Awakening (a kotlc story)

Part 4: Thank goodness Keefe didn't get rejected( that would have been awkward)

Keefe's heart hammered in his chest.

Sophie liked him. He had been able to sense it for a while, little flutters when he first met her but nothing real. But when they were hiding out with the Black Swan, the flutters turned into something bigger. A crush. He had also sensed her rejection, her refusal to acknowledge it.

Besides, she had liked Fitz from the start, and her crush on him was a lot bigger. He wanted Sophie to be happy because she...she was the most important person in the world to him. So he had let her go.

He had decided to be her friend. He decided to be there when she needed him, to understand and to listen. Sophie's life was complicated enough without adding his problems into the mix. It had been so difficult to grit his teeth and smile when she was with Fitz and to not say anything. To try and pretend he was glad for her. He could sense how much Fitz hurt Sophie sometimes by making her feel guilty and worthless. But he just listened when she came to him and tried to fix Sophie and Fitz's relationship. Trying not to hangout without Fitz, which Sophie had made very challenging, and trying to get Sophie and Fitz to hang out more.

But Sophie didn't like Fitz anymore. She liked Keefe. Keefe tried to bite back his smile, but it was impossible. His face broke into a wide grin. He took Sophie's hand and sent his emotions to her. She gasped at the sudden rush and smiled. Slow clapping came from behind them. Sophie and Keefe jumped.

It was Ro.