Seriously, guys? Seriously? Ninety nine reviews? (I mean, thank you, but...) You really couldn't have given me ONE MORE FREAKING REVIEW!? Do you know what torture it is to stare at the screen, day after day, just waiting for that aggravatingly close number to go up by ONE and it DOESN'T!? That last chapter had 47 views and 8 reviews- Would it have KILLED the other 39 of you to give me one hundred?
Crowd: Yes.
Me: Oh shut up.
Anyway, THIS chapter I intend to get to 100. Whoever reviews first (and is my 100th) will get next chapter dedicated to them...
And a special sneak peak!
On that note, let me respond to my EIGHT (grumbles) reviews!
Eva L: Thank you, thank you. Please do not throttle me. I'm kind of sorry, but not really. Five days is soon, right? Thanks!
Thesirensong: You shouldn't have. It totally does! (Hmm. Thanks a lot for discovering my plot holes. Either his memories remained intact right up until he woke up, or they were slowly deteriorating during his coma, and towards the very end, Sophie's eyes were on of the few memories he held on to. HASKDJFDSK.) Thank you!
Mallowmelt: Thank you! I will read it when I have time!
FastReaderBadWriter: O.o I'm not sorry, but please don't kill me. Thanks!
MeeIsFarrow: N-no! IF YOU KILL ME NOW, YOU'LL NEVER FIND OUT HOW SWAN SONG ENDS! (Well, unless you hack into my account and read my notes. But please don't do that.)
MidnightBunnyy: I suppose I'm deaf now. Thanks!
IStillHopeForSophex: Hmm. I guess I need to try harder then! I wasn't able to research, because mY cOpY oF LeGaCy WaS sToLeN! ! ! ! ! ! ! But anyway, thanks!
FlowerGirl15: Hmm. I should apologize, but it wouldn't be sincere. I WILL NEVER STOP! Also, thanks.
Enjoy! (That struggle when you know you should proofread but you really don't want to. XD)
At first Sophie was convinced it was just a prank Keefe was pulling, so she gave him a disapproving look and informed him that now was really not the time. Keefe shook his head and insisted that he really wished he knew, but he just couldn't remember.
"You really don't remember?" Sophie asked, her voice meek as she felt tears filling her eyes. "You don't remember me? Sophie... though you usually called me Foster. And a whole lot of other stupid nicknames like Girl-Who-Dropped-Bronte-On-His-Grumpy-Butt. It was honestly really annoying... but that was your goal. Teasing me was your favorite activity. Remember?"
Keefe shook his head. "Look, Sophie... or Foster... Or Girl-Who-Dropped-Bronte-On-His-Grumpy-Butt... or whatever you want me to call you... Think I'll go with Foster. Foster, I'm really sorry, but I just don't..."
"What about Fitz?" Sophie asked, voice rising in desperation. "Fitz, you called him Wonderboy? Or Dex the Dexinator? Biana? Linh? Tam- Bangs Boy? Silveny AKA Glitter Butt? Mr. Forkle? Ro? Bo? The Ballad Of Bo And Ro? E. L- E. L. F-fudges? Remember? Keefe, p- please remember! Keefe, t-tell me y-you remember! Please, K-Keefe..." Tears started streaming down Sophie's face as she screamed and pleaded with him, as though that would change anything.
Blue breezes slowly starting floating through Sophie's head. Shh... it's okay. Breathe. It's okay.
With tremendous effort, and with the help of the ice-blue waves from Keefe, Sophie managed to stop her tears. Still sniffling miserably, something clicked in Sophie's mind- Keefe wasn't even close to holding her hands. He couldn't be manipulating her emotions like that- it wasn't possible! Not if he wasn't enhanced. Or maybe the stellarlune made it so his empathy was like he was always enhanced? Sophie opened her mouth to ask him, but instead of the question, only sobs came out. She hugged her knees as she started crying again.
As calming ice-blue breezes kept coming, Sophie could feel Keefe rubbing her back. Even though she wasn't an empath, she could definitely sense the awkwardness Keefe had. Grateful he would try to comfort her without even knowing her, Sophie whispered "Th-thank you."
"No problem, Foster."
The sweet moment was interrupted by the door being forcefully opened. "Lord Funkyhair is awake?" exclaimed a voice Sophie recognized as Ro's- though the nickname also kind of gave it away. "Hate to admit it, but I kind of missed having him around. You know, he's kind of entertaining. Ooh, and look at this! Is the Keefoster ship finally sailing? We should throw a party! WHOO! DOWN WITH FITZPHIE, TEAM FOSTER-KEEFE SHALL RULE!"
"What's... the Keefoster ship?" Keefe asked softly, as though trying not to upset Sophie with his question. It didn't work. For all the jokes he made about ships, even though it annoyed Sophie to no end- how could he not remember them?
Ro blinked. "Funkyhair, you're kidding. The Keefoster ship is only-"
"He doesn't remember." Sophie interrupted. Her voice was hollow. "He doesn't remember anything."
