A flutter from Sophie's stomach spread like a wildfire across her skin. Something clicked in her brain, she just couldn't place it. For a those quick seconds, the world melted away and it was only Sophie and Keefe in the cave. Then he pulled away a little and Sophie's eyes fluttered open. They stared at each other, Keefe blushing furiously and searching Sophie's face. Sophie was sure her face was just as red.
Keefe smirked and leaned back, adjusting one of the buttons on his shirt. Sophie sat back too, pulling her hair around her face to hide the burn. Biana, Tam, and Linh sat with their mouths dropped, looking at the two in a mix of awe and shock. The bubbly feeling in Sophie's stomach wouldn't go away. Marella squealed and elbowed Dex, smiling a little too widely.
Keefe cleared his throat. "I believe it is my turn now," he stated, looking completely recovered from the earlier moment. But when he caught Sophie's eye a second later he dipped his head and blushed—a small movement, only one Sophie could see, but it was there all the same.
"Marella, Truth or Dare?" He grinned at her and she smirked back.
"Truth," she said. Keefe scoffed before settling in to his sitting position. Sophie couldn't help but notice he was close enough to her that she could feel his warmth.
He looked at her and lowered his voice. "Foster? Your emotions are on an actual roller coaster." He smiled and blushed slightly, making her heart skip a beat. "You doing okay?" Sophie didn't respond and instead looked at the sand, ignoring Fitz and Dex when they groaned.
"Hey," Marella said. "It's my turn, dummy. Ask a question." Keefe focused on Sophie for a second before turning his attention back to Marella. She could feel her face slowly returning back to its normal temperature, but she kept her gaze on the sand. She didn't hear Keefe ask Marella a question. Or the chorus of giggles and laughs from the group—probably from her response.
What was it she was feeling? And why now? Why couldn't she stop thinking about it? She started playing with the sand, drawing random lines and building little piles as the group played on. The only thing that snapped her back into the game was when a water bird smacked her in the head, spraying salty water all over her face and clothes. Everyone laughed, and Linh blushed prettily. Sophie sputtered and spit the water from her mouth.
"What was that for?" The group just fell silent, smiles lingering on their faces. Keefe turned to Sophie and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"It was a dare, Foster," he said, smoothly. She felt a blush rise and tried to look anywhere but at Keefe. Her eyes landed on Fitz's face and she took in the pure rage plastered on his face. His mouth was twisted into a deep scowl, and his teal eyes looked stone cold. Sophie felt the heat drain from her face with the concern for her friend.
Fitz, she soothed. He jumped at the sound of her transmission and found her eyes, his face softening a little. He dropped his head as she asked him, have you been okay lately?
It was an eternity before Fitz dipped his head in a tiny nod and sighed. He looked at the sand.
"Okay!" Keefe shouted. Fitz kept his head down and didn't look at Sophie again. "I think we've had enough of this game." He motioned at Biana and Tam, who were... involved with each other and then at Dex and Marella, who seemed to be deep in a conversation with Linh, who was blushing prettily again. He eyed Fitz with a concerned glance before turning to Sophie and sliding his arm off her shoulders so he was facing her full on. He studied her face, lingering on her eyes and lips.
"What?" she asked breathlessly, barely getting the word out. The same erupting heat as before flew across her skin. The corner of his mouth twitched up in a smirk before he turned his head away, looking at his silent friend.
Keeping his eyes on Fitz, Keefe leaned a little closer to Sophie. Her face flamed again when he grinned and tucked a piece of wet hair behind her ear. "I vote we grab some of Edaline's mallowmelt before it's all gone." She leaned back a little, so she could take in his figure. She studied his messy hair, the mischievous twinkle in his icy eyes.
Right as she was about to say something, Linh stood up and stepped to Fitz, offering him a hand. He raised his head and dropped the sand he was playing with, wiping his hand on his pants before offering Sophie a grin and taking Linh's hand. All of the butterflies in Sophie's stomach died. And it definitely wasn't because of the way Linh was smiling up at Fitz or how close they were standing. She pulled him by the hand towards the mouth of the cave, both of them trying to not trip over Biana—who was practically sitting on Tam— and her long flowy dress.
"Hey Bangs Boy," Keefe said, his voice amplified by the cave. "Can't you two do that somewhere else?" Tam pulled away from Biana, grinning wildly. Sophie didn't think she'd ever seen him that happy.
