Fallin' For You-Part 4

THIRTY-FIVE

Be prepared to HATE me, by the way

"Are you ready to head home?" Keefe asked once he'd dropped everyone off at their houses.

They didn't take Sophie's car yet since she couldn't drive it quite yet, so Dex drove it to his house and promised he'd give it back to her once she was out of her boot.

"Not yet," She said with a sigh. "I kind of want to get some ice-cream."

Keefe smirked. "That's exactly what I was thinking Foster. I mean, who wants to go home on an ice-cream free stomach?"

Sophie laughed as Keefe drove them both through town and to the ice-cream-cake-candy place. Sophie got strawberry and Keefe got chocolate.

"So," Sophie said with a smile. "Do you know when you're heading back to school?"

Keefe thought for a second before saying, "Probably in a week or two. I want to spend the fourth of July here, and then head back."

Sophie nodded. "That's nice."

It was quiet for a few beats, the two of them just eating ice-cream and enjoying each other's company. Then Keefe asked, "So, you want to be an astronomer because you like stars so much, right?"

Sophie sighed. "Well, I mean, that's been my plan for a really long time. I still think I'd love to do it, but since Senior year gets closer and closer, I'm just really indecisive. Some days I just want to grow up, get a simple job, get married, be happy..."

Keefe chuckled. "I don't think I could ever do that,"

Sophie's eyes widened as she blinked at Keefe. "Why...why not?"

"Well, it's not because I don't want to be happy or get married or all that," He said quickly. "But...I don't know. I feel like it'd be kind of hard for me to do something like that. I feel like, with anyone I'd want to be with, it'd just cause some problems. Both of my parents are jerks, I'm really indecisive, but impulsive at the exact same time. I just can't ask someone to deal with all that. I mean, if I were in their shoes, I'd be like: This person's crazy!"

Sophie had no idea what to say to that.

"Oh," Was all that came out of her mouth.

"Yeah," Keefe said, dragging a hand through his hair. "I just...I guess I wouldn't feel good enough for whoever I ended up with."

Sophie bit her lip, trying to find words to comfort Keefe. She wanted to tell him that he was good enough. He was everything everyone needed.

But her mind couldn't form those thoughts into words.

"Well," Keefe said after a long stretch of silence. "I think we should start heading out. Do you want to go straight home, or, like, walk around the park or something?"

Sophie swallowed down the fear that was stuck in her throat. "Uh, why don't we walk?"

"As you wish, Queen Foster." Keefe said, paying for their ice-cream and then holding the door open for her.

They started to walk down the side-walk until they reached the park. They walked for what felt like forever, talking about random things.

Then, something wet hit Sophie's nose.

"Is it...is it raining?" She and Keefe looked around, seeing light droplets of water falling everywhere.

"Nah," Keefe said. "It's just a little sprinkle. I think we'll be fine."

They continued to walk and talk, but Sophie couldn't stop thinking about what Keefe had said while they were eating ice-cream.

But she couldn't talk to him about it. That would end up being a pretty awkward conversation that would probably end with Sophie not talking and Keefe cracking a joke.

"So," Keefe said, nudging her a little bit. "Are you ready for Senior year?"

"Not exactly," She told him with a shrug. "After Linh's Valedictorian speech, I'm kind of terrified."

Keefe laughed. "Yeah, the Valedictorian's will do that to you."

Sophie laughed at that before saying, "And then the next step is college. I've already applied to a few, but I'm not exactly sure of the one's I really want to go to."

Keefe nodded. "That happens a lot too."

"I just want to make the right choice," She told him with a nod. "I want to be right."

"You'll get it right," Keefe said with a smile. "I believe in you Foster,"

Sophie smiled. "Thanks Keefe,"

Suddenly, lightning struck, and the sprinkles of water became pouring rain. Sophie's hair and clothes became instantly soaked and so did Keefe's.

They shared a quick look before running to the closest covering—the park's gazebo.

When they'd gotten under a cover, they both were breathing very hard. But when they both looked at each other, they burst into laughter.

"Well that was fun," Keefe said with a chuckle. "I didn't think the rain would come that fast."

"Me neither," Sophie panted, still out of breath from the running and the laughing.

Keefe smiled, looking out at the rain. "We should probably go home though," He said. "It's pretty late and I'm sure your parents will be worrying about where you are."

Sophie was about to agree, but then something came over her. Keefe was going to be leaving in a little over a month, and now that they were alone, it was the perfect time to tell him.

"Before we do," She said, taking a step closer to him. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Oh?" Keefe said, looking at her. "What is it?"

Sophie let out a breath. "It's about what we were talking about earlier. About...the future and all that other stuff."

Keefe blinked and his face became nervous. "Oh, what about it?"

"Well," She started. "First, I want to preface this by saying, I know you don't think you're good enough to be loved and for someone to want you, but you're wrong. There are tons of people around you that love you and care about you. And...I'm one of them."

Keefe's face held a billion different emotions as he looked at Sophie. He looked touched, happy, but above all confused.

"I know," He said. "I know I have a family with you guys, but I meant—"

"I'm talking about a different love." Sophie said abruptly, stopping Keefe from finishing his sentence. "I'm talking about me being in love with...you."

Keefe's eyes got wide and he looked surprised. "B-b-but you've never said..."

Sophie closed her eyes, her heart thumping loudly in her chest. "I'm in love with you Keefe!" Sophie exclaimed, tears falling from her eyes.

Whatever happened or whatever he said, Sophie didn't care. She'd told Keefe her feelings, now it was his turn to make a move.

She opened her eyes and looked right at him. "It'll always be you Keefe. I love you."

THE END!