don't really care about arguing over stupid things." Sophie said as she tied up the bag and placed it in the cart, next to a cutting board, a chopping knife and the veggies for a salad, that Tam had checked over with a critical eye.  "That's true." He nodded as Sophie pushed the cart, to the bread aisle. "That triangle just seems tiring." He said as he quickly picked a bah of French bread, setting it in the cart. "Triangle?" Sophie scoffed. "Better call it a square." She said. Tam's eyebrows shot up. "I thought De-"

"Not Dex." Sophie said as she turned the corner.

"Well I don't-"

"Not you either Tam." Sophie sighed. "Who then?" Tam asked Sophie looked up at him, and he sighed. "Fine, I promise not to tell." Tam said. Sophie glanced around the store...people went about their business, but Sophie wasn't going to risk it. Bending her forefinger she rose on her tip toes and cupped her hand. Tam rolled his eyes but bent his head to hear. Sophie whispered the name softly, but it was like she had yelled it, by the way Tam stumbled back. "Wh-what?" He asked in surprise. Sophie groaned. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."

"No...sorry that just...are you sure that's a good idea?" Tam asked. Sophie's hand smacked his shoulder. "I didn't say I liked him back..." Sophie hissed. Tam smirked as he rubbed his arm, as if her hit had hurt him. "Do you?" He asked. Sophie sighed. "That's the problem." Sophie said. She looked up at Tam. "I...I'm not sure."

(*Gasp!* wow...even I didn't see that coming. It just popped out last moment.)