Fostering Love

Chapter 1: Did We Win?

Sophie Foster was confused.

And lost.

And angry.

Was this really a victory? They had saved so much, except for one thing. One person. The one they sacrificed. The one they lost.

Tam.

These thoughts swirled around in Sophie's head as she got dressed for Foxfire. It didn't seem right to return to school without Tam, but all the adults insisted they continue their education. But the way Sophie saw it, resuming their daily lives was a waste of time to distract them from the bigger issues at hand. And she couldn't stand it.

That was how she ended up bruising herself in Physical Education again—though she really was trying to master the new, more rigorous curriculum installed after the latest Neverseen attack.

"Back again?" Elwin laughed as Sophie slipped inside the Healing Center. She gave him a sheepish smile before noticing the other patient in the room.

"Keefe? What're you doing here?"

"Just trying to break your record, Foster," he joked. "It's no big deal."

"Actually, he got a splinter in his hand from Agriculture," Elwin called from his lab, and Ro snorted.

"Hey—I can already see that adorable face of yours scrunching up," Keefe pointed out. "You don't have to worry about me."

The last part seemed to carry a weight that Sophie wasn't sure what to make of. But she knew one thing:

"I'll always worry about you, Keefe."

"And I'll worry about both of you," Elwin jumped in, saving them from an awkward silence. He handed Keefe a few vials of elixirs and rubbed a salve over where the splinter had cut. "Maybe you should help him with those, Sophie."

"Cool, so I'm finally getting the special Fitzphie Recovery Marathon treatment, huh?"

Sophie rolled her eyes and stared down at the vial to hide her blush. She wasn't even sure why she still always blushed at silly things like that, considering how far her relationship with Fitz has come, but she couldn't help it. Just like how she couldn't help feeling out of place whenever she imagined herself really becoming part of the Vacker family—not that that was happening anytime soon. Especially since she still hadn't told Fitz she was unmatchable. The word sent a subtle shudder down her spine.

"Hey what's wrong, Foster?" Keefe gently lifted her chin up to face him.

Sophie would never admit these worries. Not just because this was Keefe, but also because she was ashamed of focusing on such little things when there were so many other, more important problems. So she gave him her most convincing smile and replied, "Nothing. Just thinking."

"About what?"

Sophie bit her lip. "It's just . . . This doesn't feel right, you know? Did we really win?"

Keefe knew immediately what she was talking about. "Of course we won. No one was hurt. Luna and Wynn are safe. And sometimes winning comes at a price, but . . . a win is still a win, right?"

"I guess so." Sophie managed another smile.

If Keefe suspected anything, he didn't say it. He just nodded, took his medicine from her, and stood up.

"I'll handle this on my own, Foster. You just worry about getting yourself checked," he reassured her, nodding at the large purple bruise on her knee. Sophie's brows furrowed and she opened her mouth to say something else, but Keefe was already out the door with a small wave. Ro glanced at Sophie, then followed him out.