April Fools

Foxfire

Keefe fell onto the cold hard ground, his hair losing some of its perfect shape that took hours to perfect. Damn you, green thing.

A few seconds later he registered that this green thing was in fact, not a green thing, or gnome or even an ogre.

"Bangs boy?"

The green Tam glared at Keefe, rubbing his cheek, probably from the fall.

"What's with the squinting?" Keefe asked, kind of annoyed because of his hair, "What am I the sun? Is my hotness just too much for your eyes to handle?"

Tam turned red. He sort of looked like a christmas tree. Or guacamole. Or virtually anything red and green. And angry.

Keefe raised his eyebrows. "Okay, well I'm gonna go and-" he trailed off as his hand felt something squishy and cold on his pants. He paled.

"Oh no." he mumbled, "oh no no no. Oh come on! Why me?"

"What is it?" Tam said.

Keefe didn't hear him over his panic. Maybe he could...but he wouldn't have enough time...or perhaps...no. No, there was no way he could find ingredients, make more paint bombs and have them ready for April Fools day on his own. There was no way.

"Keefe, what is it?" Tam said, louder this time.

Keefe glared at him. "Well, if you must know, ogre, -Tam frowned- my paint bombs got ruined. When I ran into you, I must have fallen on them and now I'll never have them ready in time."

"Ready in time for what?"

"April fools. Duh."

Tam pursed his lips. "Okay...how many paint bombs would you need to make?"

"About 30."

"Would it go by faster if two people helped make it?"

Keefe hesitated for a second. "Yeah, I guess, but nobody else wants to do it. I already asked Fitz, and Foster, and Biana, Linh, Wylie- he counted off his fingers- Marella, Dex-"

"What about me?" Tam interrupted.

"yeah-WAIT WHAT." Keefe looked shocked, "Why? But? How? What?"

Tam sighed. "Look, I don't want to but, -he took a deep breath in- it was kind of my fault your paint bombs got ruined." Tam looked like that was painful to admit. "So, I'll help you fix it. But just this once. And it doesn't mean anything. I still hate you. So so much." He glared at Keefe so as to make a point.

Keefe was stunned that Tam admitted he was in the wrong. Wow. Has that ever happened before? He wished he had gotten it on tape.

Tam glared at him waiting for Keefe to either accept his offer or laugh in his face.

Hmmm. the laughing in his face seemed tempting...but Keefe really did need the help. Keefe sighed. Goodbye dignity,...or whatever's left of it anyways. 

Keefe swallowed his pride.

"Okay."

"Okay what?" Tam said.

"Okay, you can help me. But just this once. And we never speak of it again. Deal?" Keefe held out his hand.

"Deal." Tam shook his hand.

His hands were surprisingly soft. Keefe wondered if he moisturized. Probably. He would have to ask Tam what brand. He kept shaking Tam's hand lost in thoughts of moisturizer and soft hands.

Tam cleared his throat. His face was red.

Keefe jerked his hand away, realising he has been shaking it for an awkward amount of time.