"You did what!?!" Biana gasped. "I can't believe after all that we talked about you asked Keefe to give you the letter back. Is that why you have been avoiding me?"

Biana had finally cornered Sophie in the cafeteria looking for answers for Sophie's noticeable absence from the group over the past weeks, demanding to know what had happened during her session with Keefe. Sophie had been avoiding her friends, especially Biana. It wasn't as hard as Sophie thought it would be. Studying for her 5th level finals and spending the weekends with Rina at Havenfield had pretty much taken up all her time. She had made time to talk telepathically with Fitz everyday and heard all about his trip and how the council wanted him to continue working with the Goblins as well, she just didn't want everyone asking questions about her relationship she didn't want to answer.

"Kind of, I've just been really busy. I really need to get to my last session. This is my hardest final and I really need to get some last minute studying in." Sophie said quickly gathering her lunch remnants.

"Cut it out Sophie, you have a photographic memory and this is your Elvin History final. What is really going on?" Biana said a little too snipity.

Sophie looked down and mumbled, "I want to give it to him myself."

"You what!?!" Biana squealed her eyes growing wide.

Sophie looked up and nodded. "When Keefe told me he had it I knew Fitz hadn't seen it and that I finally wanted him to, but that I wanted to give it to him and explain everything."

"So you are really going to do it? Tell him how you really feel? Tell him your big secret that is keeping you from finishing your Cognate training?" Biana asked incredulously.

"Yup, I mean I did tell Fitz I like him, but not all the details or for how long. I don't even know if he realized that has been my secret. I told Keefe to bring me the letter when they get out tomorrow morning and then I am going to wrap it all up and give it to Fitz at Keefe's beach party."

"Sophie I am so proud of you! Next thing you know you will be filling out your packet and getting matched." Biana giggled as she grabbed Sophie to pull her into a huge hug.

Sophie blushed and opened her mouth to say something but closed it. There were still a couple things she wanted to keep secret.

"Well let's get to these last finals. I can't believe you are going to be a level 6 when we come back." Biana said as she and Sophie walked towards their respective classes. Biana looked at their red uniforms and sighed. They had always been together and when they returned from break Sophie would be wearing white. Things were going to change.

*****

"Are you done telling Sophie all about, whatever it is you two talk about." Keefe questioned Fitz.

"Yes, she passed all her finals and we were figuring out to meet each other tomorrow for lunch before spending the afternoon together." Fitz answered, yes they had talked about some other things but Keefe didn't need to know everything.

"I don't get why they make us spend the night here, there is literally nothing for us to do here. Why am I not getting everything ready for the party tomorrow night? This is so pointless." Keefe complained to Fitz while using telekinesis to bounce a ball against the wall as he sat on the floor in Fitz's room.

"I agree but it isn't that bad." Fitz said as he grabbed the last of his things and put them in his bag for the midterm break. "Besides you can help me brainstorm the perfect gift for Sophie for completing her level 5 finals."

"What about jewelry? Maybe a necklace?" Keefe suggested.

"I'm not getting her a necklace, seriously Keefe."

"How about a gadget or something?"

"Gadgets are Dex's thing."

"A picture?"

"Like the one you gave her? Come-on it has to be something bigger and better than anything she has ever gotten, this isn't just a friend gift this is a boyfriend gift."

"Don't remind me. You guys have always been so sappy staring into each other's eyes and all lovey dovey." Keefe teased.

"We aren't like that." Fitz snapped back.

"Yes you are, trust me."

"Well this feels like it is more than just a midterm or finals gift. It needs to be more, I need Sophie to really know how important she is to me. Things have been really good with transmitting but I just feel like I need something to really show her how much I lo," Fitz stopped half the word stuck in his mouth.

Keefe's head whipped around the ball he was playing with crashed to the ground. "Dude were you really going to say you love Sophie?"

Fitz smiled.

"Yeah, I really do. I guess being away from her has made me realize how much she means to me. I can't imagine ever feeling this way about anyone else. She is special and I want to give her something so she knows that."

"I'm sure you will figure it out. If you really think it's love the right words will come to you."

Fitz stopped for a second. "What did you say?"

"You'll figure it out?"

"No after that."

"If you really think it's love the right words will come to you."

"Keefe you are brilliant! Now get out I need to work on my gift for Sophie. It is perfect!" Fitz said motioning for Keefe to leave the room.

Keefe picked himself off the floor. "Ok, ok I'm leaving. You don't need to be rude about it. At least tell me what this perfect gift is."

"Not until it is all done. I need to stop by Eternalia to pick something up tomorrow before seeing Sophie."

Keefe mumbled something about needing to find another guy friend in the towers but Fitz didn't even notice as he sat down at his desk and pulled out a piece of paper starting to list all of his favorite Sophie memories, starting with brown eyes in front of a dinosaur.

Fitz was startled the next morning to hear pounding on his door. He blinked his eyes a couple times and looked at the paper his head had been resting on. Noticing a small wet spot he realized he had fallen asleep while writing down his Sophie memories and had made it to the time he was with Sophie under the panakes tree and suggested they skip the talking. He smiled, maybe that would be the place to give Sophie her gift, then they could definitely skip the talking this time.

"Fitz are you still in there. We were released from the towers hours ago. You missed breakfast." Keefe's pounding mixed with his voice jerked Fitz back to reality. He looked at the clock and realized he had slept way later than he wanted to.

"Yes I am in here, I'm going to be a while, still finishing up. Just head home and I will meet you at the party tonight."

"Ok I have to stop by Sophie's and wanted to see if you wanted to join me but I guess I will see you guys tonight."

"Yeah, later." Fitz muttered through the door not paying attention to what Keefe was saying. Fitz was still trying to get everything put together for his gift for Sophie he just needed to write down a few more things before heading to Eternalia to get the most important part. By the time Fitz had finished it was almost noon and he raced to the leap master not expecting to see anyone.

"Mr. Vacker!" Fitz heard coming down the corridor he was currently barrelling down. "You are the last person I expected to be disrupting the solitude and reflection of the towers."

"I'm sorry Master Cadence, I am just in a hurry to meet with someone. I lost track of time and now I am running late." Fitz stammered he thoughts still racing on everything he needed to do.

"Well don't make it a habit, I will let it slide by this time." Master Cadence said with a compassionate tone.

"Thank you. I promise to be better."

"See you after the break. I hear the council has some exciting projects for you. We may need to amend your schedule, please come and see me when you get back."

"I will, I can't wait. Have a nice break." Fitz said waving and walking quickly to the leapmaster, he knew he still had a lot of work to get Sophie's gift ready but this was worth taking the time. He just hoped Sophie would understand him being late.