"Oh." It seemed to take a second to register. "Oh. Like, he doesn't remember anything? Like, not me? Or even you?" When Sophie nodded, Ro sighed. "That does not bode well for my OTP."
Glaring, Sophie snapped "Yeah, because that's all you care about. Your stupid ship with me and Keefe. Honestly. Now is not the time."
"You know, Sophie, I'm kind of like your boy Funkyhair here, at least in that respect. I make jokes to deal with the general suckiness of life. That's just how I deal. But it doesn't mean I don't care." Ro lowered her voice, looking around as though worried someone might overhear. "I'll never repeat this, and if you tell anyone I said this I'll deny it forcefully, but... I actually do care about Keefe. You know. A little."
"Um, I'm right here." Keefe pointed out. "And Ms. Fangirling Ogre Bodyguard Lady? Once I remember who the mallowmelt you are, I am definitely using that little piece of information against you."
For the first time since Keefe informed her of his memory loss, the hint of a smile flitted across Sophie's face- he may not remember anything, but at least his personality didn't change much.
"Oh, looks like Foster approves of my plans for blackmail." Keefe added. Sophie's grin got wider- that was such a Keefe thing to say.
"Who's blackmailing who?" asked Elwin, walking into the Healing Center. "Or should I pretend I didn't hear that? Oh- Keefe, you're awake! How are you?"
"Amnesic, but otherwise perfectly well, thank you." Keefe answered.
"Well, if there's nothing physically wrong with you, I guess my job is done. You're free to go home. And don't worry, I'm sure Sophie's Moonlark powers will get you your memories back in no time.
Sophie aggressively attacked her eyelashes. "Stop putting all the pressure on me!"
Keefe nudged her. "It's okay. Even if you can't get my memories back with your Moonlark powers, whatever the mallowmelt those are, I'm sure we'll find a way. Maybe if we go to my house some memories will trigger?"
"I guess." Sophie replied shakily. "It's worth a try."
"To the Waves Of Wimpiness!" Ro declared, but it seemed like her heart wasn't really in the joke.
Keefe found a home crystal still around his neck and held it up to the light. The three of them joined hands, and as Elwin waved goodbye they leaped to the Waves Of Wimpi- Sorry, Shores Of Solace.
Keefe rang the bell, and after an obnoxiously long wait, Lord Sassius- Cassius- opened the door. "Keefe! This is a surprise. You're awake from your... coma?"
"Really?" Sophie said, voice suddenly laced with venom. "You knew he was asleep? I wasn't aware. Based on the number of times you visited him in the Healing Center, I'd say you forgot about his very existence." Sophie took a deep, raggedy breath, trying not to lose control of her emotions and start inflicting- though honestly, Cassius probably deserved it.
Keefe tilted his head to the side. "Hmm. I don't recognize you, but I would say we're probably related. And I get the feeling I really don't like you, you know?"
Lord Cassius glared at Keefe. "Will you stop it with your stupid pranks? Ungrateful child."
"Correction: I definitely don't like you." Keefe corrected.
"It's not a prank." Sophie interrupted before the two Sencens could murder each other- because to be honest, that's kind of likely. "He's actually lost his memory. We were hoping that being at the Waves of- um, Shores of Solace- would help trigger Keefe's memories. And you know, you could be a little happy he's awake, and a little disappointed he forgot everything."
Cassius sighed and rubbed his temples. "You do remember what I told you about love, Miss Foster?"
"Yes." Sophie snarled, anger rising. "I also remember thinking it's absolutely stupid. And that you're an awful person for believing it."
Keefe fanned the air. "Wow. I have no idea what you two are talking about, but I can feel some serious anger vibes from Miss F. Like, oh my mallowmelt that's intense. I'm totally rooting for Foster, by the way."
Cassius lifted an eyebrow. "You're sure he lost his memory?"
"He lost his memory, not his personality. Sorry to disappoint." Sophie snapped- but her anger at Cassius was easing just a little, and her mood was improving- the more Keefe seemed like himself, the more likely it was that he would regain his memories.
Keefe grinned a little, evidently happy that Sophie was happier. "Well, time to live with Lord Pretentious and Ms. Fangirling Ogre Bodyguard Lady, and hope my memories come back," he announced. Keefe turned to face Sophie and extended a hand. "Sophie Foster, it was a pleasure re-meeting you."
Sophie knew he expected a handshake- but she couldn't help but hug him. Keefe's eyebrows lifted in surprise, but he didn't push her off. Only after Lord Cassius cleared his throat and Ro said something that sounded oddly like "Asdfghjkl!" did they separate.
"Bye, Keefe." Sophie said quietly, holding up her crystal.
"See you soon, Foster!" Keefe called, waving as she glittered away.
Hehe. You still hate me, I expect. As- as you should *resumes crying*
But hopefully that chapter was okay? I added some angst- b-but ALSO SOME FLUFF! And RO! Ro made it infinitely better, right? Right? RIGHT?
Anywayyyyyy...
I am SUPER excited for next chapter. And the one after is even better!
I'm also quite excited to make it to 100. Remember, if you're my 100th, you get a special surprise, so be sure to review!