𝔽𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝔽𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕟 (𝕂𝕒𝕞 𝕂𝕠𝕥𝕝𝕔)

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Keefe
Keefe studied Tam intently, observing how his silver eyes shifted away from Keefe's gaze after he spoke. He waited patiently; realistically, he wasn't going to pry if Tam wasn't comfortable with telling him.

Slowly, Keefe watched as Tam pulled away and slumped down into a chair in the empty classroom they were in. Keefe sat down opposite to him, watching patiently as his boyfriend fiddled nervously with the hem of his Foxfire uniform.

"Aren't you worried about what they will think?" Tam finally whispered after a few silent minutes.

Keefe glanced up at him, meeting his eyes. 'They', in question, were everyone, really. Their friends, extended families, teachers, other students, and complete strangers in the Lost Cities. "Well, yes. Of course I am."

The blonde boy shifted so that his boots were propped up on the corner of the desk, and he leaned back in his chair with his hands resting behind his head. He let out a long sigh, before smiling reassuringly over at Tam and shrugging his shoulders. "But it doesn't really matter what they think. Sure, they're important to us and whatever. But I'd rather be happy and open with you, than be miserable and not myself without you. Does that make sense?"

Keefe waited for Tam to nod slightly before continuing, trying to be soft with his tone and considerate of what Tam is feeling. "And, if they—Sophie, Biana, Fitz, and Dex, I mean—really are our friends, then they shouldn't care."

Tam nodded quietly again, staring blankly at the desk in front of him, and Keefe realised that he probably wasn't going to say anything.

Keefe smiled brightly at Tam, tilting the dark haired boy's face up slightly with his hand so he would see. He then stood up, wrapping Tam in another hug. "Hey—you okay now?"

"Yeah," Tam muttered quietly, standing up from the desk while still in the embrace. He hugged his boyfriend back gently, causing a small smirk to paint itself onto Keefe's expression.

"Oh—and no more avoiding me," Keefe mentioned to Tam after they had both pulled away with a small glare and a raise of his eyebrow. "Not okay, Tammy. Not okay."

Tam scoffed a little, and Keefe was relieved to see him going back to his normal demeanour. The blonde boy walked over to the classroom door, opening it and stepping aside so that Tam could walk through first. "I mean it. Now, let's get back to Elvin History before someone notices we're gone and tells my dear old Dad that Im the cause of a smashed window."

"How did you do that...?" Tam asked Keefe with a curious look, stepping out the door and Keefe trailing not far behind.

"I told you, I didn't. I had a partner in crime. Marella has really good aim."

After Keefe and Tam had both retreated back to Elvin History class—no one seemingly noticing despite their not-so-discreet arrival save for Marella and Linh—their day continued like normal. Keefe ate lunch, four butterblasts and two glasses of lushberry juice, with Tam and his friends. He attended classes, some alone and some with people he knew, until the final Foxfire bell had sounded to signal the end of the school day.

Keefe sauntered throughout the halls, searching for Tam as well as the rest of their friends. They were to have another sleepover at Tam and Linh's residence before the Foxfire prom the next day, and hopefully all would go as planned.

Causing Keefe to jolt, a hand landed roughly on his shoulder and he spun around to see the person. He was met with a pair of bright teal eyes and a hearty grin, Fitz squeezing Keefe's shoulder tightly in greeting. "You're late."

Keefe chuckled lightheartedly, noticing behind Fitz were the rest of his friends—and surprisingly Wylie, as well—were all conversing quietly, likely waiting to leave for the sleepover.  He made eye contact with Tam briefly, who was standing solemnly beside a chatty Linh and Marella, before turning back to Fitz.

"Right. Apologies, apologies..." Keefe smirked, looking around again at the group and shoving his hands into the pockets of his Foxfire uniform. "Leto was accusing me of something I had nothing to do with... something about a shattered window?"

Keefe winked at Tam before sharing a knowing glimpse at Marella before wondering over fully to join the group. "Now, what are we doing exactly?"

"We're supposed to be heading over right away, right, Linh?" Biana jumped in, pursing her lips and receiving a nod of confirmation from the dark haired girl before glancing over at Wylie. "Oh, and Wylie is going to be there, as well. He can join if he wants."

Wylie nodded slowly, however raising an eyebrow at Biana. Clearly he didn't appreciate being spoken about as if he wasn't in on the conversation. Keefe didn't know Wylie too well, but he thought that he was a cool guy, at least. Tam seemed to be fairly okay with him.

"All of your bags are already at our place. Yours too, Keefe. Tiergan had Lord Cassius pack one for you and send it over so you didn't have to go home and do it," Linh mentioned with a sweet smile, hands clasped together.

"Riiiiiiiiiiight..." Keefe trailed off, raising his eyebrows and scoffing at the thought of his Father trying to lovingly pack an overnight bag for him. Honestly, he couldn't imagine Cassius being the best at it, for extremely obvious reasons.

Marella grinned, clapping excitedly. Small sparks spurted from the tips of her fingers, causing some of the group to step back from her cautiously. Linh stayed happily right by her side though, and Keefe couldn't figure out whether the sparks were intentional or not.

"Shall we go now, then?" Marella asked jubilantly, glimpsing at Linh beside her. After a chorus of confirmation from the rest of the group, together, they all stepped into the bright and blinding light that would take them to Solreef.