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“Oh, by the way. I had a nice chat with one of your co-workers last time I was here,” Sophie recalled.
Keefe facepalmed.
“It was Dizznee, wasn’t it?”
She nodded.
"How do you even know hi-”
“We’re cousins, Sencen.”
He cringed, “Uh… I’d prefer if you didn’t call me that…”
“Why-”
“So!” he clapped. “What classes are you taking?”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Keefe, are you okay?”
“Yeah… I just… Don’t like talking about my family. Or anything related to them.”
“Oh…”
“Anyway, what classes are you taking?”
“Um…”
‘Why didn’t he like talking about his family?’
Mentally slapping herself, Sophie remembered that if anyone knew about a having a complicated
relationship with one’s family, it was her.
Keefe jumped in, unable to stand the silence any longer, “Well, I’m majoring in art, so-“
He raised an eyebrow when she instantly began to laugh.
“Yes?”
“Oh- wait. You’re serious!?”
He shot her an inquisitive look.
“Sorry, I just didn’t peg you to be an art major.”
“What did you peg me as?”
She cocked her head to the side, “I’m actually not sure. Just not art.”
He seemed genuinely offended.
“I will have you know that I am an amazing artist- even if I do say so myself.”
“I hate to admit it, but he’s right!” Dex called out.
“Stop eavesdropping!” Keefe yelled.
“Stop talking so loudly!”
“Ugh. Go back to work!"
“Only if you do!”
Sophie rolled her eyes.
“Trouble in paradise?” she smirked.
“People need to stop picking on me today!” Keefe groaned, before pulling out his phone.
It seemed pretty expensive, but he clearly did not treat it as such. After scrolling for a few minutes, he smiled and turned it to her.
Her shock made him smile wider.
“You- is that the coffee shop!?”
“Yep!”
“You painted it?”
“Yeah. It’s hung right at the entrance too; I’m surprised you haven’t noticed it before.”
“Me either,” she mumbled, her eyes still glued to the screen. “It’s amazing!”
“And to think that just minutes ago you were doubting my ability to hold a paintbrush-”
“That’s a bit of an overshoot-”
“Basically, don’t judge a book by its cover-”
“Actually, that phrase doesn't-”
“Oh no, are you one of those people?”
“‘Those people’?”
“Yeah, the grammar Nazi-overanalyzing-heads-up-their-asses-annoying English freak people?”
“Uh, I wouldn’t say it’s annoying-”
“Oh my gosh, you are!”
“Am not!”
“Are too!”
“You’re acting like a five-year-old!” she scoffed.
“We’ve established this, I am five!”
“You’re closer to fifty than you are to five.”
“So, you’re not a math major.”
“Nope, but that doesn’t exactly narrow it down.”
“True… but going by the whole grammar Nazi-”
“Shut up!”
He laughed. “I’m gonna guess English?”
“Nope.”
“Wow, all that attitude and no payoff-”
“Will you let it go already you little sh-”
“Sophie! There’s children here!”
“You cursed earlier."
He blinked.
“Irrelevant.”
“I’d argue that-”
“What are you majoring in anyway?"
“Psychology.”
“Ooh does that mean you can read my mind?”
“I lose more and more faith in your intelligence with each passing second.”
“Aw, she thinks I’m smart. Also, my roommate’s a psych major too, and he gets annoyed any time I ask him that. You guys would definitely get along.”
“Okay, first, I don’t think you’re smart. Second, how can someone put up with you enough to be your roommate?”
He placed a hand over his heart.
“It hurts to see that you have such a low opinion of me.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Are you sure you’re not a drama major.”
“Yeah. I’m already a fantastic actor, what’s the point of taking classes for it?”
“You’re a fantastic artist too, but you’re still studying for that,” she muttered.
Keefe gave her a soft, genuine smile.
“You’re the third person who’s ever said anything that nice to me.”
“After your parents?” Sophie blurted, realizing her mistake only when his face fell.
“Uh…”
“You know? I just realized-”
“-I work at a coffee shop-”
“-And I’m a customer-”
“And you probably want coffee-”
“-And you should probably serve me-”
“So-”
“Yeah.”