Sophie
I’m winning. I can win the whole semester. One by one I push the splotcher into the other students. When I see my last opponent I get excited. Phoenix Spade. Definitely high up on the list of craziest people I have met. That’s saying something considering how many encounters I’ve had with the Neverseen. Honestly, that whole family is out of their minds in one way or another. Especially her though. “Prepare to lose,” Phoenix says. Not today. She beat me both semesters last year but not this time. “Prepare to be disappointed,” I say. Phoenix makes some sort of mocking noise. The match begins. She is using all her strength. I can tell. I’m almost there. Just one more shove and I’ll be the splotching champion. All of a sudden Phoenix does a brain push. Instead of orange goop splattering onto me something black is on me and slowly spreading through my hair and clothes. Did she use some creepy shade freak trick for that? I would think so. “Why is this black!” I exclaim. Phoenix glances in my direction and walks over to me. She inspects me. Her greenish blue eyes linger for a breath too long. “I think I can get it out,” Phoenix finally says. “If I’m right,” she adds. The playfulness in her eyes scares me a bit. The goop starts to lift and come into a sphere in front of her. “Freak,” I mutter under my breath. “Get away from me,” I say. I back up a few steps. “Oh ho. Am I hearing this right?” Phoenix says. “Blondie is fine with her shady friend, but when I do the same things he does I get treated like a monster.” Phoenix looks over at Tam for a split second. What does she want with him? She already has of my friends. Phoenix turns her head back to me and I continue. “He doesn’t use it to hurt me,” I say. “It wasn’t on purpose,” Phoenix says. She looks ready to punch something. I start imagining blood drying around all thirteen of her rings. I walk up the bleachers to my group. Tam motions for me to follow him. I wonder what this is about. We go to an empty row. “What’s up?” I ask. “Not cool Sophie. Not cool at all,” Tam says. “What did I do?” I ask. Phoenix started it. I can’t believe Marella and Keefe are such good friends with her. And what is Tam all of a sudden doing on her side? Sure he seems to be sort of friends with her but not enough to betray me. “The way you just treated Phoenix. You don’t understand what it’s like to have elemental abilities. They can get out of control. They call to you. You can only go so long without using them. That’s the reason Brant and Fintan made the choices they did. They were being treated just like you’re treating Phoenix,” Tam says. “Why do you care so much?” I ask. “She’s my cousin and unlike most of my screwed up family I actually see her as more than someone different, that’s why I care,” he says. “That psycho is your cousin,” I say. I would have never guessed. “Yes and I’m proud of it. She’s by far more powerful than me. She’s according to Lady Zillah the second most powerful Shadowflux wielder and very very strong so if I were you I would take my advice and back off,” Tam says. “By the way, just know that your empire is slowly crumbling,” he adds, turning around to leave. No. I have a hold on this place and I intend to keep it. “How did you keep your connections secret?” I ask. He stops. “I didn’t. The topic just never came up,” Tam says. I just stand there. “Well. Go apologize or something,” Tam says. I walk to my group’s usual spot. Marella and Keefe are whispering. Dex is staring at Marella. She gets up and walks out of the gym. Dex stares at her the whole time. He turns a little red when she looks right back at him. Interesting. I sit down between Keefe and Fitz. Keefe gives me a death glare and moves to Dex’s other side. Fine. “Your girlfriend is fine,” I say. “Sophie! Why in the world are you such a jerk to her? You remember being treated poorly because you were different. You of all people should know what she feels like! If you couldn’t do any good then ignore her. There was no reason to do anything like you just did,” Keefe says. I get up. Actually… I turn around. “Expect Tam and Linh at your wedding,” I whisper in Keefe’s ear. He looks confused. I shrug and sit down next to Biana. “So, matchlist, go,” I say. “Alright, I got Dex as my number fifty three on my second list, Holland Greer as number forty seven on my second list and praise whatever force is in charge of the universe Tam is number twenty three on my first list,” Biana says. “Where did Holland come from?” I ask. “Were you listening at all yesterday? Holland asked out to the- oh never mind,” Biana says, getting up. They all get up. Even Mauraca, Stina, and shockingly Fitz follow. Fitz gives me an apologetic look. Keefe, Marella, and Tam keep giving me nasty looks while Linh gives me conflicted expressions but I don’t care.