"Can't you be annoying somewhere else?" Tam shot back, ignoring when Linh flicked him on the head as she walked by. Keefe scoffed and turned his focus back to Sophie, keeping his eyes on her face as he stood up and brushed off his pants. Then he offered Sophie a hand up. Hesitantly, she took it. They walked past Biana and Tam, leaving them, Dex, and Marella still in the cave. Further up on the cliff trail, Linh and Fitz walked together. Sophie noted that they were close, but not touching, and Linh had Fitz's cape over her shoulders. She shoved a bubbling angry-tingly feeling back into the depths of her mind, and focused on something that has been prodding her brain ever since Keefe has said anything.
"Where were you again?" This time the curiosity that had flamed the question wasn't there; it was replaced with a delicate concern.
"Do you really want to know?" He turned to look at Sophie, and his face had twisted into a grim expression. The Exillium boy surfaced again. The scared, broken look in Keefe's eyes made Sophie want to forget she asked. Before she nodded, she laced her hand through his and offered a reassuring smile.
Keefe sighed. "I actually don't know how you will take this, but please just don't be angry." He waited until she nodded again. The crunching of gravel and rocks on the path filled the short silence before Keefe took a shaky breath and blurted the words that Sophie hoped she wouldn't hear.
"I've been working with the Black Swan." A wave of rage hit Sophie like a wall. She quickly pulled her hand from Keefe's, saving him from the direct emotions. They stopped walking.
"Please, Sophie. I know how you feel. I just…" he trailed off and his eyes got misty.
"Keefe," Sophie pressed. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" She realized the hidden aspect of his whereabouts was the only reason she was mad. Otherwise, she was grateful he was alive and stubbornly proud of him for helping the organization.
He dropped his head before explaining, "Because Forkle asked me not to. He wanted to make sure you didn't get involved—and hey, don't roll your eyes—because of...everything that's been happening." Sophie caught his misstep, and Keefe seemed to know it. She let it slip for now, and grabbed his hand again.
"You can trust me, Keefe." He grinned, and the seriousness in his face let up.
"I'm well aware, Foster." He grabbed her hand again and they re-started walking. "But I did want to tell you, FYI. I'm pretty sure Ro's ears were about to bleed from all my whining." Sophie had to laugh at that.
"Ro is still around?" She asked. Keefe nodded.
"She couldn't get enough of me. Plus, my mom—" He stopped short and his eyes got misty again. "Stupid ocean," he muttered, wiping them. Sophie felt the worry rise in her throat again, but it vanished when they passed the gate and started along the pastures.
"My mom wanted her to stick around for me, 'incase I ever needed a hunk of orge in anyone's way'." He made air quotes around the words, trying to make a joke out of it, like usual. But Sophie noticed the way his voice cracked as he mentioned his mom or the way the 'ocean' made him look like he was about to cry.
Did something happen at the Black Swan that Sophie didn't know about? Keefe hadn't ever mentioned his mom without sounding angry or betrayed. Sophie was just about to say something to him when Edaline stepped onto the porch and waved them in for dinner. Remembering that four of her friends were still in the cave, she poked Keefe in the ribs.
"We should go get the four that are still down there," she said, watching Fitz and Linh walk into her house. Keefe sighed, and turned back down the path. When they reached the top of the cliff near the gate, Keefe scooped Sophie up by her knees and shoulders. Her dress spilled over his arms and blew around his face. He smirked at her and she shook her head hopelessly, trying to stop him from a round two.
But, to her disapproval, Keefe launched them off the cliff together for a second time that night and they landed in the cave almost right on top of Dex.
He rubbed his forehead with his hand and scowled at Keefe, somehow knowing it was his idea.
Keefe responded by helping everyone up—including Tam—and told them it was time for dinner. They all made their way back up to the house where a crowd of people laughed and chatted happily. As stated, Linh sat next to Tam with Biana next to him.
For the first time in a while, Sophie felt relieved to be with all of her friends in the same place. Normally, it meant that they were in trouble.
But, tonight, it meant that they were happy.
A/N: Trust me this is not the end! I am SUUUUPER sorry for the huge wait. Extremely. From the bottom of my heart, and I mean it. I honestly have had so much to do these past months (has it actually been MONTHS?) and I haven't had much time for writing. This, is why I have written a less cliff-hangy chapter that is an end to a good day but NOT to the story. I definitely have more in store for you guys and this time it will not be such a long wait. Low key mad at myself right now. Alright, thank you for believing in me. Again, SO SORRY! And also, I know that I didn't explain much and I should've, but I will get there later on. No spoilers! Love you guys!
