Back to the Future

Chapter 4

Sophie! Fitz's voice in her mind jerks her awake. Sitting up she waits for another transmission, not wanting to respond if it's not important.

Where are you? We're all worried. Please respond if you can. Did the Neverseen take you?

Fitz's questions scared her, Why did they think she was gone? Then a hand grabbed her wrist.

"Come back to bed," Keefe said softly, pulling her back down. The memories rushed to her brain and she realized she hadn't gone home last night.

Fitz! She transmitted.

Sophie? Where are you? She realized her error, what was she supposed to say?

She tapped Keefe and he opened his eyes. She explained to him what was going on, and that Fitz was transmitting her asking where she was, "What do I say back,"

"Say you wanted some alone time so you teleported to a beach in the Forbidden Cities," Keefe said, his voice rough from sleep.

She relayed the message and then asked Keefe, "Now what?"

"Come back to bed," She smiled and curled back under the covers. Five more minutes wouldn't matter, right?

Apparently Fitz didn't think so because he kept transmitting to her, We're all worried, come home.

Who's we?

Every one of our friends, the council, the collective, and half of all the parents.

Wow, really? Everyone?

Yeah, He paused, Well everyone except Keefe.

Then you have enough people for an epic game of base quest. Have fun! Sophie cut off the connection, blocking out Fitz's other transmissions.

"Is he gone?" Keefe asks. She nods against his chest. Sophie relaxes into the bed and falls back to sleep easily.

She wakes up again, but this time it's Keefe slowly getting out of bed, "Where are you going?"

"It's almost lunchtime, I'm getting dressed and you should too. Assuring the adults you're not kidnapped is one thing, but they might be mad."

"Uggh, you're being so responsible. Remember you're 16-year-old Keefe, he never did anything like this."

Keefe pulled her out of bed, "Yeah, but you're being less responsible, so we need someone to balance everything out."

Sophie laughed, "Fine, I'll teleport back to Havenfield, are you coming with?"

"Do you want me to?"

"Yeah, but stay in the shadows. I'm worried Fitz might get angry or something."

Keefe nods. They jump out the window of his room together, falling out of the sky, and landing right in front of Havenfield. A giant crowd of people rushed outside, Fitz was right, it was everyone. Edaline and Grady came over first, wrapping her up in a hug. They started to scold her telling her how worried they were when Mr. Forkle interrupted.

"Why did you leave without telling anyone?"

"I don't know, maybe because everything was overwhelming and I wanted a break from everyone. Except my plan obviously backfired now that you're all here." 

She started to push past everyone when Fitz grabbed her wrist, "Hey, can we talk."

"Yeah, I guess. Let's go somewhere private."

She glanced over to where Keefe stood, hidden by shadows. He followed her and Fitz to a spot alone where they could talk.

They stood awkwardly for a moment before Fitz started to speak, "Why did you leave?"