AN: I don't own Keeper of the Lost Cities or any of the characters *sob* I do own the plot though... Review with any ideas!
"Okay, just tell me please. Where are you taking me?" Sophie asked as Keefe and Fitz dragged her down a narrow little street in Eternalia.
"Ha, you're funny Sophie. A surprise is a surprise, and you don't get to know until we're there." Keefe said as he attempted to hide his smirk. If Sophie lived through this little adventure of theirs, she would be sure to get revenge on Keefe. He knew that Sophie was sick of surprises, but he insisted that this one would be the best birthday present EVER! Sophie giggled at the memory of Keefe telling her.
"Whatcha giggling at Foster? You liking the view?" Gosh, she hated when Keefe wiggled his eyebrows like that. It made her heart go all fluttery and she just wanted to… never mind. That was when she noticed that she wahas staring at Keefe. It looked like Fitz noticed it too, because when she glanced at him, he looked kind of dejected. It was almost worse than giving the vermillion a bath.
The three of them just walked in silence for about three minutes more, listening to the sound of their boots on the crystal roads when Keefe jumped behind her and covered Sophie's eyes. "KEEFE! Get off of me!" Sophie shouted in a pathetic attempt to escape.
"Does little Foster want her surprise now?" It was obvious from Keefe's voice that he was smug, so Sophie just shook her head. "Wow. Great way to ruin the mood. I was just getting excited, but I guess we can just leave now and never see it…" Keefe said all sad-like.
Man, Keefe just had to use that sweet puppy-dog voice on her, didn't he? "Fine. I'll accept the surprise, but I don't have to like it.""Good," Was all Keefe said as he led Sophie forward, step by step, to the top of what Sophie could tell was a small hill. He gently slid his hands away, and Sophie tried hard to repress a sigh. As she opened her eyes, Sophie was blown away by the brilliant display in front of her.
Crystals were strung on a million strings above her head, hanging from who knew where. There were tables all along the buildings to either side, filled to the brim with all of Sophie's favorite desserts and snacks. Mallowmelt, cream bursts, and other random things were all over the place, just asking to be eaten. All of Sophie's friends were there, smiling and looking up at her with awestruck faces.
She was just wondering why they were all looking at her that way when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Sophie whipped her head around to see Gradyand Edaline holding a deep blue velvet box beset with gems. "We figured that you're turning 14, so we needed to get you something special. Happy birthday Sophie!" Edaline said as she handed the beautiful box to Sophie. For a moment, she actually thought that the box was the present, but then she saw everyone waiting for her to open it.
As Sophie carefully turned the key in the latch, there was an audible intake of breath. There was a gorgeous set of earrings in the box. They sparkled with the light of a thousand moons, seeing as they had polished moonstones as the centerpieces, and were framed with brilliant sapphires. "Oh my God! They're so beautiful!" Sophie screamed, elated. She was sure that back with her human family, these would be worth thousands of dollars, but it was not as if money really mattered to the elves.
"I'm glad you think so, because I had them specially made. See, Dex helped us out a little bit. When you press the blue gems in the center, they act as a little earpiece, and you can talk to me from wherever you are!" Edaline was practically radiating excitement.
Great, Sophie thought, what if I'm having a really personal conversation and accidentally press the gem? I won't. I can't. I'll just have to be really careful. After all, it was a great idea. After how many times Sophie had been kidnapped, it would be nice to know that she could get in touch with Grady and Edaline. As she smiled up at Edaline, Sophie noticed a pair of almost identical earrings in Edaline's ears, except that hers had rubies instead of sapphires.
Sophie ran up and hugged Grady and Edaline, and then turned back to Keefe, Fitz, and Dex, who were all standing off to the side, waiting. "Okay, whose fault is this," Sophie said, with a slightly annoyed tone that dripped of adoration. All three boy looked sheepishly at her and raised their hands.
"Sophie, we all figured that you needed something special, so I just told Fitz and Dex my idea, and they helped with the party, and obviously Dex made you the earrings. Hat wasn't me. I kinda wish I thought of that…" Keefe said. He had a slightly bashful look on his face that made her heart do backflips in her chest.
That was embarrassing; Keefe could probably sense that. That was the only thing that was better about liking Fitz. Back when she did, he couldn't read her emotions like Keefe could. She actually felt sorry for Dex. It was obvious, even to Sophie, the queen of obliviousness, that he liked her, but she just couldn't see him that way. Fitz and Dex were both like brothers to her, and she couldn't even think of dating them, but Keefe… She could see that every night when she went to sleep.
Of course, it was at this moment she noticed the hand waving in front of her face. "Earth to Foster. You know, it's kind of creepy the way you stare at me." Sophie could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks, and she knew that her face was as red as a cherry. Keefe smirked, and her heart fluttered again. God, this was getting stupid.
By this point, Keefe was staring intently at her face, and Fitz and Dex were just looking away dejectedly. "Sophie, can I talk to you for a moment?" Keefe said, "Alone?" he added when the other boys started following them. They walked behind one of the buildings lining either side, and Keefe reached for Sophie's hands.
A.N. Sorry the ending sucks... I'll be posting the next chapter soon! Please RnR!
