Sokeefe vs. the Matrix

Chapter 4

Keefe's POV

Keefe had just woken up from the best night's sleep he had ever had. Unfortunately, to end it, he had to go to school.

As he got up, he recalled a strange dream he had had. He was again with that alicorn, and Foster standing next to him. He looked down, and saw glittery poop.

What kind of animal poops glitter? He thought. I want to meet that! Maybe prank Fitz with it!

Keefe walked down the stairs to smell french toast. "Good morning, Keefe," his mother said warmly.

He sat down at the table for breakfast and checked the clock. 7:24 it read. He only had about 20 minutes before Foster came over to pick him up for school.

"Hey, mom, thanks for breakfast." He smiled. He felt so glad to have such a wonderful mother. Even if she messed up, she tried her best to make his life as simple as possible.

"No problem, Keefe dear," she replied cheerfully.

He was about to respond, but the doorbell rang.

"Don't keep Sophie waiting!" His mom exclaimed. He grabbed his backpack and ran out the door.

"Hey, Foster," Keefe said, his heart thumping as he remembered the night before. He noticed that she was slightly pale. "You good?"

"Hey, and yeah. I had a weird dream last night and I'm still a bit shaken up about it," she responded.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really."

Keefe could tell she kind of did, but didn't push her.

As they walked to the car, Foster asked, "Hey, um, Keefe? Did you tell your mom about, erm, last night?"

Keefe felt kind of squeamish. That was one of the best experiences of his life! Did she not feel the same way? "Did you?"

"No... but Keefe, did you or did you not tell your mother?"

"Jeez, Foster, I didn't! I swear! Are you okay?"

"Oh, thank goodness! If Grady found out... I don't even want to think about that!"

Keefe agreed. That would be bad. They finally got to Grady's car, and left for school.

"Mr. Sencen," Grady said when Keefe entered the car.

"Hello, Mr. Ruewen," Keefe said. Normally this was where he would crack a joke, but after last night, he didn't want to provoke him anymore than necessary. Even though, according to Foster, Grady didn't know what had happened. He didn't want to know what would happen when Grady found out, but he was sure it would happen sometime. Grady knew they were dating, but he had never specified what the limits of their relationship were. Still, Keefe knew it would have to happen sometime.

"Hello, sir," Keefe said gravely, trying to keep the serious mood.

Grady frowned, sighed, and started driving.

"Anything weird happen after I left?" Foster asked him.

"Nothing unless you count a dream about glittery unicorn poop!" He responded.

The car was left in awkward silence for a while.

"How was work yesterday, Grady?" Foster asked, breaking the tension in the car.

"Oh, the usual. I saw a guy wearing a hot dog costume at Walmart. That was kind of strange. How was your playdate?" He asked jokingly.

Both Keefe and Foster looked at each other. "It was fine!" They both said in unison. Keefe was extremely self-conscious about how false their laughter sounded.

"Hmm, anything I should know about?" Grady asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nope!" they shouted in unison again.

He studied them. "Fine. But please, if you need to talk about stuff, let me know."

Before they had to figure out a way to respond to that, they finally made it to school.

Foster got out of the car first, and went toward the front door to grab her backpack. "Love you, dad!"

"Love you too, Sophie. I'll see you when I get home from work." He smiled. When Keefe came up to grab his backpack as well, he said, "You know, if you ever need to talk, about anything, I'm always here."

Keefe's dad had died about five years earlier. He hadn't really known him that well, but it had still been - and was - hard on him and his mother. "Thanks, Mr. Ruewen."

Keefe grabbed his backpack and caught up with Foster, a grin on his face and one thought circling through his mind like a vulture circling prey. Maybe, they were finally getting somewhere.