ALL IN. sokeefe.

012

"W-what?" Sophie stuttered. "Keefe? Our greatest weakness?" Mr. Forkle nodded, "You've demonstrated a considerable attachment to the boy, and if you had to choose between him and others, who would you choose?" Sophie stilled, knowing the answer. Keefe. Or her family and friends? She would choose Keefe, a thousand times over. He kept her... well, her.

"Exactly." Mr. Forkle transmitted, smiling sadly. Sophie jumped, startled. "Mr. Sencen is a rare gem, and I'm grateful we have him on our side." Mr. Forkle continued, aloud. "I understand that I can't ask you—or him, for that matter, to sit out on the action." Sophie nodded vigorously. There was no way she would sit on the sidelines and watch her friends get hurt.

"So, we'll allow you to fight together." Mr. Forkle said ruefully, a small smile on his face. As he saw Sophie's excited face, he added, "With certain precautions, of course." He said wryly, a smirk tugging at his bloated face. "Now, farewell." He dipped his chin and leaped away to alert the Collective.

Sophie's hands were shaking uncontrollably. Edaline noticed, and her adoptive mother smiled at her sympathetically. "When we get home, I'll make you some glowberry tea, alright?" Sophie nodded, tears starting to prick her eyes. Edaline held up the crystal for Havenfield, and they leaped away. Little did they know, a Vanisher had been there the entire time. Biana Vacker collapsed on her knees, clutching her head.

So much information.

Sophie smiled at Keefe through her Imparter, "Hey!" Keefe smirked, "Hey, Foster." He ran a hand through his perfectly tousled hair, mussing it stylishly. Sophie sighed dreamily. It just didn't seem real! Keefe Sencen, A.K.A Lord Hunkyhair, liked her! Speaking of lords, she still did need to talk to the Council... "Hey... Keefe?" She said tentatively, dreading the rejection.

"Yeah?" His answering smile was so bright, it melted her heart. "Would it be okay... if I asked the Council to add you to Team Valiant?" Keefe flashed her a smirk, "Get to be on team Sparkle-Pants? Of course! And with the upside of actually getting to become Lord Hunkyhair? Yep! Go ahead, just don't promise I won't wreak havoc, 'kay?" Sophie laughed, "Okay, got it, Hunkyhair."

His face lit up, "Awww, Foster! I knew you loved me!" She smiled softly at him, "I do." She whispered, mostly to herself.

Keefe blinked, shocked.

Sophie continued, not knowing he had heard it. "The Council's holding a gala for us, you know." She said thoughtfully. "Would you like to go with me?" She asked Keefe, hiding behind her curtain of hair. Keefe smirked. "A gala? D'you think I can ruin it?" He smiled evilly, "And yes, of course!" Sophie smirked and blew a kiss at him. "Have to hail my points of contact now, Sencen. Be good, won't you?" He winked at her, "Only for you, Foster. Only for you." She closed the Imparter, setting it on her bedspread, and sighed.

Everything's confusing. Fitz is... good? Bad? Medium? She shoved the thoughts out of her mind, and reached for the silver square. Drawing a breath, she hailed Bronte. She wasn't going to talk to Councilor Lyingcurls if she didn't have to. Some kind of 'mother,' she thought bitterly. Bronte picked up and offered her a rare smile. "Greetings, Miss Foster."

Councilor Bronte had originally been one of the elves who were very against her attending Foxfire, going as far to express his extreme dislike of her. As of recently, he had warmed up to her, and had become like a father figure to her.

"Hi!" Sophie said cheerfully. She continued, "I was wondering, could I set up a meeting with you and Councilor Lyin- Uh, I mean Oralie?" She cursed herself silently. She had become so used to calling her biological mother by that nickname, that she hadn't realized it slipped out.

