Unknown - A KOTLC Fanfic

Chapter 21: Keefe

"Hey what are you doing here, Keefe?" Sophie asked, sounding nervous.

Why would she be feeling nervous around him?

Maybe...

"Sophie, I'm not like Fitz okay? I know you are just talking to Dex as friends and I totally respect that. You don't need to worry okay?" Keefe said, stepping closer to her. One step at a time.

Dex shrunk back. "I... need to go do... something."

Sophie looked up at Dex and smiled, "It's okay Dex. You can leave. I'll see you at school soon!"

After Dex disappeared, Sophie turned to face him again.

She really looked cute when she was worried...

Keefe blew out a breath, "I just came to say that I'm so sorry for what went down yesterday. I didn't mean to throw you under the bus."

"Hey!" Grady interrupted.

Keefe didn't notice that he was there.

Perfect.

"Sorry, Grady but it's true, with you acting all "overprotective parent" you were kinda rough on Foster here." He said, overcompensating for his mistake.

Grady growled, "Well I wouldn't have had to be overprotective if you weren't kissing my daughter!"

"So what do you want then? Do you want to "give me your blessing" so I can date Sophie?"

"Actually that's exactly what I want!" Grady yelled.

"Then do it!"

"Fine! Meet me in five. I'd like to have a talk with you."

"Good with me."

Grady left, heading upstairs.

This would go so well.

Why did things just keep getting worse and worse? And how would he ever get Grady's permission to be with Sophie?

Sophie suddenly grabbed his hand, interrupting his downward spiral of defeat.

"Hey, will you be okay Keefe? What if Grady says no?"

Keefe stilled his nerves, trying to keep a calm front for her.

"Sheesh, stop with all the worrying, Foster. I'll be fine. Let's just say I have my ways." He winked for added effect.

But Sophie didn't seem convinced.

"I'm waiting!" Grady called from upstairs.

"Here goes nothing," Keefe muttered under his breath.

...

"So, Keefe, how has life been treating you lately? Grady asked, his hands flat on the table, looking very... menacing.

That was probably the intention.

"Fine," Keefe snapped. If this was what Grady was trying to do, then Keefe would step up his game too.

"So what type of person should I allow to surround my daughter? It's already too much having friends like you, and I can tell you exactly how many times you've put her in danger already!"

Keefe started to tense up. He didn't know what to do and was wondering why Sophie had liked him at all.

"Um... I..." He knew that this was his chance. His chance to prove that he was worthy.

But Keefe was at a loss for words.

"See?" Triumph dripped from every letter. "I always knew that you weren't for her. From the first time you left her, I knew, knew that you weren't cut out to be a Ruewan. Ever."

Keefe looked down at the table, trying to hide the tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

Grady spoke again.

"How is it that Sophie, my daughter, could ever like you? You left her, you made her cry time after time. Sometimes I wonder if you leave her just so you could come back to make her happy again."

Tears started sliding down his cheeks faster now. But he knew that it would never work out this way.

"Sophie didn't choose me for the reason you're thinking. Though my awesome hair may help, she makes her own choices. It's her life, not mine and I have never, never messed with her the way you think I have. I know I have made many terrible mistakes that devastated her but it wasn't for my own pleasure. I have always left for her."

Keefe was sobbing openly by the time he had finished, "And, and, and Sophie will always constantly have danger around her. It's part of the fun of being her friend. It's that I get the opportunity to be around the most amazing person our world has ever known. I love Sophie. And nothing you say will ever change that. Nothing."

Keefe didn't know what to do. He felt like the cheesiest person alive to say what he had just said, but he was still breathing heavily, hoping it was enough.

Grady just looked at him, almost as if he was seeing Keefe in an entirely new light. They locked eyes for a second, but it was enough.

"I... I'm sorry for what I said about you Keefe. It's... just been building up for a long time but nothing excuses what just happened. You... can date my daughter. I can't believe I ever thought that you needed permission for that. Sophie can make her own decisions. Again, I'm so sorry."

Keefe wiped away the last of his tears but didn't know what to say.

"Umm, thank you?"

"You're welcome." Grady smirked, back to his usual self.