Forbidden Cities

Neighborly

Sophie knocks, three short raps on the door right next to her and Keefe's. He puts his chin on top of her head, and she can feel him smiling. 

"Stop smiling so smugly, Keefe. So what, I got a little freaked out?" She snaps, crossing her arms and knocking again. He chuckles, "A little is an understatement, Foster." 

Sophie scoffs, "I wasn't jealous." 

"Aww, don't worry, I still love you." He croons just as the door opens. Charlie is standing there, rubbing her eyes and slumping against the doorway. Her hair is a hot mess, tangled and knotted on top of her head. The dress she was wearing last night is still hanging tightly on her figure, but the tiny sleeves are drooping off her shoulders. Charlie blinks multiple times, "Sorry, do I know you? You look familiar." 

Sophie clears her throat, "Um, we're the ones who paid for your room last night. You walked a little... intoxicated, so I helped you to your room." 

Charlie's face lights up, "Sophie, right? Oh, I though that was some crazy dream, dude. Was the creepy clown on the unicycle following me home real too?" 

Sophie can feel Keefe shift behind her, trying to repress asking whatever human question he wants to ask. "I'm not sure." Sophie states with a small smile, "Why aren't you home? If you don't mind me asking." 

"Oh, come in, come in!" Charlie ushers them so they're sitting at the dining table in front of the window, and only then does Sophie spot the many cups of coffee and Spaghettio's sitting on the counter. The apartment is dirtier than hers, and they've lived there almost a month now. 

Charlie starts to sip on another cup of coffee, "So, I was on this really bad double date with my boyfriend and my best friend. My best friend, Tiffany, was on a blind date that she found on Tinder. Kind of like him, but way uglier." Charlie jerks her head toward Keefe, smirking. His brows draw together. 

"I guess he was some major creep. He tried to make out with her like, two seconds into the date. My boyfriend-" Charlie rolls her eyes at the word, "-Took a liking to this creepy guy. They started to eat wings and watch the game, completely ditching me and Tiff. We used the tab they had open to order as much as alcohol as possible, explaining my massive hangover." 

Sophie nods, "I thought you said your dad was going to kill you since he gave you his credit card." 

"My boyfriend took it after I got really drunk, I think. Tiff ended up leaving with the bartender-"

"Aren't you underage?" Sophie cuts in. Keefe puts his hand on the top of her thigh tenderly, stroking lazily with his thumb. She takes it as some kind of warning to stop asking, so she sighs and says, "I'm sorry, I'm prying." 

Charlie shakes her head, then winces, "It's okay, really. I'm seventeen, so maybe a little underage." She gives a shaky smile, "I had never drank before last night, but the tab was open and the bartender was flirty tonight." 

Keefe snorts, and Charlie's attention sticks on him, "Who are you?" 

He looks at Sophie for reassurance, "Um, I'm... I'm Keefe?" 

"Keefe. Weird name. Are you two exclusive?" 

"Yes." Keefe answers with absolutely no hesitation, grinning. Charlie nods in understanding, sipping her coffee while her eyes are glued on them. Sophie slumps in her chair. 

Charlie sets the cup down, "Thanks for helping me last night, Sophie. And thanks for paying for the room, I would be on the streets if it weren't for you." 

Sophie nods, "I was actually using Keefe's money, so..." 

Keefe winks at her, grinning. "Eh, it's our money."

"How do you guys have enough money for this stuff?" Charlie asks. She's combing her hair with her fingers, getting stuck every few seconds in a tangle and ripping her hair painfully. 

Sophie and Keefe stare at each other, "Um, let's just say we sold some jewelry and got crazy rich." Keefe says, smiling sheepishly. Sophie has to admit the way he said it sounds extremely suspicious, like they robbed a bank together or something else completely psychotic like that. 

"That sounds so weird, but whatever. Thank you guys, for everything. I'm gonna go back home, my dad's probably worried about me." 

And with that, Charlie is gone.