Lost ~ A KOTLC Story

Part 14

*Sophie*

I'm at home. I just came home about 40 minutes ago. I ate an apple and some popcorn and now I'm laying in bed and looking up at my bare ceiling.

I get a wave of an emotion. Loneliness. I feel lonely.

Grady and Edaline went out for date night. I'm the only one home now. Not even Iggy is here. At the moment, I even wish I had Vertina for company.

The tears I've tried to hold back pour down my face like a waterfall. I let them flow.

After a few minutes of letting it out my breathing slows, and I grab a glass of coconut water. Its super hydrating and tastes like an island.

I then come up with an idea. I should go to the Sencen home, I don't feel like being alone right now.

I debate if I should call Keefe first but then I decide its more fun to surprise him.

So, I wash off my face with acne scrub and cold water, then after debating with myself for a minute, I apply a light layer of mascara.

I wish I could light leap to his place but instead I sigh as I put the key in the lock and walk the block to where the crosstown bus which will arrive in two minutes.

I pop in my earbuds and listen to calming music.

When the bus arrives, I mount it and push my card against the scanner.

Fifteen minutes later- there are a lot of stops- I say thank you to the driver and step off the bus.

I walk up the paved path to the Sencen's door. The grass is cut pristinely and the outside looks like it was recently power washed, which is probably Lord Cassius' doing.

"Who's there?" A crisp voice questions. I know Lord Cassius can see me through the camera that sticks out from above the door frame, but I respond anyway, "it's Sophie Foster."

"Hello Miss Foster," He opens the door and gives me a sad and chilling smile.

"Hi Lord Cassius," I try to give him a reassuring smile.

"Keefe is in his room," he motions to a room down the hall then he disappears behind a large mahogany door. Probably his office.

The energy in the house feels heavy and I find myself getting teary eyed again. No Sophie, I tell myself, you cried enough for one day.

I knock on Keefe's door, then when I don't hear anything, I begin to slowly open it.

"Dad please-" Keefe starts but then his eyes meet mine, "oh hey Sophie."

"Hi Keefe." My eyes take in his blue, cluttered room. And then my gaze settles on Keefe.

"Are you wearing pajamas?" Keefe's T-shirt says I'm the boss of the boss in bold red letters. Underneath it reads, I'm #1. I laugh. "Don't let Carl see that."

Keefe blushes.

Now that I think about it, Keefe's room is just as cluttered as it was back in the Lost Cities, and for a moment I let myself pretend that nothing did change. That these past couple of months were nothing but a bad dream.

But I know I'm deluding myself as I make my way over to Keefe's bed and plop down beside him. At least something good changed amidst all of the turbulence. I have a boyfriend now. And that boyfriend is Keefe Sencen. The blonde haired, blue eyed, handsome elf that I'm sitting next to, and then, in contrast to my earlier funk, I smile.

*Keefe*

"What are you smiling about?" I ask Sophie curiously.

She surprises me by leaning her head on my shoulder. "I'm just happy to be here. With you."

"I'm happy you're here too."

A comfortable silence falls over us , "how long have you liked me?" Sophie blurts.

"I like the confidence," I compliment her, "and honestly...since the day I met you. You were so unique and interesting to me and I also saw you were fierce, and kind, and loyal. You were...and are perfect."

Sophie lifts her head up and looks into my eyes. I wonder what she sees in them. Probably love. And honesty.

She gives me a kiss on the cheek and now my face is probably on fire.

"That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said," she whispers.

She circles the ring she wears round and round her finger. No longer does she wear her cognate rings that she and Fitz both had, now she has a simple butterfly ring sits on her delicate finger. I reach for her hand and give it a light squeeze.

"I also have another question," she tells me.

"Shoot," I readjust myself on my bed.

"Did Ro know?"

"Know what?" I ask confused. I feel a pang of sadness that stabs at my fragile heart. I miss my immensely annoying and dedicated bodyguard.

"That you liked me?" Sophie finishes

I nod at the same time someone says, "yes."

Sophie and I look at each other, both our eyes wide in concern and fright. I grab a shoe, the nearest could-be weapon.

"Who said that?" I try to keep my voice steady, but it shakes anyway.

"What you don't recognize your own bodyguards voice?" Then out of the closet steps out none other than Ro. I pinch myself. I'm awake.

Then I jump off my bed and wrap my arms around the ogre's middle.

"Good to see you too Lord Hunkyhair," Ro clears her throat. "And Blondy, nice to see you stopped by."

"Hello Ro," Sophie states carefully, "what are you doing here? How long have you been here?"

"Questions questions," Ro waves a manicured hand. "First I need food. It's been hours since I forced your Father to prepare me food."

We follow Ro into Keefe's well-organized and well-stocked kitchen. She pulls out several food items and started eating.

I can tell Sophie was impatiently waiting for an explanation.

"So," Ro takes a gulp of lemonade then says, "as you know the Lost Cities are completely destroyed and only you prissy elves got to leave because you can fit into this human world. Meanwhile, the ogres, dwarves, and goblins are working tirelessly to rebuild from the rubble. I knew there was no alternative but I... complained to my Father tirelessly, because, as you can imagine, I have no trouble doing so, and he was all too happy to send me here." Ro looks at Sophie, "and to answer your other question, I came this morning and Keefe's obnoxious Father was not too happy about it." Ro grins wickedly.

And I feel like one more piece fell into place