Work Text:
"Hey. It's almost eight, you should probably leave before it gets too cold."
Sophie groaned, "I only have seven more chapters Dex! And the main character just ran away again..."
Dex rolled his eyes, "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you when you're walking back in 40 degree weather."
She nodded, eyes still glued to the book.
He shook his head and muttered something before shouting, "Keefe!"
"What do you want from me!?"
"I'm heading out, can you please clean up tonight?"
"Do I have to?"
"It's getting cold and I need to walk. You have your car."
...
"Please?"
"You make it sound like a request but we both know it isn't one," Keefe complained.
"Thanks!" Dex turned back to his cousin. "You need to leave. You're one of the only customers left here."
"Bye," she swatted him away.
Sophie read in silence for an hour until Keefe noticed her.
"Foster! What're you doing here?"
"Shh... Last five pages..."
He snatched the book from her.
"Foster, it's past nine- get off the table!"
"Give me back the book!"
"Do you promise to leave once you're done with it?"
She nodded, and he handed back her book.
Rather than going back to work, Keefe decided to make sure she actually left. Sophie had barely said a word since she entered the cafe-her eyes had been glued to the book. He and Dex made a game of trying to get her attention when she failed to reply to either of their attempts at conversation. However, after she had failed to notice her drink getting replaced, Keefe's extravagant wig (Dex chose not to ask where he got it), her bag going missing and them talking another customer into doing a cartwheel, they were forced to accept defeat.
"There's no way it's taking you this long to-"
Sophie's ear splitting scream made him realize that she was still as blind to her surroundings as he had suddenly become deaf.
"What happened!?"
"It- Cliffhanger..." She reached into her bag. "Need next one..."
"Hey. Wait. No. You need to leave, remember?"
She thought for a moment.
"It's too cold outside."
He sighed, "The longer you wait, the colder it's going to get."
"You can drive me back."
"Uh... What?"
"I heard Dex. You have your car."
"How did you-"
"He yelled it. It was hard to miss."
She hears that, but misses a bright purple wig 2 feet away from her.
Keefe ran a hand through his hair.
"Thanks!" Sophie smiled.
He rolled his eyes.
"If you're gonna stay back, the least you can do is help clean up," he joked.
"Oh," She slid off her chair and started to tie her hair. "Okay."
"I was joking- do you even know the procedures?"
She smirked. Sophie Foster had been waiting for that exact moment for weeks.
"Yeah. I worked her for three years."
"YOU WHAT!? You never told me that!"
She shrugged, "Never came up. I can sweep."
He was still recovering.
How hard could that be to slip into a conversation!?
"Uh. Still. The manager-"
"Is my uncle. He probably trusts me with this place more than you."
"What!?"
"I can't believe Dex never told you!" She laughed.
"What does Dex- Crap! His dad owns the place!?"
She began to laugh even harder.
"I'll give you a minute. I know where the supplies are."