Hey, it's FandomQueen713 (more like Queen of Procrastinating am I right?! XD *crickets chirp*) and here's the second part of Living in a Fantasy.
First, let me just say: Thank you all so much for the support, favorites, follows, and reviews. I've kind of been in a writing slump, and just lazy I guess, but I truly am sorry for the very long procrastination. That being said, I finally looked at the reviews yesterday and got inspired to keep writing this, so I guess you all can thank yourselves for reviewing (or hate yourselves for it, as now I'm finally updating XD).
Anyways, I'll stop wasting your time. As I said earlier, this is entirely in Keefe's POV.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Keefe Sencen is too precious for anyone, and only a truly talented author could come up with this beautiful child (*squeals like the fangirl I am*). As Shannon Messenger is the only one talented enough to create such a perfect being, and I lack said talent, all characters and rights all go to her. I only came up with the trash plot line, and the trash disclaimer that's taking up all of your time XD.
"-and there's your muffin. Hope to see you again soon at Sweet Treats! And your daughter too, of course." Keefe winked at the small girl, hiding behind her mom's legs. She shyly smiled up at him, before walking with her mother outside. Keefe sighed, a sigh of neither sadness or reminisce, before turning and busying himself with the display.
Fitz rolled his eyes at Keefe, smirking at him. "You're such a flirt, you know that?"
Keefe grinned. "Hey, not my fault I'm not one of the oh so desirable Vackers." He scrunched up his face, clasping his hands, mocking the girls who had thrown themselves at Fitz when trying to ask him to go to the homecoming in high school. Fitz laughed, his face reddening slightly.
"You're unbearable."
"But you love me."
"Yep, burden of being your best friend, I suppose."
Keefe and Fitz continued their joking banter. Jokes, laughs, casual smiles- Keefe was pretty good with that. He was good with covering up emotions with light humor, and his mind could come up with retorts pretty quickly. It was a system he had become good at, probably the reason Keefe had earned his role as the joker of each friend group, albeit he wasn't really in many friend groups.
The bell above the door jingled, signifying another entrance. This one would probably be the last customer before Keefe took his break, and Fitz closed up.
"Hey, welcome to Sweet Treats, what can I get- oh hey!" The blonde friend Of Fitz and Biana was there, smiling slightly at Keefe. "You're Sophie, right?" Keefe knew her name was Sophie, had probably spent a little too much time thinking about her since he first met her about a week ago, but better to not seem like he obsessed over her. Which of course he didn't. Keefe Sencen never obsessed over others, of course not.
... okay, so he might have thought about her a lot, and might have realized that a lot of basis for the new series of paintings he had started might have had to do with her, but it was just admiration. What else could it be?!
A crush. You have a crush on her, not that it'll matter, since she clearly isn't into you like that.
Sophie was staring at him, chocolate brown eyes making contact with his pale blue ones, locks of hair pulled into a low ponytail, a teasing smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. Keefe shook his head slightly, trying to clear his thoughts. 'I'm sorry, what was that?" He asked, realizing that he had probably missed what she had said.
Sophie laughed slightly, her laugh light and airy. "i said, yeah, I'm Sophie. I'm just here for Fitz, our friend group is heading to the arcade, Fitz voluntarily offered to drive, so here I am." She paused, her hand drifting to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sure you can join us if you want, Keefe." She remembered his name too?! Oh wait, he was in his uniform, she probably just scanned his name tag.
Get it together, Sencen. Stop living up to your dad's disappointments. Sophie is here for Fitz, not you, don't let this crush get the better of you.
Keefe cleared his throat, head bobbing. "Sure, I'm free.." He sensed an awkward silence forming, and after a glance at the door, deciding that no one else would be coming, Keefe removed the key from his pocket, tossing the ring of keys into the container on the back counter.
Well, that's what he hoped would happen. What actually happened was he missed, and the key slid off the edge of the counter, into the trash can.
