No Matter What

Keefe

As he let the warmth pull him away, he couldn't help thinking about what she would think. He forced himself to smirk as he glittered into the vast pastures of Havenfield. He happened to come right as Sophie was trying to train the alicorn babies. 

He waited until she was done, slow clapping spectacularly after. She turned towards him, and he smiled. 

"Nice job, Foster! You should be a circus trainer." She rolled her eyes, but her face flushed red. "Oh come on, Foster. Lighten up! How 'bout we go over to Calla's tree, that always loosens you up."

"Ok, but only if you promise to play nice."

"And what makes you think I wouldn't?" he asked, giving her what he hoped was a sweet smile. She shoved him, and he put his arms up in surrender. "Ok, ok, I guess I deserved that," he said with a sigh. "Now come on, there's still something I need to tell you."

As they walked, Keefe tried his best to come up with a good punch line to something that would maybe clue her in to his feelings. Somehow, when they got to Calla's tree, Sophie tripped and fell backward into Keefe. An idea popped into his head, and he blurted, "Did it hurt?"

"What?" she asked.

"When you fell from Heaven, 'cuz Foster, your an angel." A bewildered look crept onto her face.

"Are you... flirting with me?"

He shook his head. "I have been for the past five years! Gosh, your oblivious." 

She looked indignant. "Am not!"

"Are too. You really never noticed that I actually like you Sophie? All the times I said you're cute when you're worried? I meant it."

"But...but...you can't like like me! You're the perfect Lord Hunky Hair! You're cool, popular, cute..." Her face turned bright red. "I...uh..."

"Sophie! You're a piece of trash! And as someone who deeply respects and cares for the environment, I feel obligated to pick you up. How about eight tonight?" Sophie's mouth hung open for at least a minute before he added, "I'll take that as a yes. Now, get ready! Also... where should we go?"

She finally seemed to come to her senses, and said, "I know just the place. I guess I'll see you at 8? Grady will NOT be happy," she laughed. 

"Well, I better get ready. And make sure to wear red. It is definitely  your color."

Keefe had a dilema. He had no idea what to wear! On one hand, he wanted to impress Sophie. But he was afraid that if he went too formal, he would loose his "Keefeness". He had a blue tunic that matched his eyes perfectly, and looked so much better untucked. But he also had a stunning green jerkin with gold embroidery along the edges that would make him look amazing. 

After about half an hour of debating, he chose the blue one. He didn't want to scare Sophie away on their first date. Woah. A date with Sophie. Finally! He had spent so long ignoring his need for her, but he just couldn't do it anymore. And it was happening. In one hour, he would meet Sophie under Calla's tree. A knot on nerves formed in his stomach. What if she didn't want him anymore? What if the was tricking him? 

No. He had seen the lo k in her eyes when he asked her out. It was only surprise, and joy, and a twinge of longing. That couldn't be fake, could it? He shoved those thoughts out of his mind, and focused on perfectly tousling his hair. 

"Either you're being extra for no reason, or you've got a date." came a gravely voice behind him. Ro appeared behind him, s look of satisfaction on her face.

"Well, I'd tell you what I'm up to, but I have somewhere to be."

"Well, don't think you're going on a date without this," She held out a beaded necklace, each bead  painted with tiny flowers. 

"Where did you get this?" he asked. It was the necklace he had given to Sophie when he joined the Neverseen.

"Oh, I have my ways." And with that, she strutted out of the room. Well, he thought, better get going. And he let the light pull him away.