I honestly have no idea what I was feeling with that statement. I don't know if all my insides went numb or if I was just confused. I don't know if I couldn't breathe or if I was just taken aback. Really, I wasn't aware of anything going on. My brain tried to make sense of what he said. How could he not be human? But then another question emerged in my mind. If he's not human, then what is he? I think my brain was overflowing with information. I got light-headed and I thought I heard my name. But I couldn't. I couldn't bear to face Amy and Keefe. And a greater realization hit me. Amy knew. Amy knew that Keefe wasn't human. She knew that there was a whole different world. A whole new world which no one knew of. A world that she didn't tell me about. She didn't tell her best friend. The friend that's always been there for her. And she was always there for me. But she didn't trust me. She didn't trust me enough to tell me. And that's when I let the warmth calling to me, carry me away, as I gave in to the light.
"Fanny! Fanny! Come on, wake up." I was awoken by ice cold water being splashed on my face.
"Aaaaah! W-W-What was t-that f-for?" I asked, shivering.
"You passed out," Keefe answered. I noticed that Keefe was also soaking wet. Amy must have splashed him for telling me. But he wasn't shivering. In fact he was just fine.
"H-H-How are y-you n-not sh-shivering," I asked my teeth now chattering.
Keefe and Amy share a look. Amy sighed, "Might as well tell her everything." Keefe nodded.
"It's called body-temperature regulation. It's a skill that elves have," Keefe replied. I was so befuddled by what he said that it took me a second to realize something else. All the coldness washed away with confusion.
"You're an elf? Seriously? You couldn't come up with anything better than that? Oh! Look at me, I'm a troll!" I teased.
"No, I'm serious. I'm an elf. Amy isn't. But she has... connections," Keefe said.
I reached for his blond hair and tucked it behind his ear.
"Whoa, what are you doing?" he asked me, clearly very confused.
"You're ears. They aren't pointy. And you're not short. And I'm pretty sure you don't work for Santa. In fact, you could pass as a human any day. Oh wait, you already did," I pointed out. The corners of his lips tugged in to a smile which slowly formed into a full-fledged laugh.
"Oh, the stories humans make up. It really is very amusing. And now that you know the big stuff, we can move on to a more pressing topic," Keefe replied.
"Wait, you can't just tell me you're an elf and leave me hanging," I insisted.
"We have bigger problems right now. Like the Neverseen and what they're doing near your house, Amy. And Fanny... I don't think you should be here. Amy is directly involved with this. That's the only reason I'm involving her," Keefe countered.
I looked around the room. I know it might seem weird but I did want to get involved. In a way I was involved with all of this. If my dad was involved with the Neverseen, I should be too. I have to avenge his death. Even though I never knew my dad, I felt a strange connection to him. Even though I've never even seen a picture of him, I had to help. I knew the risks. And you know the strangest thing? I felt like I had been fighting my entire life. As if I was wired to this way of life and was made to be this way. I couldn't just stand by, watching my friends get hurt and watching other people get hurt. I had to do something. And if that's what it took to convince Katie and Keefe, then that's what I'll do.
"Look, I get it. The Neverseen is dangerous. You've barely told me about them, but I can feel how menacing they are. And you don't want anyone getting hurt. I still don't get what Amy has to with anything but I'll let it go. That's not what I'm trying to explain. My dad could have worked for the Neverseen. And he was killed just because he said no," Keefe flinched at the statement. "Even though I don't remember my actual dad, much less even seen him, he's still my father. And he always will be. And whether or not I know him, I know in my heart that I would've loved him. I would still love him if not or the Neverseen. Now, I don't know who the Neverseen are or even what they do, but I want to fight. I know the risks. And if I'm honest, I do want to avenge my dad. I feel like I'm wired to this way of life. So yes, I am involved with this. And whether or not you approve, I'm going with you," I explained, crossing my arms and tapping my foot.
Keefe shrugged, "Okay, sure."
"Uggh, stop denying that I shouldn't go. I'm following you anyway-- Wait what?" I asked.
"Sure, you can come. We really need to get started now and I don't have time to argue. But killer speech!" he replied. I blushed. I stand up and start pacing, trying to make it look like I know what I'm doing. But in reality? I had no idea. I barely even knew what the problem was.
"Okay, first give me a quick explanation of what we're looking for," I told Keefe.
"So, I saw the Neverseen near Amy's house earlier this week. And then when I came here, I saw them in the window of Amy's neighbor's house. So, I think that her neighbor is part of the Neverseen. And I just saw them walking on the street when we were trying to wake you up, Fanny," Keefe explained. I looked at Amy and she looked equally confused.
"So, what does that mean?" I asked for the both of us.
Keefe grinned, "It means we're going to take a little walk to get some ice cream."
A/N: 1048 words!!
