Sterling Gables glitters into view.

It's been an hour since school ended---it took longer than I though to find the medicines I needed to get---but the conversation I overheard is still fresh in my mind.

I can't believe Sophie and her friends would use us like that.

I can, though, I thought to myself as I rang the doorbell. Stina's dad, Timkin Heks, opens the door with a warm smile. People can say what they want about the Heks family, but they are really nice to people they like.

"Stina and Maruca are upstairs," he says. I thank him and start my way towards the stairs. He adds, "Can you take up these indigoobers? They asked for a snack a few minutes ago."

I nod, taking the plate from him before continuing my ascent. I open the door to Stina's extravagant room, holding up the plate of sweets like a trophy. "I present to thee: indigoobers!"

Maruca hurries over, snagging the plate and stuffing a few of the treats in her mouth. "Hi, Marella," she says through the mouthful, sitting back down on Stina's fluffy rug.

"Finally," Stina groans with an eye roll. She plucks an indigoober from Maruca's hand, earning herself a playful glare.

I plop myself onto the desk chair and shove one of the few remaining indigoobers in my mouth, leaning back in the chair. After swallowing, I sit up, elbows on my knees. I tell them, "While I was waiting for the Leapmaster, I overheard Sophie and her friends talking about something."

Maruca straightens, intrigued. "Was it about the Neverseen?"

I shrug. "Probably. They said they were going to talk to Forkle and then get us for the mission."

Stina gives me a confused look. "What's so wrong with that?"

"They weren't going to tell us. Right away, at least. They were just going to drag us along for the mission because of our abilities." I pause before adding, "At least our abilites." I point at me and Maruca. "They said the only reason they're going to bring you is because they have to because of Team Valiant and what not." 

Stina is still for a second before blinking. Her face turns sour. "Those little verminions . . . How dare they use us like that?"

"I thought the same thing!" I say, reaching for an indigoober. When I come up empty, my gaze goes to Maruca who just gives me an innocent look and a shrug.

"So, are we still going to help them?" Maruca asks. Maruca doesn't like to help Biana and her gremlin friends, but she still wants to help protect the Lost Cities. She's nice like that. 

"Of course not!" Stina exclaims. "They can't expect us to be at their beck and call after all they've done to us."

I give her a look and she sighs. "Fine. After all they've done to you two."

Stina might have been brutally pranked by Dex plenty of times, but she did bully them horribly. She wasn't abandoned and ditched by them like me and Maruca have been. She's changed, though. She's nicer and doesn't go out of her way to pick on people. She only picks on them when they're picking on her or in her way or annoying her or if she's irritated. Mostly, she doesn't bully people as much or as badly.

"But what if it's a super important mission?" Maruca questions, pulling me out of my thoughts of Stina's reformation.

"There's like eight of them. They have more than enough people," I counter. "Besides, what need do they have for us specifically? Wylie can make his weird light forcefields and Fintan's in jail."

Maruca sighs. "I guess you're right."

Stina claps her hands. "So we're agreed?"

I nod, feeling slightly satisfied that I'll be able to deny Sophie something. "Yup. We're not going to help them."

word count: 624

sorry for not updating in a while! i just wasn't sure what to write. i should be able to update tomorrow though.

hope you enjoyed the chapter!