Bronte merely raised an eyebrow and smiled, if not somewhat bemusedly. "I can arrange that, Miss Foster." Sophie breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you so much!" She exclaimed, wanting to reach through the screen and strangle-hug the pointy-eared Councilor. He simply dipped his chin and replied, "I will see you at my residence tomorrow, at noon." The screen went black and she almost cried tears of relief.

Bronte hadn't noticed her slip, and she had procured a meeting with her points of contact, making her one step closer to getting Keefe on Team Valiant!

Her Imparter buzzed, and she quickly picked up. "Yes?" She asked, confused. "Sophie!" Biana's voice cried out, "Everglen. You have to come!" She squealed.

Sophie stifled a laugh. Biana's squeal was higher-pitched then normal. She smirked and said into the Imparter, "Got it. What's the dress code?" Biana smirked mischievously. "Hot." She said, eyeing Sophie like she could see her bland Foxfire uniform. "Got it," Sophie said, turning off her Imparter.

She strode over to Vertina, Jolie's old spectral mirror. "Hi!" Vertina greeted her, smiling. Sophie stopped in her tracks, shocked. "Are you- are you being nice to me?" She stammered. Vertina rolled her eyes. "Um, yeah? I realized I was being a smidge mean, so I decided to help you with your dismal fashion choices!" Sophie bit her lip to keep from laughing. "Okay. What do you think I should wear? Biana said the dress code is 'hot,' whatever that means..." Sophie trailed off.

Vertina eyed her critically, "Hm, is there anyone you're trying to impress?" Sophie nodded sheepishly, "Actually, yes." Vertina raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Who?" Sophie smiled, "Keefe. Keefe Sencen."

Vertina smiled knowingly, "I thought so. Now, he's the one that has the ice-blue eyes, correct?" Sophie nodded.

Vertina waved her around the room, and the end result was this; a crimson fitted top, with thin straps, a pair of short, flowy black shorts, and her standard suede-like material boots.

"You look great!" Vertina squealed, smiling. Sophie smiled back at her, "Thanks for the help!" Vertina waved her hand nonchalantly, "No big deal! Just tell me what your boy says, 'kay?" She finished, a glint in her eye. Sophie smirked, "Sure. Now, I have to go!" She ran down the stairs and leaped to Everglen.

The blindingly white gates were open, so Sophie strode through, admiring the landscape around her. Havenfield was beautiful, but Everglen was beautiful in a different way. She reached the huge doors, and walked in.

"Hey? Guys?" She called, her voice echoing through the seemingly empty house. "Up here!" Biana's voice called. Sophie walked up the stairs, and walked through the hallway. "In here, Foster!" Keefe's voice echoed.

She reached the door that the voices were coming from, it was slightly askew. She opened the room to find it... empty?

"BOO!" Keefe cried, jumping out at her. She screamed, and tripped. Keefe caught her before she hit the ground and pulled her flush to his chest. "Hey there, Foster." He mumbled into her hair. "KEEFE. SENCEN." Sophie shouted, her eyes lighting with laughter, "I'm going to revoke your invitation to Team Valiant!"

Keefe clutched his chest, jumping away from her. "What? No! Not my title!" He wailed.

The rest of her friend came pouring out of the closet, identical smirks on their faces, except for Fitz. He looked... jealous? No, that wasn't possible! He apologized!

She snapped out of her thoughts as she realized something. "Stina, Dex, are you two... holding hands?" Stina and Dex looked at them, "Um, surprise? Stina said sheepishly, holding up their intertwined hands. Dex kissed her on the cheek and she beamed at him, brushing her lips over his. "Ewww!" Biana complained. "Do it somewhere else!" Fitz smirked, "Did she mention that we're having a sleepover?"

Keefe rolled his eyes, "If Tammy was the one sucking face with you, would you be saying that?" Biana flushed beet-red and swatted him. "I don't like Tam! Ew!" Tam slunk into the shadows, an embarrassed look on his face.

"Don't lie to the Empath!" Sophie and Keefe chimed in unison.

Sophie smirked at her friends, "Guys, how about we play Truth or Dare?"

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