short chapter, sorry 

Chapter Fifteen

"Come on, Sophie! Fess up!" Marella whined. 

"There's genuinely nothing to fess about," Sophie replied, frowning. "I don't understand what you're asking."

"So you're telling me there was no proposal action the other day when you and Keefe had your one year?" Sophie shook her head. "Why?"

"Well, one, she specifically told him not to," Biana cut in. "Where have you been?"

"Where haven't I been? Obviously everywhere but here. I feel left out." Marella's shrugged. "But back to the important part, when is he going to ask you?"

"He isn't going to tell her, Marella, don't be ridiculous," Linh cut in. "But I'm in favor of surprising him and you asking." 

"Ooh! That would be so cool!" Biana grinned. "I second that."

Sophie shook her head immediately. "No thanks. I'd freak out too much and second guess myself and chicken out. I'll leave that part to him." She moved backwards slightly in her seat, which was on the couch. 

It had been a few days since her date with Keefe and after swarming herself with makeup work she decided that she wanted to spend the rest of her Saturday with all her friends, since it had been a while since they all sat around and had a girl chat. So far she had almost regretted it since every conversation came back to the idea of a proposal between Keefe and her. While she loved Keefe and knew it was coming, she had enough time freaking out about it in her head never mind adding the time freaking out outside her head. 

"You seem the exact opposite of excited about the topic of Keefe proposing," Linh commented. "You're turning green."

Sophie sighed and Biana asked, "What's wrong?" 

"Nothing," she tried to dismiss the topic, but seeing the looks on their faces she knew it was not a topic ready to be ignored. "Okay," she gave in, "it's not that big of a deal. It's just it's kind of scary to think about."

"How so?" Linh questioned. 

"Well, how would you feel if Fitz were to propose to you?"

"Pretty worried since we just began our relationship a few months ago," she stated, laughing halfheartedly. "But I can understand your point. Commitment is scary."

"I'm not scared of commitment, at least I don't think I am," Sophie denied. "I'm not scared of Keefe and I'm not scared of commitment, especially commitment to him. I think what scares me is what getting married entails." She frowned. "I mean, I grew up in a world where I thought I'd end up being one of those kid geniuses who would discover some huge scientific thing. Maybe find some magnificent math equation to find the cure for cancer. Who knows." She sighed. "But suddenly I'm in a world where that's not what my future is. It's getting married, having kids, trying to find an occupation I love. It's... Weird." 

"I think I understand," Biana replied. "I love kids, but I definitely don't want any soon. You should talk to Keefe about that." 

Sophie nodded. "I'm being paranoid."

"You're being reasonable," Marella replied. "Just because of how the two of you are we all just assume you guys are perfectly fine and think it's weird you have insecurities and worries, but we should expect you to have all the same problems we have. I haven't entered a relationship with anyone because I need someone who will understand my problems with my mom and who won't be so scared when they look at me just because I'm pyrokinetic." 

"That's insane," Biana cut in. "No one is scared of you because your abilities." 

"Just because you guys don't think it's scary doesn't mean no one else looks at me that way." She shook her head to herself. "You guys are the only people I talk to for a reason."

Sophie could understand her, being that people looked at her the same way. It's something she'd grown used to, but she didn't realize it still affected at least one of her friends. "It's still not everyone," Sophie replied. "I get all the same stares, but it's still not everyone. And one day, one of them will sweep you off your feet."

Marella looked ready to burst into tears. "It's just- You guys have it so easy. You got the guys. I'm still stuck here in limbo wondering if I'll ever be loved." All of them immediately wrapped themselves around Marella, who let a tear slide. "You guys didn't have to look. I just don't understand why I have to." 

"I looked at first," Biana told her. "I looked for at least a month or two before finding I liked Dex the most. It wasn't just him all along. I did find other guys, they just weren't the same. If I can find guys with everything, so can you."

"Honestly, the only one without the initial guy problem was Sophie," Linh replied. "You guys know I didn't get together withFitz until recently. I wasn't spending the months before trying to pine after him, I've been trying to connect with other guys. But all of them thought I was too weird. With being a twin and coming from Exilium as well as being with you guys, I was just too much for them." She frowned. "There was one guy who I was thinking it was a possibility to work something out with, but Fitz stepped in before I gave the guy too much of a chance. Maybe I can set something up between the two of you. He's a really great guy."

"I don't want to be set up," Marella replied. "I want to find something on my own like you guys did."

"Well, first step is getting out there," Sophie replied, glad the attention was finally off her. "Don't think we don't notice how you hole yourself up. The only relationship you're going to find in your house is with your bed."

"It's true, you only come out every once and a while. We miss you," Linh stated. 

"Especially me and Linh," Sophie added. "When you do leave, it's to help out Biana. We want to see you out and about, too!"

Linh nodded along with Sophie. "Honestly, we don't hang out like we all used to. I miss you guys."