Keefe felt his face redden as Sophie snorted. "Great aim," she added teasingly, her eyes twinkling with humor. Keefe returned the sentiment, a light smirk gracing his face as he retrieved the key and held it out to Sophie. "Well if it's so great, Foster, why don't you show me your skills." Sophie started to make some protesting noises, but Keefe cut her off. "Chicken, I see?" Keefe realized too late that he had said Sophie's last name, and had never been told that by her (he'd found out through Fitz when he casually asked, Fitz, being oblivious as he was, didn't realize why Keefe had asked), but Sophie wasn't fazed.
She held back a smile, snatching the keys from him. Keefe stepped aside, allowing her the chance at a clear shot. She scanned the distance between her and the container, before chucking it at Keefe's chest, hard. She burst into laughter, as Keefe caught the keys, unable to resist smiling at her.
God, she was pretty when she laughed.
"Are you sure you were aiming for me, Foster?" Keefe teased, after placing the key into the container and returning back to Sophie. "Was it your 'great aim' that got the keys to hit me?"
Sophie shrugged between laughs. "I don't know, maybe give me a second chance and we'll find out." Keefe grinned, running a few fingers through his hair. It seemed the laughter had led Fitz out of the back room, and he finally announced his presence.
"Done flirting yet, I'm pretty sure we have an arcade to go to." Sophie's face flushed with color at that, as she straightened up. Fitz was clearly joking, his movements light and fluid, but Keefe couldn't help but wonder if Fitz knew.
Sophie cleared her throat. "I invited Keefe to come to the arcade with us, hope you don't mind?"
"Why would I mind my best friend coming to an arcade with us? Beats spending time with just my sister's lame friend group for company." Sophie shoved him jokingly, grinning.
"Great, how much longer until we can go? I've been here at least a half hour already." She said, leaning against the table as she watched Fitz start to close up. Keefe looked back at Fitz, noting the food that had spilled earlier, how disorganized the back room was, and how much more time it would take to sweep the floor.
Clearing his throat, Keefe glanced back towards Sophie. "If you want, I can drive you over there to meet with your friends, and Fitz can meet us later?" He internally kicked himself for the offer. He was an idiot for offering, but couldn't take back the words now.
Maybe Dad was right. I'm not meant to become anything, might as well stop tricking myself into thinking I can be. It would save a lot of time..
"Yeah, if Sophie's okay with it, go for it," Fitz said a little disinterestedly, as he started organizing the shelves. "No point keeping you both here, I'm the only one supposed to close up today."
Keefe turned towards Sophie, and she nodded. It was a little strange, considering how little they knew each other, but it seemed Sophie trusted that Fitz had good friends.
Wait 'til she finds out how much of a mess I really am. That'll be fun.
Keefe waved a goodbye towards Fitz, heading to where he had parked his motorcycle. At the sight of it, Sophie paused. "I thought you had a car... how exactly are we going to get there? Two of us?"
Keefe tilted his head. "Scared? Don't worry, we can fit. Here." He handed her his helmet, watching as she hesitantly put it on. "There's enough room, don't worry. Unless you'd rather I break into the Fitzter's car and drive, this is fine."
Sophie hesitantly stalled. "How long have you ridden a motorcycle? Ever with another person?"
Keefe sighed, before making eye contact with Sophie. "Foster, look at me. I've ridden this bike for 2 years. I've taken some friends on it before, nothing's ever happened. Don't worry, okay? Trust me, Foster, it'll be okay." Sophie stared at his eyes for a few more moments, before nodding. She got on behind Keefe, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso, and they were off.
