𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓻 𝕂𝕖𝕖𝕗𝕖 𝕩 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣

006 𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒚

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪, 𝕒𝕤 𝕤𝕠 𝕥𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕪 𝕐/𝕟-

I winced as I heard Keefe mumble, "I'm really glad to have you back shorty." He sighed into my hair, both of us laying casually on the floor of my room, our backs pressed against the thick trunk of the centerpiece of my room- well my back against his chest, but his against a the tall twisted unmistakable trunk of a Panakes. 

Despite it not being as well known as the one located at Havenfield- Sophie and her family's estate, it was just as breathtaking, and perhaps even larger. It's beautiful twisted trunk separating into thin branches, separating into even thinner twigs, each of which supported tons of beautiful purple and pink petals.
It had definitely been around longer, the gnome who gave his life for it doing so when I was only seven. We hadn't known it was the cure the rest of the world had been searching for- as after that gnome, we never got any others. He gave his life for the beautiful tree saying that he had felt his end coming anyways- and wanted the beautiful tree to show for it. 

"I forgot how amazing your room was." He breathed, his head glancing around the room, taking it all in. "Your tree reminds me of Calla- the gnome who sacrificed herself for the tree at Sophie's place." He clarified when he saw my confusion. 

I winced again. A while ago, maybe these comments wouldn't have bothered me as much as they do now. But having lived through what happened- having seen how everything panned out, I couldn't say I was glad to be hearing about how the time Keefe spent with me reminded him of the girl he ditched me for. I leaned back into his chest, and turned my head up towards his. 

"Keefe." I said softly, setting a hand on his forearm, and flipping myself around to face him. "I don't mean this in an insulting way- I swear. But... It's just... It's been a while, you know? It's hard for me to just bounce back to being friends after everything that's happened." I explained. "That's not to say I don't want to be friends right away- I do. I missed you too much not to be. I'm just... can we maybe... take it slowly? Like maybe we hold off on some of the more personal nicknames and topics until it's more normal- and I don't feel like I'm cuddling with Lady Cadence or something." 

His eyes softened, and he smiled. "Of course Y/n. I'm sorry. For everything. And I know what you're about to say- so don't say it. It wasn't okay what I did, and I'm going to make up for it. Whether you tell me to or not." 

Something about staring up into his ice blue eyes, surrounded by waterfalls, seemingly endless grass and beautiful purple tinged pink petals... I had never believed anything more. Never wanted anything more then I had wanted to kiss him right then. And maybe it was telling in my emotions, or maybe I had leaned in, regardless, kissing Keefe was the most blissful and liberating thing ever. I had forgotten how amazing he tasted- how soft his lips were. 

I pulled away and he smiled. "So. Just so that we don't face any confusion going into this, what are we?" 

Back then, we had been somewhere between lovers and best friends. We always enjoyed the speculations and rumor we heard buzzing around the school, and therefore never confirmed nor denied any of them. But... just because she had made up with Keefe didn't change the fact; she was different now. What she wanted was different. She didn't want to hear all the rumors about the girls who still thought they had a chance with her Keefe- just as she didn't want to hear the rumors about the guys that thought they had a chance with her. 

"If you're okay with it, I'd like to be your girlfriend-and I want the world to know it." I whispered, still not breaking eye contact with the jaw-droppingly gorgeous, blue eyed, blonde elf staring down at me. 

"I'd like that." He whispered back, his forehead leaning down to rest on mines. "And don't worry Y/n. We'll go slowly."

"Thank you." 

"Of course. I meant it Y/n. I'm going to make up for every tear you cried, every day you hurt, I swear. If it's the last thing I do, I will make it up to you Y/n. Just trust me." He said, brushing my hair out of my face, and gently tucking it behind my ear. 

"Thank you." I repeated, tears beginning to prick the corners of my eyes, then stream down my cheeks, flushing my face pink. 

The words meant so much- coming from anyone. But from him? Foxfires most well known and by far most popular prankster? Who appeared to not have a soft side at all? There were no words to describe the feeling. Nothing to express the way my heart ached- and not in a bad way. The way my tear ducts appeared to be malfunctioning; crying at one of the best moment of her life. 

But maybe I didn't need words. Keefe was, after all, an empath- and a dang good one at that. "You're welcome." He chuckled, wiping my tears away and pulling me into his chest.
"You're always welcome Y/n."