You Instead

Chapter 30

11 years later . . . 

"Mom!" Aleah called from her room.

"Yes, honey?" Sophie hollered back.

"Do you know when Arina's going to be home?"

"No, I don't. She's probably out with Ryo or something!"

"Okay, thanks," Aleah replied. 

"Foster?" Keefe came up to Sophie, kissing her cheek.

"Hey, Keefe," Sophie replied, exasperated. "Do you know where Malik is?"

He smirked. "I was about to ask you the same thing." he said. "So no, I don't. If you want, I can go find him."

"That would be great, thanks. Could you send him down here when you find him?"

"Sure."

"Thanks." Keefe went in search of their son, who was the twin of his sister, Aleah. Yeah, Sophie had twins, and it had been quite the scandal. That was an understatement. The Unmatchable having twins. Sophie didn't mind anymore, though. Keefe hadn't either. It was what he had promised her after they had gotten married. 

"Hey, Mom," a voice rang, and Sophie turned to find her son standing a few feet behind her. "Dad said you needed me?"

"Yeah. I needed your help persuading Aleah to do her homework." Sophie replied.

Malik's brown eyes glittered as he laughed. "Mom, how am I gonna do that? Aleah never does her work."

Sophie glanced in the other direction. "I know she doesn't, and it makes me worried." she pulled up a stool and took a seat. "I know Aleah can't focus on her schoolwork very well, and Magnate Leto has been lenient in not suspending her. But I don't want her to fall behind. I know it's only your guys' first year of Foxfire, but school is important." Sophie said.

"But Aleah won't listen to me. Believe me, I've tried." Malik smirked. 

Tears sprang to Sophie's eyes. "Please. Can you just try one more time? I promise I'll never ask you about this again."

"Hey, Mom. Don't cry! I'll do my absolute best to get her to do her schoolwork. Just, don't cry." he comforted her.

"Really?" 

"Really." he assured her, "And I'll make sure she actually does it. Don't worry. I've got this." he gave her a thumbs up and headed to his twin sister's room.

Keefe came into the kitchen and took her hand. "Hey," he waited for her to look at him. "I overheard your conversation with Malik. I know it worries you that Aleah doesn't pay attention very much in school, but if it makes you feel any better, I didn't either, and I was okay."

"Yeah, but that was because Mr. Forkle went easy on you. He knows what Malik and Aleah are capable of. They both have photographic memories, for crying out loud!"

"So, they'll be okay. And besides, I'm sure if Aleah doesn't pass, which I know she won't, the Forkster will probably let her retake the subject. He can work something out."

"I guess you're right." Sophie said, and buried her face in her hands. "By the way, do you have anything planned in two days?"

"Yeah, I'm hanging out with Tam, Dex, and Wylie. Why?" he asked confusedly.

Sophie seemed saddened by it. "Um, never mind. I thought you'd have something planned, since you always do, but I guess you forgot." Sophie mumbled.

"What was that?" Keefe asked.

"It was nothing. Don't worry about it!" Sophie said, and walked briskly out of the kitchen. "It's okay that he forgot, he has a lot on his plate." Sophie muttered to herself. "But he's never forgotten. Especially something as important as our Anniversary. Oh, stop being such a baby, Sophie."

She walked past Aleah's room, and she stopped and knocked at the doorway.

"Come in." Aleah's voice called back. Surprisingly, she was doing her The Universe homework.

"Since when did you start doing Foxfire assignments?" Sophie asked, ruffling her hair. Aleah spun around in her chair, facing her mother. Sophie got a better look at her daughter, who looked exactly like Keefe, all the way down to his seductive ice blue eyes. 

"Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry for making you cry. I didn't think it was such a big deal that I wasn't doing my work. I'll do it from now on, I promise!"

"Really? Thanks, Leah."

"No problem, Mom! I promise I'll do good in school so that you can be proud of me."

"Oh, Aleah. I'm already so proud of you. You never have to worry about me not being proud of you."

"I love you, Mom." Aleah said as Sophie was leaving her room.

"I love you too." Sophie whispered. Soon after Sophie left, Keefe entered Aleah's room.

"Hey, Leah?"

"Hi, Dad!"

"Do you know what it is in two days? Your mom seemed sad when I told her I was hanging out with friends."

"Dad, how could you forget?" she sounded exactly like her mom. "It's you and Mom's Anniversary in two days!"

"Is it? Shoot. I'm so dumb. he smacked his head against his forehead. "Thanks, Aleah!" he replied as he ran after Sophie, who had gone to their room. She was already settled into bed, laying on her side in their dark bedroom. "Foster?"

She acknowledged him with a small, "Hm?"

"I'm sorry for forgetting our Anniversary."

"It's okay, I guess. I was just surprised since you usually have something planned weeks in advance. I guess I was excited for nothing, then."

"I'll make it up to you," he replied, and he saw her nod gently. He took a brisk shower and then pulled up the blanket and got into the bed. Sophie was still turned away from him, though. Keefe decided not to disturb her, so he closed his eyes and fell asleep quickly.

Sophie hated when she was upset at Keefe, because it was so hard to stay mad at him. She was still hung up on it, though. But when she heard him say "Foster! Please, you have to hold on! Elwin's almost here!" his voice hitched. "Please, Foster. Don't leave me."

When she heard those words, she gathered up any of her leftover sadness and flung it away. She turned towards Keefe and nudged him gently. His arms wrapped around her instinctively and she cuddled into his chest. 

"I'm here." she whispered, and he instantly relaxed at those words, because he knew that the words would forever be true.

(A/N): Hello! This is the last chapter of You Instead, and I wanted to apologize for the large time skips, but I wanted to make sure I ended the story in 30 chapters because I don't know if I have enough ideas or motivation to continue this on, unless it's from a different perspective or something. Thank you for the recent support that I've been receiving, and I'm glad my story is getting some small amounts of attention now that it has reached its end. Again, thank you for reading my story!