Keeper of the Lost Cities: Truth or Dare

Chapter 9

A/N: Thank you guys so much for all the comments and support! I love it so much! Here's chapter 9... enjoy!

  "Whew, that was fun," Keefe said, sprawling out on an overstuffed couch in the Vacker's living room. "Especially because we, like, totally crushed you guys." 

  "No, we let you win!" Biana protested, walking into the room with five mugs filled with a creamy brown liquid and whipped cream. She handed them out. The drink tasted like somebody combined all of the best drinks in Starbucks, added some more caramel, and heated it up. Sophie would've never of thought that would taste good, but it tasted amazing. 

  "Wow, thanks so much, Biana!" she said.

  Biana sat down next to Sophie on the couch and said, "What do we do now?" 

  Dex yawned.

  "Wrong answer. Sleep is lame!"

  "How about we play some more truth or dare?" Keefe asked, wiggling his eyebrows. I didn't get to use my best dares!"

  "I'll play! Dex jumped in.

  "O-okay!" Keefe rubbed his hands together. "So, I'm glad we've all come to the decision that I'll go first!" Without waiting for anyone to respond, he said, "Foster! You're my first victim. Truth or dare?"

  "Ummm.... dare," Sophie said, deciding that it would not be good if she chose truth with Keefe. 

  "Good answer!" Keefe said, and Sophie immediately regretted her choice. 

  "I dare you to....hmmm.... tell us who you have a crush on."

  Sophie's heart nearly stopped. "W-what?" she stammered. Keefe had his eyebrows slightly raised. Fitz was staring at her, and Dex was looking down at his lap. Biana gave her a sympathetic look.

  She stole another glance at Fitz. Her breath caught in her throat as her mind flashed back to the day by the tree. She was confused about it. It was all a blur. Had he really tried to... kiss her? But she was sure that was all in her imagination. 

  Then her eyes met Keefe's. She was when she thought about it, she was confused about her feelings for him too. She had always thought about him as just a really good friend... but lately she didn't know.

  When she looked at Dex she didn't see anything except for a best friend who had stayed with her through everything in her confusing life so far in the Lost Cities. She couldn't imagine where she would be in her life right now if her hadn't befriended her on her first day. But she didn't really feel anything....romantic toward him.

  "I-I..." Sophie started. Or tried to, anyway. Then she realized she could never tell Keefe that she liked  Fitz... or if she finally thought her feelings through and figured out she liked Keefe, she could never tell Fitz. Why am I even thinking about this right now?  Sophie thought. There's still a long time until I get my matchmaking scrolls.

 "I... don't know," she finally said.  She shrugged and acted like it wasn't a big deal, when really, her heart insisted on thumping out a rhythm that the whole world could hear. Keefe raised his eyebrows and looked like he was really tempted to read her emotions. 

  "Um, where's the bathroom?" Sophie asked, hastily changing the subject before Keefe actually read her emotions. 

  "Here, I'll show you," Biana said. She grabbed Sophie's arm and let her out the door. "You boys be nice to each other." 

  When they were out in the hallway, Biana asked, "What was that all about?" 

  Sophie shrugged again. "I don't know," she said. When Biana raised her eyebrows, Sophie held her gaze. "Honestly, I really don't know." 

  Biana shrugged and gave a small smile, something passing between the girls. "The bathroom is just down that hallway," She said, pointing in that direction.

  Sophie laughed. "Oh, I didn't really have to go to the bathroom. I just did that to change the subject."

  Biana laughed too.

  When the girls walked back into the room, the boys were having a heated discussion, Keefe repeatedly gesturing to his hair and Dex occasionally jumping in and saying "Do it! Do it!" 

  When Keefe saw them walk in,  he said, "But then Foster won't like my hair anymore!" 

  Fitz rolled his eyes and grinned at Sophie and Biana. "I dared him to dye his hair blue... at least part of it, even just, like, ten hairs, but he insists on saying that my dare isn't fair because it's impossible to do and insists on me giving him a different dare."

  Keefe rolled his eyes. "Duh, you can't change something that makes a person that very good looking person," he said, running his hand through his hair for added effect.

  Sophie laughed. "You wish," she teased. She and Biana sat down again in their places in the circle.

  "So, where did we leave off?" Biana asked.

  "We were at the part where Foster is about to spill the beans on who she likes," Keefe said.

  "She already answered that!" Biana reminded him. She gave Sophie a quick grin. 

  "Okay, whatever," Keefe said.

  "I think it's Sophie's turn," Dex said.

  "You're right Dex, it is my turn," Sophie said, grinning. "Truth or dare?

  "Wait, whoops, I'm pretty sure it's actually Fitz's turn...." Dex sighed dramatically then grinned. "Okay, I choose......."

  Sophie stifled a grin. It was nice to just be with her friends, without having to worry about the Neverseen or plotting to save someone. For a little bit, at least, it took Sophie's mind off grievous things like the death of someone who had been close for a whole life.