He drove steadily, and cautiously, staying focused on the road rather than Sophie's hands. She felt her head resting against his shoulder, but other than the sounds of cars and some other motorbikes, and the bits of conversation they had as they rode, it was silent. It felt strange, almost, but this was the thing Keefe liked most about having a motorcycle. Sure, he could drive a car, but for one thing, he didn't have one, and second, he preferred the motorcycle's freedom. It felt more like the bike was taking you places, and while you could steer it- should steer it- it felt more free than being trapped within a car. The feeling of the wind rushing against your face, when the roads were free and all you could see was the open area, the feeling of the handlebar pressing into your palm, and your palm holding tightly to it, it was daring, adventurous, as though there were a hundred different destinations you could choose. If this was life, there was no limit as to what you could do.
Plus, the feeling of Sophie holding tightly to him, trusting him with her safety, allowing him to decide the destination- that felt pretty great too, Keefe had to admit.
He turned into the complex with the arcade, and parked. Sophie started to relax, removing her hands from Keefe, and taking off the helmet. Keefe got off the bike, and Sophie hopped off beside him. Keefe had to admit, he could get used to being around Sophie, he enjoyed this Friday night he was spending so far.
"Dex!" Sophie cried out, rushing forward towards a lanky strawberry blonde haired boy. Dex stood next to a shorter Asian girl with black hair (and really cool silvery-dyed tips), and as Sophie slowed to a stop in front of them, he gave her a quick hug, before pulling back. "So everyone's here?"
Sophie turned between the group, as Keefe leaned against a wall. On the other side of Dex was Biana, and next to Biana was a boy who looked a lot like the girl Dex was with. Sophie looked back at Keefe, waving him over. "So, we're waiting on Fitz, but here's Keefe Sencen. Keefe, these are Tam and Linh, Tam and Linh, this is Keefe." The boy and girl, Keefe could clearly tell they were twins now, waved at him- well Linh did at least.
Great, more people. What have I gotten myself into?
Keefe smiled at them, continuing to live up to his reputation, winking at them, everyone but Biana. Keefe was many things (or nothing, he supposed) but certainly not one to lead others on intentionally. Sophie looked down, Tam scowled at him, but the rest continued their conversation. Sophie excitedly joined in talking with everyone, gesturing with her hands something that clearly enthralled her, and Keefe faded into the background. Of course, he was an outsider in this group, his only connection was Fitz, who wasn't even here yet. Keefe admired Sophie's raw joy and delight, pulling out a scrap of paper and a pen from his back pocket, subconsciously sketching something. He had stupidly left his sketchbook at the art center, though maybe it was better that he did, otherwise Fitz would find out that he drew and never live him down for it. Keefe let the voices blur around him, forgot about his parents, his bad boy with daddy issues reputation, and didn't look up as he sketched.
What could he say? Drawing spoke where words failed for him. Oh, Keefe was good at talking, that was true. He could change subjects with ease, avoid awkwardness and touchy subjects, he was good with that. But art, art made you feel things, pulled at the emotions buried within and pulled it out. Keefe's words, they were designed to do the opposite, to bury his own feelings within, lighten up the mood and cover everything else.
Art was chaos, but controlled chaos. It wasn't really made of just paint or pastel, no it was sewn with threads of emotions and feelings, and the goal was to capture that in the picture.
Maybe that was why Keefe usually drew things he was tied to, closely connected with. Things that meant a lot to him. There had been paintings of a boy who was made up of broken pieces that looked like glass. There were sketches of a garden filled with all of his mother's favorite flowers, as though to commemorate what the garden at his house would have looked like had his mom stayed with them. And of course, there were pictures of Sophie.
Many, many pictures of Sophie. To be fair, he had went to the art center several times this past week, but god, Keefe had drawn a lot of her, or a lot of pictures that had come from ideas of her. The angelic girl on that cliff was one, true, though he hadn't finished even sketching that one yet, there was something missing. But so many unfinished sketches were started with a blonde girl, or brown eyes reflecting off a window, just- ideas, that all came back to Sophie.
He had thrown most away, they were just sketches after all, but in each one, there was something missing. Maybe because Keefe didn't yet understand her yet, completely. Maybe because he needed more insight on it, or maybe because it was some way of telling Keefe to move on, to just move on from this girl who seemed to haunt all the pictures, who was somehow always buried in the back of his mind, this angel who came out and spoke in every sketch Keefe started, in the art that came from his emotions.
