Single Riders Will Be Paired

Leaving With A Friend

Sophie stumbled out of the ride, her face showing no emotion.

"You good, Foster?" Keefe questioned. She didn't answer. Her other friends walked up with huge smiles.

"Is she good?" Fitz asked Keefe. He just shrugged. Dex walked up and waved his hand in front of Sophie's face. Sophie blinked and looked over at him.

"Never. Again." He laughed.

"That bad?"

"Considering she gripped my hand so tight I can't feel it at the moment, I would say it's pretty bad," Keefe answered for her. Biana waggled her eyebrows at Sophie when Keefe mentioned she had held his hand. She shifted from one foot to the other. Fitz rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Soph. It was fun!" She looked at him with both eyebrows raised.

"Fun? I almost died!" That was a bit of an exaggeration, but all the same. Fitz raised an eyebrow.

"I doubt that." She looked at the ground.

"I'm ready to go home. Or to a simple ride. Like the ferris wheel. Or the big swings. Something that doesn't go at a rapid speed or upside down." Linh smiled.

"I'll go ride with you if you want," she offered.

"And me," Biana said. "That thing ruined my hair." She brushed her fingers through her hair with a smile. Sophie rolled her eyes.

"You ladies mind if I join?" Keefe asked.

"Nope. Definitely not!" Biana replied rather quickly. Sophie shrugged and Linh just shook her head. "I'm Biana, and that's my friend Linh. You already know Sophie. And don't tell me who you are. I already know. You're Keefe Sencen, son of Gisela and Cassius Sencen." Sophie turned to Biana.

"How the heck do you know that?" Biana stared at her friend with her teal eyes, now wide in surprise.

"How do you not? Keefe's parents are close to the president! And he's really popular at Foxfire. I can't believe I didn't recognize him." Sophie turned to Keefe.

"Really?" He laughed nervously.

"Yeah. Um, we're a bit famous." He looked
down. "I know. It's weird."

"Not at all! I mean, my parents weren't exactly famous where I lived but, everyone knew them. And me," Sophie told him. She paused. "But I guess that isn't really the same is it?" Sophie's adoptive parents were known from her hometown. They had a daughter who died from a massive fire at her college and they were basically depressed for the longest time. Then they decided to adopt Sophie, the weird new girl in the orphanage who had a strange backstory. They were the talk of the town for a good while. He gave a small smile.

"I think it's the same. Just without the scandals and back-stabbing liars." She raised an eyebrow. "Nevermind." He looked over toward the ferris wheel and held out his arm. "Shall we?" She looked up at is face, then his arm, then his face again. She linked arms with Biana.

"Yep." She walked ahead of him. Biana looked at her as if she was crazy.

"You just missed an opportunity to walk with Keefe Sencen. Are you serious?" She rolled her eyes.

"You sound like a high-schooler."

"That's because I am in heart." Sophie just shook her head. They made their way to the ride, Fitz, Dex, and Tam all grumbling in the back.

"You guys can go ride another crazy coaster. I just need something calm," Sophie said to them. Dex grinned.

"Bye! I'll be on that one over there!" He pointed to one that had one too many loops for Sophie's liking. Tam jogged after him followed by Fitz. Linh rolled her eyes.

"They're all very annoying," she said. But then she laughed. Linh couldn't be mean for long. It wasn't in her nature. She was just an overly nice and happy person. Keefe nodded along. He was walking slowly in the back. Sophie turned her head so she could see him. He offered a small wave. He looked a little hurt and Sophie felt bad. Biana poked her hard in the ribs.

"Ow! What?" Sophie hissed.

"Go walk with Keefe," she said, not giving Sophie time to reply without letting go of her arm abruptly and running beside Linh. Sophie tripped but caught her balance. She noticed a hand held out right beside her and looked up to find Keefe smirking down again.

"Ah, here we are once again," he joked. Sophie bit back a smile. She didn't want to give Keefe the joy of winning to make her laugh. "You might want to tie your shoelaces. I wouldn't want you to fall for anyone else." Sophie snorted.

"You got that off of Tumblr or something didn't you?" She questioned, crossing her arms. When he didn't answer an knowing smile spread across her face. "You did! The famous Keefe Sencen goes on Tumblr for his pickup lines!" His hand went over her mouth.

"Shh. I can't have all the lovely babes know that!" She stared up at him and shook her head disapprovingly. When he removed his hand she said, "Tsk tsk tsk. You were supposed to be creative."

"I am creative!"

"Oh yeah, then give me a pickup line without using anything from Tumblr or any other website. And I'll know. I spend the majority of my life on the internet." He tapped his chin in thought for a moment before looking back at Sophie intently. He looked her up and down and it made Sophie a bit uncomfortable, causing her to blush. He smirked.

"You know, you blush too easily," he stated. She looked away. "I got it! Let me be the only one to make you blush." He said it in a soft voice, making Sophie look back at him.

"That's all you got?" He brought his hand up to his heart and gasped dramatically.

"How dare you criticize me? I am Lord Hunky Hair, the one of absolute charm and hotness!" She stared at him incredulously.

"You're like one of those jocks in 10th grade who think they're all that," she told him in a joking manner. He laughed and shrugged.

"It is what is. And I don't just think I am all that. I know I am." They had reached the ferris wheel without Sophie knowing and since there was no line, Keefe jumped right on. "Coming, Foster?" She shook her head again with a slight chuckle.

"Yeah, I'm coming."

.......

"You got his number!" Biana screamed loud enough for the whole parking lot to hear. She shushed her.

"Yes. But it's not like that. We're just gonna hang out at Foxfire." Biana's eyes were so wide Sophie thought they could pop out.

"Hang out," Biana mocked, her voice muffled. Fitz crossed his arms.

"Watch out for Keefe, Soph." She looked at him with a confused expression.

"Why?"

"He's a heartbreaker. Too many girls have cried over him." She brought her hand back to her side.

"Good thing we're not gonna be anything more than friends. Then he can't break my heart."

"Keep telling yourself that," Tam mumbled as he got into the van they had come in. Sophie could barely hear him and decided to ignore it. Biana pummeled her with a thousand questions, asking her what she thought about Keefe and what they were going to do and if she thought he was cute, none of which Sophie answered.

Dex saved the day and talked about the rides him, Fitz, and Tam went on. Sophie mouthed a 'Thank you' which was returned by a nod from her cousin. She sat back, thinking about Keefe. Had she just made a new friend?