TW: language

I spent the rest of the day with me myself and I. It was really nice. I don't usually get alone time, having Grady, Edaline, my aunt and uncle, the triplets, Dex, and my friends all having something to tell me when I finally get peace and quiet. Oh, also Noah before I broke up with him. I love my friends and family, I really do, but I also just need some time to myself sometimes.

And everyone can bet, I enjoyed it. I watched a movie trilogy on my phone, read a book, even found out that I'm practically an art prodigy from my portrait of Dex. I'd have to show my family at dinner.

I also did some meditation and self-reflection. It was really peaceful until I heard Bex's screechy voice.

"SOPHIE! DINNER!" I groaned, hopping to my feet and grabbing my painting, then ran (tumbled) down the stairs.

Dinner was at my house that night, and the dining room was already set up. Which actually sucks because I love setting the table. Thankfully, Edaline immediately noticed the canvas in my hand.

"What's that?" She asked, reaching for it. I quickly pulled it away, hiding the front by pressing it into my stomach.

"We've gotta wait until everyone's sitting down, it's a big surprise. I think I should be an artist, and this painting inspired me. That's all you have to know for now." What they didn't know was they were in for a big surprise.

Grady, Juline, and Rex helped carry out the humongous dishes (my family ate like true Americans, basically quadruple sized portions), then everyone sat down. However, I remained standing.

"I have a small announcement." I began. I hid my slight chuckles in a cough. "I think I've discovered my true passion. While it's still in the arts, it's not singing. I made a painting. It's actually in honor of Dex, because he's helped me through so much. So I present to you my portrait of Dex!" I flipped it around, showing my family the masterpiece. Kesler spit out his water in shock (obviously of my talent), the triplets giggled (of envy because they wish they were as good as me), Juline and Edaline tried to hide their awe in disappointment, and Grady couldn't even contain his giggles (from surprise at my talent). Dex turned bright red (happy that I portrayed him so perfectly). Edaline spoke up first.

"Sophie... That's a painting of the poop emoji, and it has a pink bow on it. While it's admittedly very good, definitely not your cousin. And the bow, really? We talked about you being homophob-" Juline very obviously kicked my adoptive mother under the table. Some people just don't appreciate talent.

Dex grabbed it and then... hugged me? Talk about a shocker.

"I love it Sophie, thank you." Next he was crying. CRYING! What in the world? That was literally the black swan of reactions. "May I keep it? I want to hang it up in my room." Then I was crying. He liked it! He really did!

"Aww of course! I'm glad you like it. And thank you, for appreciating true art when you see it." I hugged him back.

"How could I not? It's literally a spitting image of me!" I was full on bawling. He understood, he really did.

We continued to sob for a while before getting yelled at because the food was getting cold.

After dinner, I went upstairs, took a shower, brushed my teeth, then went to bed. I definitely did not dream of Keefe.

I woke up to my phone repeatedly buzzing. Over and over and over. I groaned and reached for it, not finding it. Eventually, I noticed it was in my hands, a text from me quickly making its way to the top of the group chat between my friends and I.

What, do I sleep text now? Is that how addicted to my phone I've gotten? I have problems.

I looked at my text.

Me: di uou giys wanna hamg our

Maybe I should keep my phone far away when I sleep. And never show my face again. The embarrassment from the mistakes would be too much to take.

emo sk8erboi: Do* you* guys* hang* out*

prince athlete cliche: stop being such a know-it-all bangs boi. she's probably just tired, she sent it at four a.m.

dexipoo: actually she's still asleep, but holding her phone. it's weird. she's snoring so ik it's deep sleep too

prince athlete cliche: ofc she sleep texts, one more classic quirk lol

bia: guys stop bullying her, she can sleep text if she wants to sleep text.

linh: I think we should normalize sleep texting. Sounds like fun!

Linh's message got sent right when I woke up, but there was still a few more new ones.

emo sk8erboi: I don't want you sleep texting. It's probably bad for you. It makes a lot of sense that Sophie does it.

future arsonist: it seems funny. like imagine waking up and seeing that you sent a really embarrassing text with terrible spelling lol

I groaned, typing out a response.

me: it's bad

prince athlete cliche: lollllll

dexipoo: yay the snoring finally stopped!

me: i will paint the walls with your blood

dexipoo: and we all know you're such a great painter

I actually laughed out loud. Everyone on the group chat was confused, but that's okay. Some jokes are meant to stay inside.

About an hour later (it was eight in the morning) my friends arrived and we were all in my room. Edaline made her specialty, this marshmallow caramel cake thing she called mallowmelt, and we were all sitting in a circle, stuffing ourselves with it.

We all went down to the living room and watched Tangled on the big TV (girls vote plus Dex won!), then went back to my room.

"Leave the door open!" Grady shouted. In retaliation, I slammed it shut loud enough for him to hear, then opened it so he'd be happy. I don't actually go against my adoptive dad's wishes, I love him and know he just wants the best for me. Doesn't mean I don't like messing with him, though.

We'd been playing games for about ten minutes when my closet door opened. I turned, expecting to see my rat is some fancy getup. But no. The one time he needs to dress fancy, he's in sweats and an off the shoulder t-shirt with some weird looking stains. My eyes widened in horror.

