<Keefe's POV>

As I leap away, I wonder if I should've stayed. The look Sophie gave me was almost pleading when she glanced at me.

I land on the beach of my father's ridiculous house: the Shores of Solace.

I can tell he's not at home by the way the house is silent; recently, he's taken to learning dwarf vocalising as a coping mechanism.

I mope my way to my room and find Ro painting her nails purple with- SPARKLES?
Her purple hair is now braided into two chunky pigtails with sparkly strands of purple thread woven through them.

"Uh..Ro? Is that you? Sparkles? Really??" I clear my throat and look at her up and down, raising an eyebrow.

"Look, Hunkyhair, if you want to live without amoebas plaguing your life violently and your schedule revolving around the bathroom- quit criticising. And why, pray tell, are you home so early? You never come back early when it's her house.." Now it's her turn to raise her eyebrows.

"Look, Sophie had another visitor, and I felt like it was best if I left. That's all." I reply, staring at the ground.

"But why? You know you're her boyfriend, her boo, her love, her-"

"Yeah, yeah, we get it, we get it," I roll my eyes.

She purses her lips in a business like manner and asks, "So who was this mysterious visitor, hmm?"

"Why?" I shoot back.

"JUST TELL ME!" She yells.

"Fine, gah! It was Fitz.." I dejectedly say.

"That ass?! What's his business with your sweet girl?!?" She looks horrified.

"I don't know, but he came with a gift," I suddenly remember.

"A gift you say... huh. Hunkyhair, I ain't tryna spoil the mood but.. she ain't cheating on you, right? " She actually looks concerned.

"NO! Sophie would never! I'll hail her later.. I don't think she talks to Fitz much anyway. That day at Everglen, she didn't even say hi to him. Biana invited us anyway." I tell her.

"Oh, well, you better hail her later," she grimaces and gets up.

"Hey, where you going?" I ask

"To raid your dad's secret snack stash..? Duh!" She rolls her eyes with a wide grin and takes off running.

"This is why we are friends! I'm cominnn'" I yell and race after her.

***

Later that day, I decided to hail Sophie. I grab my imparter and call her. After a moment, she picks up.

"Hey Keefe! What's up?" She asks with a small smile.

"Just checking on you.." I reply

"I suppose you wanna know what happened just now with Fitz, right?" She says with a sigh.

"Yeah.. sorry.." I reply

"Don't be. There's no secrets between us," she reassures me, and we exchange loaded grins.

"Sooo.. in short, I think you can guess what Fitz wants, and it's basically just.. you know.. to-"

"Get you back?" I finish her sentence.

"Yeah.." she says with that cute little worry crease between her brows.

"And what did you say, Sophie?" I ask her gently.

"Nothing, it was all on a note that he wrote for me, and when I was reading it, he silently leapt away," she explains

"I see. Okay." I say.

"Keefe! Before you jump into any conclusions- I AM LOYAL TO YOU- AND ONLY YOU OK?" she clarifies.

I can't help but laugh, "Okay, okay, I know Sophie. I have to go now, I love you, see you tomorrow," I say, blowing her a kiss.

"I love you too Keefe, see ya," she says and hangs up.

It feels like a mammoth has been lifted off my chest, and I flop onto my bed and look at the ceiling, thinking of only one thing: Sophie only loves me!