ALWAYS, kotlc

pranks

"The Great Gulon Incident ended too quickly," Keefe whined, tearing a hand through his hair as the breeze swept across the porch, swinging them slightly from where him and Sophie sat on his swing.           

"You know.. I never got the clear story on that..." Sophie said hopefully.

"Ha. And I'd like to keep it that way." He smiled when she frowned and added, "What? A boy's gotta keep some secrets."

"Only some," Sophie emphasized, resting her head on his shoulder. "But honestly- what do you mean?"

Keefe acted like he was ignoring her and went on. "You know, Fitzey promised that he was going to stop by and bring me some mallowmelt since Lord Snoopypants takes zero time to do that... and he didn't! Can you believe it Foster?"

"Actually.. yes?" Sophie said, stifling a giggle at his trademark drama. "And don't tell me you're going to..."

"Ding ding ding!" Keefe said enthusiastically. "Give the girl a prize!"

"Fitz is going to kill you," Sophie warned.

"Eh. It's part of the fun." Keefe grinned at her devilishly.   "And besides! I've been planning revenge from the minute he was late! But..." he shrugged. "I'm drawing a blank. Any ideas?"

"You're the pranking expert," Sophie pointed out. "I'm just the-"

"Beautiful bystander?" Keefe said, batting his non-existant eyelashes at her innocently. Sophie slapped his arm.

"I've got an idea," Keefe whispered like he was afraid that somehow Fitz would overhear from all the way over in Everglen.

"Somehow I have a feeling I'm going to regret this...." Sophie said as he dragged out the suspense.

"You will," Keefe promised, locking eyes with her and grinning.  "You can teleport Foster! It's genius!  How have I never noticed this before?"

"You've teleported with me hundreds of time, Keefe," Sophie deadpanned.

"I'm well aware!" Keefe said.  "But... you've never pranked with me."

"And you want me to?" Sophie asked, amused.

"Everything's better with the lovely lady Foster," Keefe told her, grinning.  "Come on! I was preparing a very nice bowl of mastadon poop for good ol' Daddio, but this cause is more important!  Here- I actually hid it next to his bedroom..."

"I love you so much right now Keefe Sencen," Sophie whispered as he tip-toed out the door and she followed.

"You always love me," Keefe corrected, grabbing her hand and pulling her with a little yelp into a bedroom.  "Ta-Da! Behold! It's my masterpiece!"

"Ew! That's like.. a combination of rotten eggs and the scent of a middle school locker room," Sophie said disgustedly. The aroma was so bad she could practically taste it.

"Exactly!" Keefe said delightedly.

"I can't believe you and I are pranking my ex," Sophie said, and then quickly added, "But I love it."

"I always knew you had it in you," Keefe promised, sneaking up closer to the huge bowl of poop and scooping a load of it into a container. His voice was distorted from plugging his nose as he told her, "Perfect!"

Sophie choked on her laugh.

"What do you need me to do?"

Keefe grinned at her evilly. "Do what your best at! Cause chaos! But in all seriousness... you know, just a tiny little smear across his pillow, or ooh! Maybe Mr. Snuggles? That couldn't hurt, could it?"

Sophie felt a smile of her own breaking out. "Of course not. Here, move aside, I need the window..."

"I always knew I could count on you!" Keefe called giddily as she closed her eyes and snapped into the void.

____________

"....And I still think you stole my makeup!" Biana was arguing hotly as Sophe stumbled through the window into Fitz's room... it sounded like they were in the bedroom next door....

"What in the world what I want to do with makeup?" Fiz asked indignantly. "What, does it look like I put makeup on?"

"It's a shame you don't," Biana shot back. "It might be the only thing that would save your horrible looks!"

Sophie darted to his bed, dumped half of the mastadon poop on Mr. Snuggles and half on his pillow. Then she used the container to smear it around. And before she could get caught, she teleported away.

______________

"Back so soon?" Keefe asked hopefully.

"Success!" Sophie told him happily, dumping the remaining mastadon poop contents in the trash. "Can I stay over tonight?"

"Sure," Keefe whispered, clicking out the lights.

They could hear Fitz's scream all the way from the Shores of Solace.