Chapter Text
“Keefe?” Sophie wheeled around.
Her boyfriend stood with crossed arms, a white uniform, and his signature smirk.
“Can’t go one day without going to the healing center, can’t you, Foster?” He joked.
“You know me.” Sophie sighed and smiled. She hadn’t seen Keefe in a few days. He’d been busy moving into Splendor Plains. Sophie was happy he was living with Elwin instead of his overbearing father, Lord Cassius.
“What are you doing here?” Sophie asked.
“Learning, apparently. Magnate Leto insisted I go back to Foxfire, so here I am!” Keefe grinned.
“I didn’t see you at orientation.” Sophie noted.
“Well, I did some training with Grady this morning. But it took longer than expected.” He explained.
“Why? Did something go wrong?” Sophie scrunched her eyebrows.
“Ahh, and you’ve got that adorable worried look on your face. Everything’s fine, Foster. But, um, he wanted to talk to me.” Keefe looked a bit nervous as he told her the last part.
“About what?” Sophie pressed.
“Soooo, uhhh, well, have you talked to your parents about…us?” Keefe asked.
“No, I haven’t.” Sophie replied.
And it was true. Although, Sophie was sure Edalune suspected their relationship through all the sappy smiles, she had yet to tell them it was official. She really didn’t want to think about what Grady would say, though, since he had a past of not favoring Keefe. And if he knew she was dating That Boy?
Pure chaos and embarrassment.
“Well, Grady asked me if there was anything going on between us.” Keefe sighed.
“What did you say?” Sophie gasped.
“I told him we were in a relationship.” He shrugged.
Sophie’s eyes widened.
“What?!” She exclaimed, “Why did you tell him ?” She asked, frustrated.
“Hey, I thought it was better to tell the truth.” Keefe argued.
“But this is Grady we’re talking about. He…didn’t kill you?” Sophie narrowed her eyes.
Keefe’s smirk returned. “Nope. Turns out the Gradynator actually likes me.” He laughed.
“Thank god,” said Sophie, “But I bet I’m in for a long, stern talk when I get home.”
“Sorry..” Keefe told her.
“It’s alright. I guess it’s good that we got it over with.”
The bell rung for lunch.
“Well, I guess it’s time to go say hello to our bffs.” Keefe reached for her hand. Sophie got butterflies as their fingers intertwined. They walked down the hall to the cafeteria together and spotted Biana and Tam at their usual table.
Bianas eyes widened. “Keefe! You’re here!” She realized.
“Unfortunately.” He joked.
Tam just stared at their clasped hands.
“Anyways.” Sophie breathed, plopping down in a chair, and Keefe in the one next to her.
“Your hair is looking shinier than usual, Bangs Boy.” Keefe noted.
Tam’s bangs did have more of a shimmer to them.
“Oh uh, yeah I decided to melt more silver in” He fussed with his bangs.
“It looks really good.” Biana told him.
Tam looked the other way and Biana tugged at the ends of her hair.
They seemed…awkward.
And both of them were flushing red…
But Sophie decided not to acknowledge it.
And neither did Keefe, apparently. Even though this was quite the epic teasing opportunity.
“Look who’s back.” Fitz muttered setting down his tray.
“Fitz!” Sophie exclaimed a bit too loudly.
He sat on the opposite side of her.
“Hiya, Fitzy!” Keefe smiled at him.
Sophie hoped he’d ignore Fitz’s glare, but that was impossible. Fitz eyed Keefe with a hundred daggers.
Keefe sucked in a breath, like he was about to snap him a reply, but he stayed quiet.
“Well,” Marella plopped down next to Biana, breaking the awkwardness, “I’m pretty sure I failed that metaphysics test! But, eh, what’s new?” She smiled, tossing her reddish blonde hair.
“I know, right!” Biana agreed.
“It wasn’t that hard.” Dex sat down next to Keefe.
“Easy for you to say.” Biana grumbled.
Sophie probably failed the test too, but she didn’t contribute to the conversation because she was busy falling asleep again.
Soph? Keefe transmitted.
Huh? Oh, sorry. I was just…
Tired?
Yeah. Sophie yawned
You’re so cute. Keefe smirked.
Sophie rolled her eyes.
Do you think we should tell them about us? She asked.
Do you want to tell them? Keefe questioned.
I think we should. Sophie replied, I mean, my parents know, and Fitz…
Knows we kissed? Keefe finished
Yeah. That. Sophie sighed.
“ME AND FOSTER HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!” Keefe exclaimed.
“Keefe!” Sophie hissed.
“Don’t worry Soph, I got this.”
Sophie turned to her friends. Their eyes were wide and confused.
Keefe paused, took a deep breath and said, “We wanted to tell you guys…we’re together.” He smiled.
Her friends all looked at each other and smiles started to creep onto their faces.
“Oh crud!” Biana laughed.
“Oh crud, what?” Linh came over and sat by Marella.
“Dex owes me so much money!” Biana smirked.
“Come on!” Dex grumbled.
“Wait, what?” Sophie was confused.
“Yeah they made bets on you.” Marella twirled her hair around her finger.
“So…you guys knew?” Keefe inquired.
“It’s not like you guys were subtle about it.” Tam muttered.
Fitz snorted.
Sophie wasn’t an empath. But if she was, she’d probably get a whole lot of negative emotions coming from her ex-boyfriend.
“I’m so happy for your guys!” Linh grinned.
“Yeah, but dude, if you hurt her at all, you should expect a particularly painful prank coming your way.” Dex warned Keefe.
“Now, Dexter, why would I do that?” Keefe said.
“Why wouldn’t you?” Someone spoke up.
It was Fitz.
“Okay, dude, what is your problem?” Keefe leaned across the table.
“You.” Fitz snarled, “You’re my problem.”