Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-43347423-20200111144721/@comment-43347423-20200129013036

Chapter Eleven

Sophie pulled her concentration out of Keefe’s mind as she felt the tears of relief spill over.

“It’s okay, Foster,” Keefe said, reaching out to hug her. “I’m okay.”

Sophie cried harder at that. But these tears weren’t from relief.

They were tears of pride.

What a far cry from what Keefe had used to say.

“It’s not worth it.”

She’d always known he’d meant “I’m not worth it.”

And now he really was okay.

“Was your mind breaking this whole time?” she asked, dreading the answer.

Keefe sighed. “I’m not sure. I’d feel myself slipping away. It probably started when Fitz first got mad at you when his dad’s mind broke… I felt like I should have been more helpful, and then it turned out my mom was evil, and I joined the Neverseen, and Fitz and your dad hated me, and you didn’t trust me, and I screwed up in Ravagog again, and then-”

Sophie cut him off. “Don’t ever feel guilty again.”

“I won’t.”

They stood there for a bit, just hugging, before Keefe pulled back, his face red. “So, when you said you loved me…?”

“I do,” Sophie said, proud that her face didn’t even feel the tiniest bit warm. Why should she be embarrassed that she loved Keefe? He was a sweet, amazing, handsome, funny guy.

“Like, like like me?” Keefe said, smirking. Sophie wondered if Fitz had shown him the memory of her confessing to Fitz and he was mocking her or if it was just a coincidence.

Sophie sighed all the same. “Yes, Keefe.”

“Grady’s going to kill you.”

“I know.”

“And guess what else?” Keefe said, yet again smirking. “I won’t break up with you because you’re unmatchable!”

Sophie playfully slapped him arm. “Come on, Keefe.”

“Okay, fine. But in all seriousness, I promise I will never do anything to hurt you. I know I’ve messed up in the past, and at Loamnore too-”

“No guilt!” Sophie reminded him.

“I know, Foster,” Keefe said, but his smirk was gone. “But we all know I’ve screwed up. And I promise not to do it again.”

Sophie smiled at him. “I know.”

“Awww!” Ro said. “I knew you’d figure it out!”

Sophie had forgotten Ro was there. So was Sandor…

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell your parents if you don’t want me too,” Sandor said.

Sophie shook her head. “Actually, I think it’s best if I tell them myself.”

“Tell us what?” Grady asked from the doorway. Next to him was Edaline and everyone else who’d been there before, plus Glimmer, who must have been pulled from her session.

Sophie hesitated, hoping her cheeks weren’t too red. “Uh, I’ll tell you later, okay?”

Grady looked like he wanted to say something, but Edaline shot him a glare and said, “Okay, honey.”

“Looks like someone woke up!” Elwin finally said, breaking the silence that followed. “Let me give you a check-up! Oh, and Sophie? You’d better come too, just in case.”

Sophie sighed, but Keefe took her hand and pulled her along after Elwin. The rest of their group followed. Sophie noticed Fitz staring at her and Keefe’s hands, but he didn’t say anything, and Sophie left it alone.

When they reached the Healing Center, Elwin began checking them, asking them if things hurt. He gave Sophie a mind-clearing elixir and Keefe about ten bottles to take that night, just to make sure he was really okay. While he worked on them, their friends had a lot of questions.

“How did you get him to wake up?” Fitz asked. Sophie could tell he was trying to hide the sarcasm in his voice, so she let it slide as he added, “I thought you said he didn’t love anyone.”

Sophie decided not to say anything too specific. “He didn’t, really. But that wasn’t his fault!” she quickly added when she saw Grady’s face. “Everyone was so horrible to him…”

“But how did you heal him?” Biana asked. Her tone was curious, if a bit worried. But not envious, much to Sophie’s relief.

“The trick with him was to remind him how much other people cared for him,” Sophie said, knowing she shouldn’t be too specific without Keefe’s permission. “I guess instead of reminding him why he should come back, I reminded him why we needed him to come back.”

Keefe smirked, talking for the first time since everyone else had shown up. “Always gotta be selfless, Foster. I’ve been taking pointers from you.”

“Keefe, you need to care about yourself more,” Sophie told him. “You’re a sweet, funny, handsome-”

Keefe smirked again. “Did you just admit that I’m handsome? I always knew you loved the Hair.”

“No- ugh, fine.” Sophie felt herself turn as red as a tomato.

Grady glared at Keefe.

Biana and Ro shared a look that clearly said, Aren’t they just adorable?

Fitz smiled at them, but it looked forced. But Sophie knew he was trying, and that was enough.

Biana finally broke the silence. “So, is Team Foster-Keefe going to win?” she asked, and Sophie knew she didn’t mean it as just friends.

Keefe looked Sophie in the eye and she nodded.

“Yes,” they said together.

Ro clapped her hands. “Aren’t they just too cute?”