You're the Reason// A Sokeefe Human AU

Part 12

Shoutout to Zstuckey11 ! They are super underrated and talented. Go check out their story!! :D

Happy reading! -<3

  Keefe Sencen sat in the parking lot outside of work, banging his head on his car dashboard in utter despair.
"What am I going to get her?" He groaned, finally resting his head on the steering wheel.

   "You know," Ro said from the backseat, making Keefe jump. (And snorting when he did.) This was definitely becoming her favorite thing to do.
"You are an artist. You could always-"
   "No." Keefe cut her off. "She wouldn't like it. I'm not that good at drawing either."
"Oh come on. Why are you being so modest? You're freakin' amazing." Ro growled.
"Yeah, no. And also why are you in my car?" Keefe said in astonishment, turning around. "Go away, I need to think."
   "Fiiiiiiiine." She grumbled. "I still think you should draw her something." Ro opened the car door. "If you need any help shopping, though-"
"Ro, the only shopping you do is for weapons. I hate to say this, but I don't think she's going to want a new set of daggers," Keefe pointed out calmly, looking into the dash view mirror.
"Are you sure about that? Because-"
"Out." Keefe sighed. Ro shrugged in defeat, finally moving into her own car.
There was only one other option left.

   "Biana, I need your help."
Biana Vacker raised her eyebrows, then put a hand to her chin.
"The great Keefe Sencen is asking for my help with something? This can only mean one of two things. Either you're really desperate, or you need girl advice. Which is it?"
Keefe ran a hand through his hair. "I need to buy a present for Foster."
Biana nodded. "Of course you do. Let me just call some of my besties and we'll totally be able to help you."

    And that's how the great Keefe Sencen ended up at Target with Biana, Linh, and Marella.
  "What should I get her? I mean, I don't want her to take it the wrong way, so it can't be too personal, right? But at the same time-"
  "Listen, Sencen." Marella intervened. "Girls like gifts." She explained. "There's no 'too personal,' or whatever you said. Plus, what if she does take it the wrong way? What about it?" She side-glanced at Keefe. "You do like her after all. No, stop trying to protest. It's obvious. That's why we're all here."
  Linh and Biana nodded in agreement.
"And you said your gift was going to be the best present she's ever received." Linh said meekly, brushing back a strand of jet black hair.
  "They're right, you know. This is your opportunity to get her to fall for you! Seize it." Biana said, vigorously elbowing Keefe in the ribs (thus making him almost fall to his knees in sudden pain.) "You can't go back on your word."
"Okay, okay. You're all right." Keefe said, rubbing his sore ribs then steering the shopping cart which was still empty, except for soda, snacks and candy bars Marella snuck in. (Apparently that was the tax he had to pay for their help.)
   "What type of thing does Foster like?" Keefe asked coolly. He already knew a few things, but he wanted to hear from them.
"Chocolate!-" Linh pitched in, innocently.
"Oh yeah, she has a huge sweet tooth-" Marella remarked in agreement, pushing more chocolate into the cart while Biana threw a few brownies in.
"Are you sure we need all of this? I mean, I'm all for getting Foster presents, but will she be overwhelmed by all of this?" And by 'all of this' he was referring to the myriad of sweets that were being thrown into the shopping cart.
"Doesn't she like Nirvana or something?" Marella asked, either ignoring him or not hearing him at all.
"Right. Heavy metal music, too." Biana nodded, taking control of the cart and pushing it into the vinyl record section.
   "Don't worry." Linh whispered assuringly. "You don't have to give her all of this. We'll probably end up taking at least 90 percent of these things out of the cart, anyways. We just like to have options."
   He nodded slowly. So this is what going shopping with a squad of girls is like. Good to know.
   Keefe was following them until something caught his eye.
"What are you doing? Come on. We aren't done shopping yet." Marella barked back at him after he stopped abruptly.
"Go on without me ladies. I'll be right there." Keefe said, making a sharp turn into the stuffed animal section of the store.
Keefe felt a laugh rise from his throat. It was so ridiculous, but so perfect.
He stopped in front of a teddy bear. Just a simple, brown teddy bear.
Or so it would appear.
It was actually the kind of toy that you could record a message into, and listen back when you press it's stomach.
Keefe smirked, holding up the teddy bear with pride. "Perfect. It's perfect!.."
He waved sweetly to a confused employee who was staring at him, then ran to catch up with the girls.
"Look." He said, throwing the teddy into the cart.
Marella looked skeptical but Biana and Linh smiled at each other.
"Aww." Biana said. "She'll love it."
Linh nodded and Biana nudged Marella impatiently.
"Right." Marella said reluctantly. "I'm sure she'll love it." Keefe noted the sarcastic dip in her voice.
After Keefe checked out and thanked Biana, Linh and Marella endlessly, he drove home to work on Sophie's present. AKA the best present she'll ever receive, according to his own words.
  
    Against his previous refusing to do so, he opened his sketchbook. It was just something to bury at the bottom of the gift, so hey, maybe she wouldn't even see it at all. At least if she hated the drawing, he had a lot of other stuff to give her.
   His pencil hit the paper with a soft thud, but then his mind went completely blank. Art block.
"Great." Keefe sighed, scooting his chair back in annoyance. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine what he could possibly draw.
  Then it came to him.