"I've missed you guys too," Marella replied. "I'm sorry I don't out to see you enough."

"It's not like any of us are jumping to take the time," Sophie replied. "We could all try harder. Life just gets in the way. I hope that eventually things will calm down for all of us."

"When have things ever been calm in our lives?" Biana asked with a small snort. 

"That's true," Linh stated, laughing slightly. The four of them grinned. "Can you believe we're all adults living normal lives now. It still feels like any second I'm going to be a teenager trying to defeat the Neverseen again."

"I tried so hard to push past that, but with every meeting I go to for my job it makes me feel less and less safe, almost," Sophie admitted. "I don't think I'll ever get over it."

"Well, it's a part of all of us, just especially you," Biana replied. "I don't think it's something we have to get over. Just something we learn to live with."

"I'm just so happy that whenever we come to these moments where we're so in our heads about everything, we always have each other to come to. I can't imagine what it would've been like without all you guys," Sophie replied. "Thanks so much for being there for me." She looked to Marella. "Especially you. You were one of the first people I became friends with, the first out of this group especially, and even though we've had some rocky times I love and trust you a lot. I really do believe that one day you're going to find the person you're meant to be with."

"And even if it's not anytime soon," Biana added, "it will happen. You have forever to get a guy, don't be discouraged if it's not today." 

"Thank you, guys. I love you so much, thanks for accepting me as one of you even after I was awful to you." Marella frowned. "Also, on that note, I actually have to go now. I promised to help this one guy with something."

"This one guy, hmm?" Sophie looked at Marella with raised eyebrows. 

"Jensi, to be specific," Marella replied, rolling her eyes. "It's not like that."

"How is Jensi?" Sophie asked. "I missed him."

"He's pretty okay, he actually just got his first list in last week," Marella replied, smiling. "He's in no rush, though. The guy is just happy to be alive." She stood up and everyone followed her on the action, moving in to give her hugs. "I'll see you guys soon, hopefully. Thanks for getting me out of the house today."

"Bye Marella," Sophie said and everyone else chimed in with their own variation. After Marella was gone the three still there sat and continued to talk for another thirty minutes, the conversation straying from topic to topic. 

"Ooh! I forgot to tell you," Sophie suddenly interrupted Biana while she was explaining a new design she wanted to sell. "The bracelet with the blue and white jewels-"

"That has the knot?" Biana questioned. 

"No, it has the clasp."

"Oh! I know exactly what you're talking about. What about it?"

"Keefe gave that to me as a present the other day and I just wanted to mention how pretty it is. I love it a lot," Sophie told her with a grin. 

"Did he get you the matching earrings?" Biana asked. "Because if not I can give them to you, they're an awesome assessory for dates, especially ones where a certain question is brought up."

"Not this again, I thought that topic was long gone." Sophie rolled her eyes. 

"Well you told Keefe if he was to propose to you he'd have to wait at least one year into the relationship and the ground rule was not on the one year anniversary," Linh reminded. "Well, you're one year into the relationship and he didn't do it on the one year anniversary." 

"You guys are obnoxious," Sophie stated. 

"Obnoxious and your best friends," Biana replied, unbothered. "Just promise we'll be the first to know if something was to happen."

Sophie gave in with a nod. "I mean, I'll probably tell my parents first but you can be the first non-family to know."

"We'll take it," Linh agreed, laughing. 

"Just like I'll be the first to know when it happens to you guys," Sophie added, laughing at the faces they made after the statement. 

"Wow, now I get how you feel. I just suddenly felt weighed down for a moment," Biana replied. "I'll shut up about the proposal, I promise."

"Me too," Linh agreed. "We'll tell Marella to be quiet." 

"Thanks guys," Sophie stated, smiling. They all continued to hang out for another half hour before her friends needed to leave, and she let them go feeling a wave of peace surround her. 

She was happy that she was able to spend the day with her friends, girl talk was obviously needed. 

---

hey y'all!! 

theatre has taken over my entire life. Not only am i doing antigone but my dumb self decided to sign up to do this one act my friend is directing on the side and now i have a bazillion lines to memorize on top of the ones i've already got down. yee haw, proof i hate myself lmao. but it's all worth it because there's nothing like the feeling of performing with your friends and after a childhood of dance recitals where everyone always congratulated my sister and forgot that i was a dancer too, it's nice to have something all to myself where i'm the only one to be congratulated. PLUS i'm being inducted into ITS after this which is my life goal. 

anywho, chapter questions:

1. who's your favorite of sophie's friends? i have a soft spot for marella not gonna lie

2. should i make marella and jensi a thing or should i introduce something new oR should i have her find genuine happiness on her own because she doesn't need to be in a relationship to be happy? i feel like i could go in all these directions at this point and wanna weigh your opinions in. 

3. who is excited for flashback? what are your theories for the book?