ɢʀᴇᴇɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ

a w k w a r d

Keefe

This was...awkward.

Very, very awkward.

They couldn't find anything to talk about. They'd talk about something for the time span of about thirty seconds, and then fall silent again.

Awkward.

"So...how're things going with Sophie?" Keefe asked (awkwardly) as they (awkwardly) walked down one of Atlantis's streets.

Fitz scratched the back of his neck (awkwardly) and mumbled, "Fine."

Keefe shot him a disbelieving glance, but Fitz wasn't meeting his eyes.

Wow. Again, awkward.

Keefe shook his head, trying to clear it. He needed to stop thinking the word awkward--it was driving him insane.

"So has Biana said anything to you yet?" Fitz asked.

"Uh...about what?"

"You really haven't figured out that she likes you?"

Keefe nearly choked. "Uh--I'm sorry, what?" He laughed in disbelief. "For all of mallowmelt, Fitzypoo--you really haven't been paying attention to anything. I'm pretty sure we all figured out that Biana likes Bangs Boy now. Well, maybe Dex." He paused, and then shook his head. "Nah, it's Bangs Boy for sure."

Fitz sighed. "She told me she had a crush, but didn't tell me who it was. I just kind of assumed it was still you. I guess I haven't really been paying close attention to her..."

"You really haven't, my friend. Hate to break it to ya, but really, you've only been paying attention to Sophie."

Keefe winced at his words as soon as they left his mouth. Nice goin', man, he thought to himself. Way to ruin this even more.

But to his surprise, Fitz only exhaled again. "Yeah, you're right. I've been thinking about it, and...I feel kinda bad." He paused, and then said, "Really bad. I've been a real jerk."

Keefe didn't say anything, but he did feel guilty when his mind wholeheartedly agreed that Fitz had been acting like a jerk lately.

"About that, actually," Fitz added, making Keefe freeze--had Fitz been listening to his thoughts? Then Fitz gave him a funny look, and Keefe realized he'd been talking about his earlier comment about being a jerk. He had to stifle his sigh of relief.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry," Fitz continued after a hesitation. "For treating you so bad."

Whoa. Not at all where Keefe thought this was going.

"Umm...apology accepted?" Keefe replied, and then mentally smacked himself. That wasn't supposed to sound like a question.

Fitz took it as it was, though, and smiled in relief. "Thanks."

That's when Keefe felt the shift. The shift of their friendship.

It was beginning to come back together--slow and awkward as the process was.

"Hey," Keefe called, starting to run. "Want some mallowmelt?"

Fitz flashed a grin. "Race you there."