Sorry for not updating sooner! Had a lot of things going on.

Anyways, without farther delays, Chapter 7!

Disclaimer: I don't own KOTLC!

Chapter 7- Keefe's POV

"What?! You want me to probe your mind?!" Sophie shouted.

"Yeah, that's what I said." Jewel said, her big eyes never leaving Sophie's. Keefe tensed. He didn't know why Jewel wanted her mind to be probed. There was something really off about her today though. Keefe detected the mixed emotions of fear, confusion, and determination. But why she felt that way, he didn't know. At first, he thought it was just a bad school day for her. Yet when he saw her talking to those other girls in her class, he was partially proud of her and surprised. But for some reason, he had the sudden urge to sweep her away. He wanted her all to himself. And he thought that the madness from her was due to him forcing her to eat lunch with him, though as they were eating lunch, he sense something extremely off. It wasn't just madness, it was hatred. And now, here they were, waiting for an explanation for her outrageous request.

"Why?" Fitz asked, curious.

"I told you before. I know something. It's important. A secret that Neverseen wanted to seal away. And now I discovered the only person who can get into my head. That's Sophie. This is possibly the only other way to know what's in my brain! Please…" Jewel begged, her face desperate. Keefe felt slight guilt in his heart, wishing he could help her out. But all he could do was stand around and watch. He noticed Sophie looking at him for his approval. He gave her a slight nod and a smirk. Keefe liked how Sophie asked for his consent. Even though it wasn't really his call, it just seemed as if they had a special friendship. Keefe winced at the word friendship. That wasn't necessarily what he wanted to be to her, but he knew by the way she blushed at Fitz that he's already lost. It still hurt to see them together and practically flirt in front of him. He doesn't really like playing the nice guy so much, but teasing them wasn't going to help his case. So for the most part, he left them alone. But that didn't change the fact that a one-sided love is painful. Yet somehow, now it didn't hurt that much. Because when he looked into Jewel's pretty purple eyes, he can't help but think she's really beautiful.

"Please…" Jewel beseeched, snapping Keefe back into reality. Sophie looked uncertain but finally gave in.

"Fine, but I need Fitz to help me in case of an emergency. If I'm about to get lost, he can pull me back out." Sophie agreed. Jewel nodded, putting on a brave face. Though that didn't hid the fact she was scared to death. Her hand gripped on Keefe's sleeve.

"Sorry, it's just… I never really had someone… enter my mind. It's seriously frightening." She said, growing paler by the minute. Her small hand was slightly shaking and Keefe gave her a warm smile instead of his usual trademark smirk. A slight blush crept up against his cheeks. So not like me, Keefe thought, embarrassed. Sophie lightly placed her hand on Jewel's forehead and closed her eyes, concentrating. Fitz held her and shut his eyes as well. Just then, Jewel gasped sharply, holding onto Keefe's hand now. He winced. Even though the girl was skinny like a stick, her death grip was truly amazing. Amazingly painful.

"Okay… ow ow owwww." He said, wishing he could shake his hand loose. From the corner of his icy blue eyes, he could see Marella and Dex suppressing their laughter. He would had rolled his eyes at them and scare them off, if it weren't for his hand feeling like his bones were being crushed.

Sophie furrowed her eyebrow as sweat glistened across her forehead. Keefe saw that Fitz was also in the same condition. Somehow, he sense that something wasn't going right here. Just as he was about to say something, he felt a sharp twinge. Keefe drew a quick breath as he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to get rid of the pain. What was going on?! Keefe wanted to get away. He couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop!" He heard Jewel scream. He prayed his eyes open and saw that Fitz had collapsed on the ground, leaving Sophie struggling to keep hold of herself in Jewel's mind. Sophie was panting heavily and Jewel looked sick.

"Get out! Please stop! No no no no NO! OUT!" Jewel shrieked. Keefe knew he had to get the two of them apart. Sadly, the pain was too much to bear. His head felt light weighted and he could see black spots dancing around. He searched frantically through his blobby vision until his eyes met Jensi's, who was standing confused and frightened.

"Hurry! Get those two apart! NOW!" Keefe yelled out. Jensi, hesitantly, ran up to the two of them and tried to separate them. Finally Sophie jerked back, breaking the two apart. Jewel fell to her knees, trying to hold herself up. However, she was shaking terribly and whimpering. Sophie, herself, collapse in a heat of exhaustion. Immediately, the pain in Keefe's head subsided and his vision clear. He breathed in deeply, trying to comprehend the recent events.

"What just happened?" He asked out loud, to no one in particular. Fitz, who had recovered, helped Sophie up. She leaned against Fitz for support as she glanced at Keefe, tired.

