018

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Sophie paled, anxiety flashing through her core.

Biana knew.

Which, in a way, was better than having the whole 'your brother deserted us for the Neverseen, fun!' conversation with her friend.

But also so much worse.

Biana knew that Sophie knew—and also knew that Sophie hadn't told her immediately.

To be fair, she had just been abducted by the Neverseen and tortured by Gethen, but she wasn't sure how sympathetic Biana would be to her excuses.

After all, her other brother had defected to the Neverseen, and now Fitz?

She couldn't imagine what Biana could be feeling right now.

"Hey, um," Sophie said uncertainly, grabbing the Imparter. "Can you still come over?"

Biana rolled her eyes, "Obviously. I want to know what happened."

Sophie breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you so much, Biana! I'm really sor—"

The Imparter flashed white and went black.

Sophie slumped against her headboard, rubbing her temples. "She hates me." She whined, eyes squeezed shut.

Keefe scooted closer to her.

"Fos— Sophie, she doesn't hate you," Keefe said patiently.

Sophie's mind was on a completely different topic. Keefe had just called her Sophie. He never did that.

"She's probably just feeling overwhelmed, okay? I mean, she did find out that her perfect brother joined the creepy cloak dudes, so it's understandable!" Keefe said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

Sophie leaned into him, burying her face in his neck.

He smelled like...

Like citrus and seawater.

She breathed in his heady scent, head spinning.

She looked up at him, and cupped his cheek, wincing at the bolt of pain that flashed through her arm.

She moved her lips to his, just about to kiss him when a knock on the door sounded.

"Ugh, again?" Sophie muttered, cheeks red.

Keefe smirked against her lips, "Aw, you want to kiss me so bad!"

Biana's voice floated into the room, "Um, guys? Can I come in, or are you making out?"

Sophie's face turned as red as the fire engines she saw as a kid.

"Making out?!" She practically shrieked. "No, no, please come in Biana!"

Biana strode into her room, dramatically flinging her door open.

Sophie's jaw dropped.

Biana's normally well-kept appearance was gone. She was disheveled, dressed in head to toe green, eyes puffy.

"B?" Keefe said worriedly, using an old nickname.

"What happened?" Keefe asked in a near whisper.

Her back straight, Biana flounced over to one of the chairs in Sophie's room. She flopped into the bed and said croakily, "Alvar's gone. They... found his body—" She choked on a sob, and more tears flowed, staining her cheeks.

"My dad, he," Biana hiccuped. "—told me right as I was coming to meet you guys. That's why I was kinda late."

Sophie stood up, rushing toward Biana with a tackle-hug. "I'm so sorry, B!" Biana hugged her back, choking out, "I— need— air to," She wheezed, "breathe."

Sophie loosened her hold on her best friend, "Sorry!" She said sheepishly, clutching Biana.

Keefe slid off the bed and threw his arms around the two of them, "Group hug!" He exclaimed.

Biana giggled through her hiccups and the tears still running down her face.

With Keefe's arms wrapped around her, and her holding Biana, she felt happier than she had in a long time.

Slowly, Sophie broke the embrace, sitting down on her petal carpet.

"B, you said they... found Alvar's body?" Sophie murmured, brow arched.

Biana stiffened, sitting down next to her, Keefe soon following in suit.

"Yeah, um," Biana hiccuped again, a stray tear falling from her eye. "Two Emissaries found him near an abandoned Neverseen hideout," She choked on a sob, overwhelmed. "And— and, I shouldn't even be this sad, because Alvar was with the Neverseen!" She hiccuped uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.

Sophie scooched closer to her friend, grabbing her hand.

"Hey. B." She said gently, squeezing Biana's hand lightly. "It's okay if you miss him. He's your family. You're allowed to care. Don't suppress your feelings, okay? Just... let them show themselves."

Biana dipped her head slightly, face still red and puffy. "T-thank you guys s-so much," she hiccuped, aggressively wiping at her eyes. "You're the best."

Keefe struck a ridiculous pose from the floor, smirking. "And don't you forget it!"

Sophie mock-swatted him. "Keefe! This is a serious moment! Support our friend." She admonished him.

Keefe sat up, eyes earnest. He looked at Biana, widening his eyes. "I'm sorry, B. You know that I'll support you in whatever you do."

Sophie's heart melted a bit.

When Keefe dropped his prankster-boy persona, he was so sweet and caring. It made her want to pepper his handsome face with kisses.

She blushed.

What was going on with her?

Sophie had never felt this strongly about someone—not even Fitz.

Fitz. Vacker.

Practically elvin royalty, with the looks to go along with it.

But Keefe...

He was so... him. He didn't care what anyone thought of him—and his confidence was practically unshakable.

Fitz, on the other hand...

He was so insecure. He had always asked Sophie for reassurance—and that whole thing when she wasn't 'allowed' to be near Keefe. She hadn't seen him for an entire month.

Back then, she had dismissed it as adorable jealousy, but now she realized that it could be a serious issue. When Fitz was jealous, he would go great lengths to get what he wanted—even if he hurt someone in the process.

A voice broke her out of her thoughts, "Foster? You alive?"

Sophie straightened, "Yup! Definitely!"

Biana eyed her suspiciously. "Mhm."

Keefe crossed his legs, "Sooo... topic change! Let's talk about the Neverseen!"

Biana groaned, "Can we not?" Her lip wobbled, and tears welled in her eyes, threatening to fall.

The Neverseen...

Ruy had helped her escape...

Wait, Ruy?!

"Where's Ruy?" Sophie burst out, eyeing Biana and Keefe.

"Oh, thought you'd never ask, Foster!" Keefe said cheerfully, one arm slung around Biana's shoulder.

"He's with the Forklenator, giving up information. 'Cause, y'know, he freed you and all that."

"Really?" Sophie asked in a near-whisper. She couldn't believe it.

Ruy, poster boy for the Neverseen—well, not exactly poster boy, was giving up information on the Neverseen?!

"Guys, that could swing this in our favor!" Sophie said excitedly, a small smile on her face.

Keefe smirked at her, "Yup. Maybe we'll be a step ahead this time!"

Biana smiled weakly, "Yeah..."

Keefe's Imparter suddenly buzzed.

He frowned, confused.

"Um, let me take this."

Keefe accepted the hail and a blank screen popped up.

"Agent Sencen, new orders effective immediately. Kill the traitor."








( remember to vote ++ comment ! <3 )


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net