The girl who kept showing up in both his dreams, and on paper, the girl who showed up in everything involving his heart.
Keefe hated it. He hated how she was such a huge part of him already, how there was no way to escape that. He hated that she unintentionally tugged at his heart strings, how a smile from her could make him forget everything else. He hated that it was so much harder to come up with words around her.
He hated that he didn't want to lose that part of him. ever.
So... that's the end of Chapter 2!
I know, I know, this was more of a filler chapter, and I'm sorry, but I hope it gave you all a little more insight on Keefe.
I've been told my writing style has changed, idk if it's better or worse, but um, hopefully you enjoyed? XD
Anyways, on to the reviews!
booksaremylife: First, your username is great XD. And thank you! Yeah, I always imagined Keefe as really observant, being an Empath, but also from his experiences at home and everything. Plus, his photographic memory, lol. And yep, Sophie definitely did wince, but it's alright, I'm sure Keefe will fill any place in her heart she intended Fitz to fill ;). Thank you so much for your review, I look forward to another one soon! *hug*
Elover05: Here's the next update, sorry you had to wait a while. Hopefully, you loved this one just as much, sorry if it's trash! XD I look forward to hopefully another review
lovekotlc: Omgs, wow, that means a lot to me! I'm surprised that a hardcore Sophitz shipper enjoyed the story, hopefully you enjoy this part too? And *evil laughter* what are the chances of me turning you to the Sokeefe side? ;) I look forward to another review, hope you enjoyed what happened with Keefe, though there really wasn't much this chapter, ah.
Maya: I'm glad you loved it, ah, I feel accomplished XD! I did continue it, though it might have taken a um... long while, oops. Sorry, but hopefully this chapter was almost as solid as the first :D
TEAMFOSTERKEEFE927: Thank you! And I appreciate your help, I'm not very good with descriptions, but my writing style has changed and I tried a little more, though when I'm rereading it, it still seems to be a little un-descript? Either way, I'll keep trying, hopefully I'll do better next time? Pleasee leave a review if this one was more descriptive or not, I do want to be better that. oh, and also, I hope you enjoyed this part!
TheOriginalPercabethChild : I'm glad you like it! And I'm sure I will need help, lots, so I'll definitely keep that in mind. Thanks for the review, I hope to see another one soon from you xx, and um, hope this chapter wasn't trash? XD
KOTLC4life: I'm glad! I hope you love the update just as much!
rxhopeeeee: I'm sorryyyyy for taking so long, but I did update, I just suffer from a very bad thing called procrastinationnnn XD
Little Strawberry fruit: I'm glad you enjoyed! I did continue, but I'm sorry it took so long! Agh, I'll try to update the next chapter a little sooner :D
I LOVE UR STORY: I did write more, though it took a while! And thank you, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much!
Anonymous: Thank you so much, oh my gosh. I'm really not that talented, but I do agree, a lot of Fosterkeefe fanfiction is juvenile, I'm glad you see mine as flowing and just- agh, thank you! I continued it, though my writing changed some, but hopefully you enjoy this one as much! Your review made my day, thank you so much, I hope to see another review from you soon! Also, if you do end up reviewing again, could you leave a name or something so we both know who we're talking to/replying to? Anyways, ah thank you so much, as I've said like 50 times by now XD, hope you enjoy!
Keefoster0208: THANK YOU! And I did update, though it might've taken a while, oops! Also, don't worry, Sophie will definitely see the painting, and there will certainly be many more flustered scenes to come XD. Ah, I hope you enjoyed this more!
That's all for the reviews, gosh, all of your support means a lot to me! I hope you enjoyed! Follow, favorite, and pleaseee leave a review! I love criticism, as long as it's constructive! *flings virtual hugs to everyone*
~ FandomQueen13