"She— she forced me out. I don't know what happened but she pushed me out of her head and created a wall. I couldn't get through to her." She reported, weary. No one said a word. No one moved an inch. Everyone stared at the poor girl, wrapping her arms around herself, violently shaking. Keefe brushed his hand through his blonde hair. He sighed. This was honestly the first time that he didn't want to be an empath. He has never felt this sort of agony. Pain. Torture. Anguish. All from one single girl who's no bigger than a human-size teddy bear. Keefe knelt down beside Jewel, telling her to get on his back. Obedient, she did what she was told. He picked her up and started walking away.

"Where are you going?" He heard Biana ask. He turned to face her with a serious expression on his face.

"I'm taking her home." He answered.

"What about school?" Dex asked.

"Not my biggest concern. It's not unusual for me to skip, you know." Keefe said, attempting his usual smirk. Though he was still freaked out by everything. His gaze rested on Sophie. She looked at him with an understanding face and returned a small smile.

"We'll cover for you. Tell the teacher something." Sophie shrugged, as if it were no big deal. Keefe gave a real grin this time.

"So you've finally turned bad now, huh." He joked. They exchanged a smile before he carried Jewel away. He had to get her home and figure things out.

Jewel didn't utter a single sound the whole way there. And by whole way, he means the couple of steps outside the school to light leap and the couple of steps to enter his house. When they reached her room, she tugged on his shirt.

"You can let me down now." She whispered. He smiled at this.

"Wow, déjà vu man." Keefe joked. Jewel didn't laugh. Not even a smile. Keefe couldn't even sense her emotions. It was like she was dead inside. He gave her a worried glance.

"Are you okay?" He asked, concerned. Jewel didn't respond. Instead, she wobbled towards her bed. However, she stumbled before she got there and fell on the ground. Keefe rushed over. She sat up, holding her hand against her head, blocking her eyes. And finally Keefe felt something. Pure exhaustion and tiredness. He placed a hand on her back and led her closer to the bed. She sat on the bed, silent and shivering. Her eyes were filled with fear. Did she remember something? Keefe couldn't help but wonder. Jewel stared at a fix point, while Keefe sat down next to her. She seemed so small and fragile at the moment, like she would shatter into a million of pieces any second. Slowly, he embraced her in a warm hug. She flinched yet didn't pull away.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Keefe gazed down at her, confused.

"For what?" Keefe asked. Jewel let out a shaky breath as she looked up at him.

"For pushing her out. I got really scared." Jewel responded. Keefe looked at her strangely before letting out a small chuckle.

"There's nothing wrong with being scared. Technically, we all are. At some point in our life." Keefe comforted.

"Even you?"

"Ha, not a chance. I'm Keefe the Great and Awesome." Keefe winked. Jewel didn't smile at the joke and he realized that it wasn't the time to tease. He sighed, brushing his hand through his hair.

"Well, there was a time when I was really scared. I was standing in front of Neverseen's burning base. And I knew… I knew that my mom— she didn't make it out. Even if she was a back-stabbing traitor and my father was a jerk, it's kind of hard to hate your parents. I tried too. But it seems, I always had a soft spot. I wanted to hate them. But it was just impossible after all. I never even got to ask her why she left us." Keefe said, lost in his own memories. They stayed quiet for a long time.

"I think I met your mom." Jewel said, after a while. Keefe glanced at her, surprised.

"You did?" Jewel nodded and looked off into space.

"When I was in Neverseen, there was this one women who looked very similar to you. There was this one day— now that I think about it— where she was holding up a picture and stared at it for a long time with this really sad expression. I think— she actually wanted to protect you… to make sure Neverseen didn't hurt you or your dad." Jewel recalled. Keefe felt angered by this.

"Impossible. She didn't care for me or my dad. She left us! If she loved us so much, why did she attack me? Her own son!" Keefe yelled out, blaming his mom for everything. But once he caught Jewel's eyes, he fell silent. Her expression was dead serious and her eyes were cold as ice when she glared at him.

"Neverseen is not a place you would want to be in. Once you're in, you'll never get out. You're stuck with them." Jewel scowled.

"But—"

"You don't understand. I bet your mother wanted to leave. But think about it. They obviously needed her talent and she already knows all their secrets. Did you think they would simply allow her to go back with her family? Even if she was a potential threat of letting out their secrets? Don't be naive. They'll kill her, or worse, they'll kill you and your family." Jewel hissed, her harsh words sliced through the air. Keefe was shocked by her frosty tone. How could this girl be the same as the fragile one just a second ago? He could feel her emotions fuming off of her, ready to explode anytime. She was consumed, consumed in hatred and anger. She turned away from him and wiggled out of his embrace.

"Sorry, I've might have been too hostile." Jewel apologized, not looking at him. "Just, please leave me alone for now. I don't really want to talk to anyone." Keefe nodded, speechless. He left her be and was about to close the door when he heard a small mumble.

"It's best to stay away from me, anyways." Was all he heard before the door shut, leaving him puzzled and unsettled.