The One With All the Sokeefe.

Chapter Eleven: Sophie

"Sophie, if you keep this up, Keefe is going to beat you for the most hospital visits." Joked Elwin. I tried to give a smile, but I couldn't. This joke always made me feel sour inside, like a towel wrung dry. I wasn't especially worried about Keefe, because he had faced much worse. But it didn't mean that I hadn't tugged out a couple of eyelashes. 

"Uh-huh. How long will it be until I can see him?" I asked, tugging another.

"Well, you could technically see him right now, but he won't be conscious. I want to let him sleep a litt-" I had stopped listening after he said right now. I ran through the doors Elwin had taken him into, and for a second I saw darkness. It took awhile for my eyes to adjust, but once they had I could Keefe. He was laying down on a medical bed, and he was still in his human clothes. I touched his hand, scared to hurt him. After a second with no change, I grabbed his hand, and held it like it was the last life jacket on the titanic. I looked around the room, surprised to see how full it was. There were shelves everywhere, each packed to the brim with elixirs. Dex and Kelser would have been so excited. And if Keefe could see it, I'm sure that he would be wondering which ones would make Ro do something disgusting. Speaking of bodyguards, I couldn't wait/feared my life for the chance to sandor again. I assume our reunion would contain a bit of both. 

"Sophie?" Elwin poked his head through the doors, and I let go of Keefes hand. 

"Yeah?" I whispered, making my way to the door.

"Ro's here to see Keefe." I stopped right before I reached the doors, because I needed a moment to prepare myself. Deep breaths. Just as I was about to step forward, the doors burst open, and through it, stood Ro. She was wearing armor from her toes to her neck, and it looked so heavy I was surprised to see her standing up. Her hair was a bright, harsh yellow with strands dyed green. Her nails were long, not painted, and it looked as if she had been biting them. Her rage slowly turned into relief, much like Fitz had earlier that day. 

"Hey Foss-Boss." Ro said, quickly rearranging her face to a scowl. She walked over to Keefe, and punched him in the shoulder.

"I'm just going to wait outside." I whispered, and raced out of the room before she could say anything  else. I shut the door, and as I turned around someone crushed me in a hug. Her hair was a greasy mess, and she was blubbering. As soon as I smelled her, I knew that my mom had done what I asked. How did it go?  I transmitted, hoping that everyone was safe. Lets just say my acting was so good, I could be on RanTran. Another random elven reference I didn't understand, but I think it went well. And Grady's safe? I asked. I knew that Evaline wasn't going to let me stay in the human world, so I had used my imparter and we came up with a plan. Two days a week she would come visit Keefe and I, and the other days she would look for Grady. When she found him, he was a bloody mess. The neverseen had gotten to him, so Grady stayed with us for a week. He warmed up to Keefe, which was one of the best things that could've happened. He was secretly staying with Edaline, while she pretended to be heartbroken. I finally let go of our hug, and it was time for me to do some acting of my own. 

"I am super sorry I left." I stuttered, looking right into Edalines eyes. 

"That doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that you're safe." Edaline swooned, and picked me up into another hug. And they believed you with that overacting?  I asked. 

"..YES SopHiE hOw CoULd YoU?" Elwin gasped. We needed some help with Grady, and Elwin said he was a good actor. Obviously he was exaggerating. I looked around to see who else was here, and if they already knew about the Black Swan. I saw Biana, Tam, and Dex. And with them, their families, not including Fitz. Biana and Tam were acting like there was a glass wall separating them, and whenever Tam would look at Biana she would wince. Dex wouldn't meet anyone's eyes, and was fiddling with some trinket in his hands.  

Sophie. Where did you go? Biana and Dex were both such messes. I felt a whisper in the back of my head, and saw my foot was in a shadow of an elixir.  

"Guys, can I speak to you privately?" I asked. Biana's face went pale, but she nodded, Dex flushed bright red, and Tam scowled. I wasn't sure what was happening, but they needed to know the truth. I walked outside, and prepared myself for a bucket load of awkwardness and questions.