"Iggy!" I gasped. Everyone's attention turned towards my rat. "What are you wearing?!" I got up and started walking towards him. He tried to run, but didn't get far before I grabbed him. "I should take away your closet privileges after this. I trust you to choose your own clothes, then you wear this when there's company. If you don't go change right now, I'm gonna start picking out your clothes for the day. And trust me, you won't be happy." I glared for extra measure and set him back on the ground. My friends all looked stunned, except for Dex, he acts like he's used to it. Which is weird, because he didn't even know Iggy existed when we moved here.

"What just happened?" Biana asked. Before I could respond, Iggy came back out.

This time, he was wearing his sparkly pink ball gown, his matching tiara, and a full face of makeup.

"That's much better." I told him. I picked him up again, but lovingly, and nuzzled him into my cheek. "Who's my pretty little boy? You are!"

"Boy?" I heard Tam whisper. Who's he to judge? He's emo! My pretty little rat can wear whatever he wants!

"Yes, boy." I told him. "Boys can wear whatever they want, and you're one to judge. Have you seen what you wear? Don't judge my little baby for living his dreams. If he wants to be a princess he can be a princess. At least he's actually able to pull off his looks... unlike you." I glared again, this time directed at the emo. How dare he hurt my baby's feelings!

I sat back down in the circle, still cuddling Iggy to my chest. He climbed up onto the top of my head and laid down, not before messing up my hair to make himself a little nest. Biana, who was right next to me, kept looking up at him.

"Can I pet him?" She asked. Tam and Fitz immediately bolted up.

"Biana no." Fitz told her.

"You might get rabies!" Tam added.

"That's probably why Sophie's the way she is!" Fitz finished. Which, ouch, but he might have a point.

"Sure! I told her. "He really likes under the chin and behind the ears." She reached up and soon I could feel the rat rolling onto his back. "Give him some belly rubs, he rolled over so he's telling you it's okay."

She giggled as his foot thumped against my head. Dex, who was on the other side of me, reached up too. He quickly flinched away with a yelp, Iggy still hanging onto his finger.

Everyone was laughing as Dex tried to shake him off. I smacked my cousin.

"Be careful! If he lets go while you're shaking him, he's gonna get hurt!" I held my hand under Dex's, letting Iggy sit down. After a second, he let go of my cousin's finger and climbed up my arm and back onto my head. "If he doesn't roll over for you, don't give him belly rubs, he only lets people he trusts rub his belly." I warned them.

"Aww he trusts me?" Biana squeaked. I nodded.

"He really likes you, he never lets new people give him belly rubs." Her face flushed, clearly happy.

Linh came up next wanting to pet him, and he instantly rolled over for her too. He even did it for Marella. All of the boys he bit on the spot, without letting them even give him regular pets. Except for Keefe.

... Maybe Iggy approves?

The next day, we were back at school. I was walking to lunch when I felt someone's eyes on me. I turned and saw Noah, staring me down across the hallway. He smirked, and I knew he was staring at my still swollen nose. I quickly looked away and kept walking.

I was almost to the cafeteria when my foot ran into something big and hard, and I went crashing to the ground. Laughter rained down from above me and I turned over to see one of Noah's teammates leering over me. He tripped me. Couldn't Noah just get over himself? Did he really have to make school bad too? Please tell me this isn't gonna be a regular thing.

I started to lift myself up when a familiar hand stuck out in front of me. Keefe's hand. I grabbed it and he pulled me up. He grabbed a hold of my wrist and pulled me close next to him. It was probably as close to holding hands with him as I'd get.

"Huxley," Keefe practically growled. If I was Huxley, I'd be shaking and crying and wanting my mom at that point. "What the hell is wrong with you?! You, all of you," he directed to everyone in the hallway, "need to back off! If Noah's telling you to do something, don't do it. None of this is your business so leave it between us. I don't want to see any of you even breathe wrong around Sophie, and if you hurt her in any way, I'm coming after you." He turned his attention back to Huxley. "And you, do you even know what happened? Noah was doing the same thing to her as Brielle did to you. And you didn't like that much, did you? Why are you taking Noah's side on this?" Huxley looked like he was about to respond, and he almost looked ashamed, but Keefe cut him off. "No, I don't want to hear any pathetic excuses you come up with. You go and tell everyone on the team to not mess with Sophie. And if they do, I'll kick their asses. And tell them what a little bastard Noah is, because I know it hurt you, the way Brielle treated you. If you keep supporting Noah, you're supporting her and everyone like them."

"I didn't know." Huxley said.

"I don't care, just don't do it again and don't let anyone do the same thing. And tell Noah he's ending up six feet under if he doesn't leave Sophie alone." Huxley nodded and ran away.

I turned to Keefe with a big smile on my face. The romantic in me was giggling and blushing and kicking my feet. Keefe had been the first person to beat someone up to protect me, and scream at a bunch of people to protect me. He really wasn't helping my growing feelings for him.

"Thank you." I could barely speak above a whisper, still shocked at the turn of events.

"Anything for you, Foster." He smirked, but not the usual mischievous one. More a sweet one, like he really would do anything for me. Seriously, man of my dreams, right in front of me.

I hugged him tight before he could see my blush. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around my waist. MY WAIST! I wanted to scream, up until he lifted me up so our heights could match more. He. Lifted. Me. Up. In. A. Hug.

I might die from the love I feel for this man.

This one's kinda a filler, but also family and friend vibes so idk. Oh and Sokeefe action! You all should appreciate this, I spoiled you!!! I hope you enjoyed, and I can't remember I'm pretty sure someone gave me the idea for the Iggy dress up thing, so if that was you can you please remind me so I can give you credit? Anyways thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Adios!

Avery, out ->

🫳

🎤