Separated

31 - The Truth about Love

4th January 2025 : Splendor Plains : 3:00 a.m.

Sophie groaned. Why did this stuff have to be so painful? I mean, she had already died a countless number of times, gone through so much, solved so many clues, pieced together half of the puzzle, and still hadn't quite finished! Seriously?

She opened her eyes and glared as darkness surrounded her. She needed  light. Now!  She slowly lifted herself off the bed and felt around the walls. This didn't feel like Havenfield. She clapped twice to raise the shades and groaned again when she realized it was probably late at night. Why? Why her? 

"Looking for something?" 

A very  familiar voice said from behind her. There, with his signature smirk, stood Keefe.

She was too busy staring into his ice-blue eyes that he had to repeat his question. And she knew the answer, but didn't want to say it. It was 'Yes' because she was looking for him. She'd still not told him how she felt. She'd still not got the chance. But a few seconds later, Fitz popped up.

"Hey, Soph! Feeling better?" Fitz asked, as he stepped past Keefe. For some reason, the smirk was wiped off Keefe's face and sadness and grief had taken over as he watched Fitz take out a small gift box. 

"Here. To help you feel better." 

Sophie opened the box and saw a charm bracelet. One charm was a moonlark, the other was a heart, the other was a microphone and the last was a crown. She knew what the message meant, the moonlark was her, the heart was her own time and the microphone and crown were about taking charge and victory respectively. But, how was she going to win if she couldn't even tell a boy how she felt? 

She gazed up at Fitz's teal blue eyes. "Thank you... I don't know what to say-" 

"You don't have to say anything. I'm glad your feeling better." He replied, cutting her sentence off short. His movie-star smile glistened when the sun's rays hit it. Sophie blushed cherry-red. Keefe groaned. Why? It was very  audible! When Sophie glanced at him, he had a disgusted look on his face. She was clueless.

Fitz caught her attention again, "Foxfire's dance is coming up. You planning on going?" 

Sophie sucked in a breath. Now she knew what was happening. Asking her out to the dance in front of  Keefe? The groan Keefe had groaned? It was a competition. But, when she glanced at Keefe, he looked intent. Like he wanted to hear her answer. She knew it. Biana knew it. They wouldn't. 

While they were doing this, maybe she could have some fun. 

"Actually, I want to be impressed. Somebody who does grand gestures to ask me out, you know. After the things I've been through, I think I deserve it." 

Fitz smiled, "Of course," After that he ran off, but Keefe was right there staring at her.

"Did you forget that you can never trick an empath? I felt your humor and realization. That's why I'm not running around like crazy trying to figure out a cute way to ask you out like someone with teal blue eyes."

Sophie laughed. "That was the first funny thing you've said to me in a while. I've missed laughing... Especially with you..." 

"What do you mean?"

"It's just, I never see you around anymore. Well, I do... but your always with someone else or busy finding out a way to defeat your mom. You never get to just... be you."

"Oh, so you want me to be Lord Hunkyhair again? Ok! Here goes, hey Foster, watch this!"

"What are you going to show me?"

Keefe ran his hands through his hair like a super model. Then he gave his signature smirk and winked. Sophie tried to hide her blush.

"That's what I thought."

"What! I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't have to, I'm an empath, remember?"

Sophie blushed more. For good or for bad, Keefe was back. And he was more handsome than ever.

😘😁💕(❁'◡'❁)