Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-43347423-20200111144721/@comment-43347423-20200213025102

Chapter Eighteen

“Don’t you have something to show her?” Ro asked from across the room.

'''Sophie had gone to the Shores of Solace after school with Keefe, wanting to hang out. She meant what she’d said - they were going to make Keefe happy again.'''

'''They’d been in his room, looking through his brown notebook of happy memories. The majority of them included Fitz and the Vackers. Actually, the Vackers were the centerpiece of nearly every page. Playing base quest and tackle bramble. Pranking Biana with Fitz. Teasing Fitz. Alden telling Keefe how he proud he was of Keefe’s high scores. Walking through a hall with Fitz and watching all the girls’ heads turn as Keefe said something embarrassing about his friend.'''

But a few of them included pranking people with Dex.

A few of teasing Tam and watching him hide a smile.

A few of teasing Ro and talking to her.

And of course his pranks were featured.

'''But so was Sophie. Hanging out with Sophie and puzzling out the Black Swan’s notes. Guessing her parents’ identities. Teasing her. Comforting her. Being comforted. '''

“What?” Sophie asked, realizing they’d been calling her name.

'''Keefe smiled, although it looked nervous. “Ro wants me to show you this.” He turned to his dresser and pulled the golden notebook from the bottom of the stack.'''

'''Immediately he had her full attention. When he’d first showed her his notebooks full of memories, he very noticeably hadn’t told her what was in the gold one. And once he had gilded memories he didn’t want Sophie and Fitz to look at gold and Sophie had seen herself in one of the memories. At the time, Sophie had wondered why he hadn’t wanted her to see it if it’d been herself. But now, knowing he liked her… it made sense.'''

'''“Are those of me?” Sophie asked. She couldn’t help it.'''

'''Keefe fidgeted with his sleeves and his knee began to jog. “How did you know?”'''

'''“Do you remember when Fitz and I searched your mind and Tiergan taught you how to color certain memories you didn’t want us to look at?” Sophie explained. “They were gold, and I accidentally saw myself in one. Plus, Ro showed me a few of them when your mind was broken.”'''

Ro didn’t look the least bit sorry, instead smirking at her charge.

'''“Oh,” Keefe said, ignoring Ro. “Well, yeah, they are of you. And some of those memories were of you, too.”'''

He opened to the first page and a stunning depiction of herself laughing was revealed.

'''“Wow,” Sophie said. This time her cheeks did heat, despite having seen the art before.'''

'''Keefe reached over and tucked a strand of Sophie’s hair behind her hair. “You’re beautiful when you laugh,” he said, letting his hand fall back to his lap. “But you hardly ever do. It’s one of the reasons I joke so much. So I can see you laugh.”'''

By that point, the two of their faces must’ve been warmer than the sun.

'''“So are you, you know,” Sophie said. “Your smirk is adorable.”'''

'''“I usually go for handsome,” Keefe said. “Or breathtaking.”'''

'''Sophie laughed, and Keefe smirked. “See?”'''

“Well, you just smirked!” Sophie protested.

'''“I did,” he said, still smirking. “And you loved it.”'''

'''“I do,” Sophie agreed. “But mostly just because it means you’re happy.”'''

'''“Awww!” Ro said from the corner. “You two are actually the most adorable couple ever.”'''

'''Sophie didn’t blush, and she was proud. Neither did Keefe.'''

“We are, aren’t we?” he said.

“Yup,” Sophie agreed, taking his hand.

'''Sandor sighed. “Shouldn’t you two be doing homework?”'''

'''“Probably,” Keefe said. “But I’d rather do this.” He leaned over and kissed Sophie on the cheek.'''

'''Sophie blushed. How was it even possible to blush this much?'''

'''But the blush wasn’t entirely embarrassment, either. A decent amount of it was just happiness, like the natural blush Linh’s cheeks often had. And when Sophie turned to face Keefe, he was just as red.'''

'''“Sorry,” he said. “I just-”'''

'''“No!” Sophie said. “It’s fine. It was… kind of nice,” she added, not wanting to scare him off. He hadn’t done anything wrong.'''

Keefe smirked, some of the pink from his cheeks melting away.

'''Ro squealed a little, possibly mockingly. Sophie wasn’t sure.'''

'''Sophie sighed. “I hate to kill the fun, but Sandor has a point. We probably should be doing homework.”'''

'''“Fine,” Keefe relented. “But first-” he leaned in and pecked Sophie’s lips with his own. The heat from his lips pulsed from where they’d touched Sophie’s, and by the time the ripples stopped, her entire face felt like it was on fire. “I love you.”'''

'''Sophie smiled. “I love you too.”'''