Another Sokeefe story

3

It's only been one day since we've been here in New York. Keefe and I have stayed in our rooms for most of it, only coming down for dinner, which Flori prepared Starkflower soup to lift our spirits. I guess Keefe still feels guilty for me coming here with him. I decide to end this. I came here to help Keefe and the only way we are going to do that is if we talk to each other. I open the door and bump into Ro guarding upstairs.

"Oh hey Ro, where's Sandor?" I ask surprised he's not joined at my hip.

"I'm guarding up here, and he's guarding the outside. Also Blondie, Hunkyhair is not in a good mood so I don't know if you should talk to him right now," she says playing with her dagger.

"Well he hasn't talked to me at all, so I just wanted to ask him why," I say trying to move past Ro but she blocks my entrance.

"Look, I know Hunkyhair. When he's like this, he says things and does stupid things. I gave him a sedative from that sparkly doctor to help calm him down. He just blames himself for you being here," she says looking actually concerned. 

It must be bad if Ro is concerned. I nod understanding.

"Then I'll just wait in his room till he wakes up," I say finally finding an opening and opening the door, however, Ro doesn't  try to keep me out. Instead, she nods and lightly shuts the door.

I look at What's supposed to be Keefes body under the covers. His blanket is covering everything else but his head. He snores slightly and he looks so peaceful. I smile. 

'SOPHIE!' I hear Fitz's voice in my head.

'Hey what's up'

'Everyone wanted to check on you and Keefe. How is it going?'

I'm surprised. Fitz couldn't even be in the same room with me and now we are transmitting? I hold back my confusion.

'We are fine. Has the council said anything?'

There's a pause in his thoughts. 

'They put you and Keefe under a tribunal for exile.'

Looks like nothing changed. 

'You know you can still come back. We can figure this out with the council.'

I wish things could be that easy. But they can't, and they never will.

'Tell everyone we are okay and tell Edaline and Grady that I love them and I'm safe.'

I cut off the connection and go back to sitting on Keefes desk waiting for him to wake up. Is this creepy? Maybe a little. But I really need to talk to him. I count his breathing until I accidentally fall asleep. 

——————————————

"Sophie," someone says shaking me lightly.

I wake up and see it's night outside. I look back to the voice and see Keefe there. He looks like he just woke up, too. My eyes betray me and I look at his bare torso, leaving my face like a tomato I bet.

"Sorry I was waiting for you to wake up, but I guess I fell asleep," I say getting up from the desk.

Keefe smirks and motions to his mouth. "You got some drool there Foster."

I blush hard and quickly wipe away the trail of drool.

"Keefe, we need to stop ignoring each other. I get it you're angry with me, but like I told you, I go where you go. We are friends," I say grabbing his hand and he sighs.

"I just... I want my Keefe back," I finish slightly blushing at my word choice. 

He uses his other hand to tilt my chin up to look at him and smiles. Like really smiles.

"I'm not angry with you, but I am sorry. I didn't mean to ignore you. You mean a lot to me Foster, more than you know."

Our faces are very close. I can't help but burn. What is this feeling? There's no one here to stop anything. I'm so used to our 'moments' being interrupted. I can feel Keefes hot breath on my cheek. Before anything can escalate I give him a hug. I don't know what would have happened if I didn't stop what was happening. 

"You should go to sleep Foster," Keefe says into my ear making us pull apart.

I nod. He probably wants to rest now. I walk out his door and give him a smile and a wave before closing his door. I sigh. This feeling is so frustrating. I've never felt this before so I don't know how to deal with it. I feel like I want to cry laugh scream and smile at the same time. Unfortunately in my case, its to cry. I sit downstairs in the kitchen eating butterblasts while quietly letting tears fall down. 

"Are you okay?" Sandors squeaky voice says from behind me.

I wipe the tears away quickly. "Yeah I'm good."

He shakes his head. "Miss Foster, I've had enough conversations with Grizel to know you are not good."

I sigh. "I'm just kind of stressed out about everything."

I'm not entirely lying. I just really don't want to talk about feelings with Sandor. He's basically like Grady. I love Sandor, but I know what he would say about this. 

"This is why you have us, you aren't alone," he says lightly placing a hand on my shoulder making me smile.

"Thank you Sandor."