Sokeefe Coffee AU

Chapter 10- Party Pt.2

Keefe's eyes searched the group, and he excused himself to mingle with his friends. The sudden absence of his warmth left her feeling a bit out of place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. She spotted a group of girls from her dorm chatting by the railing and decided to join them. They were all dressed in various shades of pink, giggling over a shared joke.

"Hey, Sophie!" one of them called out, waving. It was Daria, a bubbly blonde who was known for her love of glitter and gossip. "You came!"

Sophie forced a smile. "Couldn't resist the invite," she said, hoping she didn't sound too much like she was lying.

"Who'd you come with?" another girl in the group, a brunette named Tessa, asked, sipping from a cup that smelled suspiciously like hot chocolate.

Sophie felt a twinge of nervousness. "Keefe," she said, watching their expressions carefully. Would they judge her for hanging out with the notorious troublemaker?

"Oooh, Keefe," Daria giggled, her eyes sparkling. "He's so adorable when he's being all mysterious and charming."

Sophie's heart skipped a beat, and she took a deep breath to steady herself. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

Aliya leaned in, her eyes glinting with curiosity. "Oh, you know how Keefe is," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Always flirting, always playing the field. But lately, he's been... different. More focused, you know?"

Sophie's heart fluttered as the girls shared knowing glances. "Who is it?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Aliya leaned closer, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "I don't know for sure, but I've heard rumors it's someone from our dorm."

Sophie's stomach twisted into a knot, and she took a sip of her coffee to hide her discomfort. Jealousy was a new and unpleasant emotion, one she hadn't felt before in relation to Keefe. She didn't want to believe it, but the way the girls were looking at her, the knowing smirks and smiles, made it impossible to ignore.

"Why don't we go play a game?" Daria suggested, her eyes still fixed on Keefe. "It'll help you loosen up, Sophie."

The girls led her to a quieter corner of the boat where a bottle of spun in the center of a circle of cushions. They began playing a round of 'Never Have I Ever', each taking turns to share a secret and taking a sip of some sort of alcohol when someone else had done it. The air grew thick with laughter and the sweet scent of sugary drinks as the night went on. Sophie found herself drawn into the game, the warmth of the alcohol spreading through her veins and loosening her inhibitions.

Keefe joined them after a while, his eyes scanning the group before landing on her. "You okay, Foster?" he asked, his voice full of concern. "You usually don't drink that much."

Sophie nodded, a little too quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said, hoping the blush didn't give her away. "Just... enjoying the party."

Keefe's eyes searched hers for a moment before he took a seat beside her. "Good," he said, his hand brushing against hers as he reached for the bottle. "You should enjoy yourself. That's what tonight is all about."

The conversation flowed around them, the air charged with secrets and giggles. After a few rounds, the music grew louder, and the girls around her began to sway to the beat. Daria grabbed her hand. "Come on, Sophie!" she exclaimed. "Let's hit the dance floor!"

Sophie allowed herself to be pulled into the throng of dancers, the strobe lights casting a disco-infused glow over the group. The beat was fast, and the rhythm was infectious. She felt a hand on her waist, turning to find a cute guy with a boyish grin smiling at her. He was tall, with messy hair and a lanky build, and she recognized him as one of the older students from another elite level. He whispered something she couldn't quite catch over the music, but she nodded and allowed him to lead her into the dance.