Sophie could and would go to pretty extreme lengths to avoid her problems— that, at least, was common knowledge. Still, it wasn't often that she found herself desperate enough to sink this low; hiding in the bushes just outside the Vackers' place to wait until Fitz left the house in order to avoid him, with Biana on the phone letting her know when it was safe to come in. She was just lucky that she had a best friend willing to match her level of evasive measures.

"Okay," Biana's muted voice came through the speaker as she dragged out the word, "I think he's left the house. Just wait until the gates open and he actually leaves the property."

"And how long do we have until he gets back?" Sophie whispered, shifting to avoid a particularly spiky thorn that had stabbed her in the side earlier. Hiding in the bushes was almost more trouble than it was worth. Almost.

"Hmm, about an hour? He's gone out to hang out with Dex from what I could tell when I looked over his shoulder at his phone earlier. Can't believe that those two can stand each other now. Though," she added, and Sophie could imagine her biting her lip in thought like she always did, "they have been pretty friendly with each other ever since the party. Almost too friendly. Maybe-"

"No time for your theories or matchmaking," Sophie hissed. She almost felt uncomfortable with the fact that the snap in her voice wasn't from the twinge of jealousy she usually felt at the thought of Fitz showing interest in someone, but a genuine desire to avoid the boy. She was so used to automatically being envious of anyone who had the courage or opportunity to gain his attention that it felt off to not, for once. She couldn't decide if that was a good or bad thing.

"Alright, alright," Biana huffed. "Check to see if the gates are open."

Sophie inched her head out of the bushes as much as she dared, trying to catch a glimpse of the giant gilded gates. "I think... wait, yes, they're opening!"

"He should be out in a second, get the out of sight!"

Sophie scooted back into her hiding spot, holding her breath even though there was no way Fitz could hear her. Though the breaks between leaves she could see snatches of his car driving past the gates and down the road. She waited a second more to be sure, then hopped out and dashed in right before the gates closed, ignoring the way thorns tore at her skin.

"Ow, ow, ow," she murmured to herself as she picked out a particularly long one that had gotten caught in her crimson sweater. She tangled her fingers through her hair, hoping she looked presentable as she knocked on the door.

Della answered quickly, with Alden leaning over her shoulder to see who was at the door. Both of their faces broke into smiles when they were met with Sophie.

"Sophie," they chorused.

"Hi, Della, Alden." She smiled and hoped she looked innocent.

Della clicked her tongue as she widened the door to let Sophie step inside. "You just missed Fitz. I'm sure he would have loved to say hello."

Sophie laughed nervously. "I'm sure we'll catch up soon."

"I hope so! You two seem to have gotten closer this year," Della said. Alden murmured something in her ear, and she nodded in response. With a quick amiable nod toward Sophie, he left his wife's side and disappeared into the house. Where he was going in their ginormous home, Sophie couldn't even begin to guess.

Sophie fought off the urge to tug out an eyelash as she responded, "Yeah. It's been nice. I've loved hanging out with Biana and Fitz together a lot more. And speaking of Biana..."

Della made a shooing motion with her hands. "Oh yes, I'm sure Biana is waiting for you. Impatient, that one. Have fun, let me know if you two need anything."

Sophie nodded quickly, gave the lovely woman a hug, and headed down the long hall to the stairs at the end. She climbed up the long, curving marble steps slowly, marveling at the architecture of the house like she did every time she visited. She'd never be able to get over the sheer beauty of the house. It had a regal air to it, with or without the practically modern-day royalty that were the Vackers living in it.

She slid off her shoes at the top of the stairs, and took careful enjoyment out of sliding all the way down the long hall to Biana's room in socks. It reminded her of the ice, but with much, much less control.

She slowed to a stopped in front of the door with Biana's name plastered in glittery letters across the middle, throwing it open without so much as a warning. Biana, used to her shenanigans, didn't even blink an eye from her perch lying upside down from the edge of the gigantic bed in the center of the room.

"Finally," she complained. "I thought you'd never get here." She rolled over to look at Sophie right side up. "And is that the sweater I always tell you looks great on you? That you refuse to wear?"

"No comment," Sophie said as she plopped down ungracefully next to her. "And sorry, I'm still trying to figure out how to face him."

"Ugh, neither of you will tell me what happened at the party and it's killing me." Sophie's heart dropped and she clutched Biana's shoulder, but Biana continued on, worrying at her lip with her teeth as she spoke. "He seemed dazed for like a day after too. Clearly something happened between you two, but after the initial shock wore off he almost seemed relieved."

"You didn't tell him I'm avoiding him, did you?"

Biana raised an eyebrow. Slowly, she pulled Sophie's hand off her shoulder, patting it sarcastically. "Sophie, please. You know I'd never do that. I'm the most perceptive person there is when it comes to matters of the heart."

Sophie pulled her hand away, muttering, "You don't even know that it's related to romance."

