Keefe made it to P.E. with just enough time to allow him to find the others across the crowded gymnasium part of the crystaly school with a bit of help from Ro, who as usual was too busy complaining about the sparkles rather than the fact that there almost seemed to be more than the usual amount of prodigies. It took Keefe a moment to realize the reason things felt as though they were doubled was because people had already begun to split into large groups with their levels. Still, the numbers felt off.

"Is it just me," Keefe started as he reached his friends, "or are there more people than usual?"

"Exillium just sent over a bunch of students." Biana smiled. "They all got approved to come back here and it's their first day."

"Which," Marella said, sliding over, "you would've heard if you weren't giving P.D.A with your boyfriend over there." She gestured towards Dex who was sat on the bleachers with his knees drawn to his chest.

Dex snorted. "Jealous you don't have someone to distract you from the too-loud-and-boring announcements?"

Marella gagged as Fitz chuckled. "As if."

"She believes in cooties." Stina smirked. Keefe turned around to find her standing smugly behind him before she was punched in the shoulder by the small pixie-like girl. "Ow - what gives?"

"Cooties aren't real and anyone who even believed they were a thing should be given a trial for their shier stupidity. I just don't really have likings to people." She shrugged.

"That's fair." Sophie said, preventing anyone else from cutting in. "Tons of humans are the same way."

Marella gave them all a satisfied smile while Dex forced himself into a standing position and made his way over to where Keefe stood.

"You run into Lady Drool yet?"

"Lady who?" Fitz asked.

Keefe ignored him as he took a gentle hold of one of the boy's hands. "Thankfully no. But alas, if she comes up behind me expecting something of me, I do expect a kiss so that you might show her who I belong to."

Dex rolled his eyes, but the dimpled smile stayed on his face. "You belong to no one. However, you are my boyfriend, so I guess that counts for something."

Someone made - no, scratch that - someones made retching noises from behind them. Keefe figured it was probably Marella again and Fitz. Maybe Stina too. Not that he cared much.

Dex's eyes darted to look behind Keefe before he lifted his left hand, bringing it up to the side of Keefe's face so that he could lean in and give his cheek a quick peck. Keefe grinned and closed his eyes as he felt Dex give another shy kiss to his jawline as well. He really hoped Dex meant them to be as loving as they felt.

"Today, prodigies," A mentor began to call out, causing Dex to pull away, "we will be playing Jumpball."

Another mentor cleared her throat. "Please get into groups with those of your level - and there's no need to separate by gender today. We will be having a full tournament and the winning level will get two hours off of school this coming Wednesday."

Keefe scoffed. "Why would that be the reward when we can just skip?"

Sophie sighed. "You amaze me."

In an attempt to make her - and hopefully Dex as well - giggle Keefe put a hand on his hip and jutted it out with a wink. "Why thank you."

"Alright, gorgeous," Dex said, putting his hands on Keefe's shoulders to guide him away, "that's enough. Go join your level and try not to cry as we smash you."

"Wha - I - you better watch yourself, Dizznee." Keefe pointed a finger at the Technopath as he walked away with Fitz. "I'm warning you."

"I'm terrified." Came Dex's sarcastic response.

"I love you."

"Love you too."

***

"What are you doing?" Fitz asked, placing a hand on the Empath's shoulder.

Keefe jumped, startled. He glanced at the other for a moment before going back to what he was watching. Some guy in Dex's level with curly brown hair was talking to the strawberry blond. And not in a casual friendly way it seemed by the way Dex's cheeks were flushed and by how the other was smirking. Smirking was Keefe's thing!

"Dude," Fitz called again. "The game's about to start. Quit zoning out."

"Sorry, sorry." Keefe apologied. But he just couldn't bring himself to quite pull his eyes away from the two of them for too long. Though, in his defense, that guy wasn't leaving his fake boyfriend alone. Every time he looked through the holes in the net boom! the two of them were stood together, talking like the world was about to end.

Who even was that guy anyways? Keefe had never seen him at the school before. He figured that meant he was from Exillium, which immediately brought his mind into other territories. What if this dude was trying to get Dex to do something illegal with him? What if he was preying on Dex? What if Dex was his new target? What if-

Keefe grunted as he fell backwards at being smacked in the face by an object that seemed way too hard and way too fast. He groaned and grabbed his nose, looking down at his feet where a white ball bounced. He was forced to glance back up at the sound of a loud whistle being blown by one of the coaches, signaling that his level was the first out.

Ashamed, he looked back at Dex who offered a supportive, small grin. Meanwhile the boy next to him stood, covering his mouth in a vain attempt to hide his obvious enjoyment of the situation. The brunette slapped Dex on the back a few times, saying something which had Dex looking downwards a bit and nodding with embarrassment.

Had he asked if Keefe was really Dex's boyfriend - and, if so, was Dex really that humiliated by him?

"Let's go." Fitz mumbled, guiding him towards the bleachers. Even he seemed to know what was going on by then considering his now, unusually quiet voice. "Your nose is bleeding. Let's get you to Elwin."