Шеннон Мессенджер - Keeper of the Lost Cities

“Which pin did you get?” Marella asked as he pulled out a small velvet pouch, like a Cracker Jack prize.

Dex removed a tiny silver horse with a glittering black mane.

Marella gasped. “A Prattles’ unicorn? Please tell me you want to trade.”

“Maybe.” His eyes darted to Sophie. “Unless you want it?”

“I don’t have any to trade.”

Marella’s eyes stretched as wide as they would go. “You don’t have any Prattles’ pins?”

Sophie stared at her feet, hating how out of touch she still was.

“I think Sophie should have it.” Dex placed the pin in her hand before she could argue.

Marella snorted. “Of course you do.”

“What? She needs to start her collection.”

“Whatever you say.”

Dex blushed and Sophie pretended not to notice. She examined the little horse, amazed by the detail. The back had a tiny digital screen that read: #122 of 185. “What’s the number mean?”

“There’s one pin for every creature alive on the planet—that we know of. Right now there are only one hundred and eighty-five unicorns—so that pin is super-rare.” Obvious bitterness leaked into Marella’s voice.

“Hey, Sophie?” a vaguely familiar voice asked behind her. “Can I talk to you?”

Sophie spun around and froze when she saw Biana. “Uh, sure,” she said as her brain struggled to compute this unexpected development.

Biana glanced at Dex and Marella. “Can we go somewhere more private?”

Sophie hesitated half a second, then shrugged to her friends and followed Biana toward a deserted corner of the atrium. “Um, what’s up?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to come over after school today.”

Sophie waited for the punch line, but Biana seemed serious. “Why?”

Biana looked at her hands, twisting her fingers together. “I don’t know. I thought it might be nice if we could . . . try to be friends.” The last words came out barely louder than a whisper.

“Friends?” The word sounded like a foreign language coming from Biana. Her eyes narrowed. “Did Fitz put you up to this?”

“No! Why would Fitz care if—” She took a deep breath. “He didn’t put me up to this.”

“But . . . I thought you didn’t like me.”

“I never said that.”

“You didn’t have to. It was pretty obvious.”

“Well, I’m sorry you felt that way. I guess I’m not good at meeting new people.”

Talk about the understatement of the century. Sophie had half a mind to tell her that she didn’t need her too-little-too-late olive branch. But . . . she was Fitz’s sister. It would be easier if they could get along. “Fine.”

“Really?”

“Sure. I guess it’s worth a try.”

They both stood there, not quite meeting each other’s eyes.

“So . . . what time should I come over?” Sophie eventually asked.

“Um, why don’t you go home and change and come over after that? You know how to get there, right?”

“Yeah. I have been there before.”

A bit of the old glare flared in Biana’s face, but it was quickly replaced with an uncomfortable smile. “Well, good. I guess I’ll see you then.”

Sophie watched Biana walk away, replaying the conversation in her mind, trying to make sense of it.

“Are you going to tell us what that was all about?” Dex asked, already at her side. He and Marella must’ve made a beeline the second Biana’s back was turned.

“She invited me to come over after school today.”

“What?” they asked simultaneously.

“She said she wanted to be friends.”

“Why?” they both asked.

Sophie shrugged. “She didn’t say.”

“Please tell me you told her to go sniff a gulon,” Dex begged.

Sophie looked down, unable to meet his eyes.

“Aw, come on!”

“I didn’t know what else to say.”

“You could have told her she’s a stuck-up snob and you don’t want to be her friend,” Marella offered.

“Look, I know you guys aren’t going to like this, but my life would be a lot easier if Biana and I got along. If it doesn’t work out, then I wasted one afternoon of my life. So what?”

“How do you know this isn’t a trap?” Marella asked. “Invite you over, then humiliate you. You could be walking into an ambush.”

“That’s not what this is.”

“What? You think she isn’t capable?” Dex sneered.

“No, but she would never do it at her house. Not with Fitz there.”

“Right. I forgot. You and Wonderboy are friends.”

Sophie blew out a breath. “Aren’t you guys the teeniest bit curious what she’s up to?”

She had them there.

“I want details later,” Marella agreed.

“And you’d better not leave anything out,” Dex added.

H EY,” BIANA SAID AS SHE OPENED THEgates of Everglen to let Sophie in. “You made it.”

“Yeah.” Sophie managed a half smile. Despite her earlier enthusiasm, she was having second thoughts.

The gate clanged closed. Somewhere in the distance a cricket chirped.

Sophie pulled on the sleeves of her pale yellow tunic, glad Biana was also dressed casual—though Biana’s turquoise tunic had pink beaded flowers embroidered around the edges and a pink satin sash. “So, what are we going to do?”

Biana stared at the ground as she shrugged.

Okay. . . .

“Is your family around?”

Biana’s eyes narrowed. “I knew you’d ask that.”

“What?”

“I know you like my brother.”

“What?”

“Please. It’s pretty obvious.”

“He’s my friend.” Sure, she liked him. But she didn’t like him , like him. “This was a bad idea.”

Biana grabbed her arm to stop her from walking away. “Wait. I’m sorry. It’s just . . . girls always use me to get to my brother. I guess I sort of expect it.”

Sophie could imagine how annoying that might get—but still. “That’s not what I’m doing—and you invited me over, remember?”

“I know.” Biana stared at her hands, wringing her fingers so tight it looked painful. “Can we maybe start over?”

Sophie bit her lip. “I guess we can try.”

Biana exhaled, seeming relieved. “Good.” Her eyes lit up. “I know. We can give each other makeovers. I have all the serums to change our hair color, and we can try on some of my mom’s gowns.”

Wrestling the verminion would’ve sounded more fun, but Sophie couldn’t think of a polite way to say that. Fortunately, she didn’t have to.

“Makeovers?” Keefe scoffed behind them. “You girls sure know how to have fun. Maybe you can braid each other’s hair and giggle about boys while you’re at it.”

Sophie spun around to face him, and she felt her heart flutter when she noticed Fitz standing next to him.

Keefe grinned. “Actually, maybe that last part is a good idea. You could get the dirt on Foster, find out which guys make her heart go pitter-patter.”

“Um, that would be none,” Sophie insisted, hoping her face wasn’t as red as it felt.

“Eh, that’s what they all say. But deep down girls always have one guy they can’t take their eyes off—isn’t that right, Fitz?”

“Why are we talking about this?” Fitz complained.

Keefe shrugged. “Just sayin’.”

“What are you guys doing here?” Biana asked, shooting Fitz a pointed look.

“We came to see if you guys want to play base quest,” Keefe answered for him.

“What’s base quest?” Sophie asked, grateful for the subject change.

“Only the most awesome game ever. I call Foster for my team,” Keefe announced.

Jealousy flared in Biana’s eyes as Keefe wrapped an arm around Sophie’s shoulders. Sophie shrugged away from him. “How about we play boys against girls?”