"Do you really want to have that conversation with me, Soph? I know these things. Everyone knows I know these things. Even if I don't like people like that, I sure as heck enjoy the drama that comes with it." She got up and did a little spin, the black skirt and purple blouse combo she was wearing twirling with her. "Plus! It's fun to see people get all goofy and in love."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Sophie grumbled, letting her face fall into the throw pillow in front of her.

Biana patted her head. "There, there. You should be used to me being right by now. Now, come on. I'm feeling like... ice cream and a movie?"

"Oh my god."

The sudden outburst from Biana on the other side of the long, plush couch in one of the many sitting rooms they had chosen to occupy for their movie-watching spree made Sophie jolt and accidentally kick her in the leg. For once, Biana didn't snap at her and instead kept her widened eyes glued to the phone.

"What happened? Should I be worried? Is there anything illegal involved?" Sophie added the last question as an afterthought. There were few things that made Biana audible-gasp levels of worked up, and it was probably somewhat a reason for concern, but then, she was a dramatic person.

"Fitz just kissed Dex. Our Dex!" Biana shrieked.

Sophie jolted and kicked Biana again, this time eliciting a small 'hey!', but she didn't bother apologizing.

"What?"

"And he's freaking about it!"

"Oh. Oh."

Sophie wondered where the twisting jealousy had gone and why she wasn't feeling it now.

Then, all the pieces suddenly clicked in her head. "Wait, he likes Dex?"

"You're telling me that this is what it took to tip you off to his crush? Not the Dex getting dressed up more nowadays or the flirting or the giggling at the party or the literal going out on a date, albeit unofficial, today?" Biana rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Sophie, you know I love you more than anything in this life, but how on earth are you this dense?"

Sophie frowned. "I'm starting to genuinely think it's a problem."

"A medical one." Biana rolled her eyes. "Get that checked out, will you?"

Sophie nudged Biana's face with her foot. "Hey, don't be mean. I think you're spending too much time with Marella these days."

"Do that again and I cut off your foot and sell your toes." Biana's phone pinged, redirecting her attention away from Sophie long enough for her to hastily pull back her foot and place a protective hand on it.

"Oh, and he just texted 'and don't tell anyone before you get any ideas'." The look on her face as she glanced up at Sophie again wasn't as guilty as it should have been. "Sorry, my dear brother."

Sophie curled her legs all the way in and put her arms around them. All the mixed signals, the way Fitz flip-flopped between being extremely romantic to her and treating her like just another friend, the way he'd look at her sometimes but she would still doubt because it almost felt like he was looking through her. The spending more time with Dex. The not reaching out to her after the mistletoe kiss out of what Sophie thought was embarrassment from her lack of response after the kiss, even though Biana had noted that he seemed relieved after a day had passed. It all made sense.

Fitz liked Dex.

And maybe her too?

She groaned aloud as she realized what she needed to do now, ignoring Biana questioning the outburst.

Communication had become both the solution to all her problems and the bane of her existence.

An hour later, Sophie waved goodbye to Biana from just in front of the tall golden gates, throwing a glance over her shoulder to make sure that Fitz's sleek car hadn't appeared yet. Biana had said that after much freaking out he had let her know he was driving back in a couple of minutes, and Sophie didn't exactly want to have the 'hey, were you having a crisis over whether you had feelings for me or my cousin up until last week or am I completely misinterpreting what's going on here because I do that a lot' talk in his house fresh from his date with the aforementioned cousin.

"I'll update you on his situation with the gremlin we call our best friend soon!" Biana yelled from the door.

Despite the newfound absence of envy when Fitz showed interest in other people, Sophie was still caught by surprise when she was able to smile and give a thumbs up easily in response.

The walk from the Vackers' mansion to the nearest bus stop so she could get out of the rich side of Eternalia and to the normal-people side was long, and it allowed Sophie to ponder her varying dilemmas more.

The Keefe situation had been more or less cleared up after their last conversation at the rink, and he'd followed it up with an offer to go get ice cream that almost sounded like a date, but something still felt unresolved. She wasn't sure what yet, but at least the most pressing issue between them had been dealt with and they seemed to be on the same page about each other.

She was going to have to talk to Fitz at some point, she knew, but 'when' was the new question of her ever-shortening lifespan. She definitely didn't want to do it with Biana there, that much she had decided. Sophie loved the girl, but there were some things that just couldn't be properly dealt with while in the same room as Biana Vacker.

There was also Wylie, and although he had told her explicitly to take her time, she couldn't help but feel like there was a deadline she had to meet if she were to do this right. She didn't get to say goodbye during Prentice's last breaths, and she refused to screw up their last farewell too.

And she still didn't know when she was going to apologize to Linh. Or what she was going to say. Or how she was going to say it.

At the very least though, she had learned one thing from all of the stressful endeavors that had taken place over the past few months. Communication was key. It was always key, annoyingly enough.

As she reached the bus stop, she made a promise to herself; she would always learn from her mistakes. What was the point of all this, if not to grow from the mishaps?

The bus ride flew by in a whirlwind of bare trees and grey sleet and frozen rooftops as the houses grew less and less fancy and more and more uniform. When the bus finally slowed and she hopped off, she was relieved to be back in a place she fit in. As fun as it was to pretend, wealth was far too daunting of a lifestyle to exist in for long. That was one crossing of worlds that should never overstay its welcome, especially from the likes of her.

She took the long way around to get back home, wanting to hold onto the barren, snowy isolation for a little bit longer. Most people in town complained all throughout winter of how ugly Eternalia turned during the season, but Sophie found the city just as beautiful and glistening as bright spring flowers and a brighter blue summer sky. It was lonely and cold and sometimes it stung her cheeks, but at least it was accepting. Sophie always felt a bit plain wandering through green fields in the warmer months or walking amongst the rich reds and golds of autumn.

Plus, there was ice skating. And for her, that made everything better.

She pressed the doorbell of her door even though she had the house key just because she could and she wanted to and there was no one at home to be annoyed by it. She fished around for the key in her pockets, stepping back with surprise when the door opened on its own.

Not on its own. It was Grady, standing barefoot in the comfy sweats he normally wore when he didn't have to go to work on the weekends. It was his favorite time of year, he always said, 'because you can call in for emergencies during the holidays but there is never calling in when you make someone else do your job'.

"Oh, Dad! What are you doing home?"

Grady blinked tiredly. "Mom's working. Got new employee. Don't have to work."

Sophie raised an eyebrow as he opened the door wider for her to enter. "You really shouldn't sleep during the day, even when you're off work. It'll mess up your clock."

"My clock is a strong one. It can handle a day of misconduct."

"Misconduct is a strong word, Grady."

"So is my first name, but you seem to have no qualms using it when you're scolding me." He scratched his head. "Why do I let you get away with it?"

Sophie lifted on her toes to kiss his cheek."Because your teenage daughter is significantly more responsible than you."

He turned to watch her stride over to the kitchen. "My teenage daughter isn't running a veterinary clinic she founded on her own."

"Then why is she the one reminding you to sleep properly in order for you to continue to run said veterinary clinic?"

Grady waved his hand. "Enough reprimanding your father. Want to go somewhere with me?"

"Sure, where to?"

"Brant's."

Sophie paused, then quickly opened the pantry to hide her trembling fingers. "Will Mom scold us again?"

"This time I've been assured it's not illegal," Grady said solemnly.

"Legality means nothing when there was never a government in the first place, Dad."

Sophie felt a warm hand on her shoulder, and she stilled. "Sophie. If you don't want to come, just say the word. You don't need to force yourself to see him if it makes you uncomfortable."

Sophie wrapped an arm around her stomach to calm the nerves. "It's just... last time..."

"I know. I can't remember the last time I was that scared."

Sophie turned to face him, scoffing. "You, scared? No way."

"I'm terrified, Sophie. All the time."

"But you're our rock! You support us!"

"Helping my family helps me push aside my fear, but it doesn't get rid of it." He met her eyes. "No one is completely fearless, Soph."

Sophie remembered when she thought Snowflake Boy was fearless. She was wrong about him too. Maybe she needed to stop expecting so much from everyone around her.

Maybe she needed to stop expecting so much from herself.

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think I'm brave?"

He hugged her suddenly, so fiercely and tightly that she would have stumbled if he wasn't holding her. She hoped that pressing her face into his shoulder as hard as she could would staunch the tears that were threatening to fall.

"I think you're braver than me and your mom will ever realize."

"...Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Let's go see him."

The first thing Sophie noticed about Brant's house was the scent. After last time, it was all she could think of and she was dreading it again.

But this time, Brant greeted them at the door on the first knock and this time Brant was dressed. This time he kept the TV turned off and played tinny jazz from from a dusty old phonograph. This time, there was already tea set out in the living room and this time, when Brant looked at them, his eyes were clear.

Sophie sat down on the couch he gestured to, grabbed the mug of tea, and inhaled.

The house didn't smell of smoke anymore. It smelled of... nothing. It was empty.

But Sophie didn't mind it. If she wasn't mistaken,  it almost felt like Brant was trying for a fresh start. A new chapter.

A few months ago it would have felt like a dishonor to Jolie's memory, but now?

Sophie didn't mind a blank slate.

A/N: So.... it's been a year (a year and a day to be exact, at the time of writing this [July 13th]). Honestly, the main reason I'm putting this up is because I've had this chapter pre-written for almost a year now and so many people have commented and reminded me that there are readers waiting, and even though I barely have time for writing (well, posting writing) nowadays, there are people who would love to see the story continue.
I don't know if I will finish Ice Dancer anymore, even though I've said and promised so many times that I would (for my sake and everyone who's reading it). This story is very dear to my heart and born from a significant time in my life, but the truth is that I've moved on from that time and I can't say whether I have it in me to finish this. It takes a lot of time and energy to write Ice Dancer that I don't really have anymore. Kind of a fanfic rite of passage, to not finish a fic you said you would lmao :')
but anyway, thanks to all who read, hope this chapter lives up to a one year wait, and I hope to see you (maybe) soon <3