Sophie gaped, mouth open wide, unable to form words. What was going on?

She stared, on the edge of horror, as Fitz and Linh kissed. Tam looked extremely unhappy, but resigned. So... this wasn't a new thing. Biana and Dex looked shocked and disgusted but slightly intrigued. And Keefe... Keefe was staring right at her, trying to gauge her reaction.

Sophie looked back at Keefe, silent questions in her eyes. Keefe shrugged. Apparently he had no idea either.

Sophie turned back to Fitz and Linh, who were still kissing. They didn't look like they were planning on stopping anytime soon, either. Sophie, still stunned but unable to look away, remained standing like an idiot.

This was nothing like her brief kiss with Fitz... it wasn't even like her kisses with Keefe. It looked like they had been building up to this for a while... but Sophie had seen no evidence of that. Except... that weird look they had exchanged when they were talking about the sleepover. Had they met when he left? Sophie didn't want to know. She looked at Keefe again, with no idea of what to do. He stood up and slipped his hand into hers, leading her away and out into the hall. Sophie couldn't resist one look back- they still hadn't looked up. Sophie could tell FItz had seen her, though, and was watching her reaction.

Just as she was about to turn away, she saw Dex and Biana exchange a look, then hurry after Keefe and Sophie. Tam stayed where he was, but looked anywhere except his sister.

Sophie turned towards Keefe once they were out in the hallway. She stared at him mutely. Biana and Dex found them and walked over.

"Sophie..." Biana started.

Sophie slipped her hand out of Keefe's and held it up to stop her. "Yeah. What... what happened?"

"We don't know." Dex said. "They'd been exchanging weird glances all day, but..." he trailed off.

"When they saw you coming over... it looked like they planned it." Keefe said gently.

"But... but why? Are they... together?"

"I guess so." Keefe said awkwardly. "But..."

"My jerk of a brother got together with Linh just to hurt you." Biana said bluntly. "I should've figured it out. The way he offered to call her and invite her to the sleepover, but left early and was exchanging weird glances with her the next day... he wasn't super subtle."

Sophie leaned against the wall, stunned. "So we break up, and he gets together with Linh to rub it in?"

"Well... seems like it." Keefe admitted. "But it's okay. Just show him that you don't care."

"But I-"

"I know." He interrupted her. "But if you don't let him get to you, he might stop."

Sophie snorted. "Did that look like he would up and stop to you? I've never seen anyone kiss like that- except in movies. That was disgusting." She glanced at Biana. "No offence."

"No, it totally was." Biana agreed. "I can't believe that's my brother."

Sophie realized how hard this must be for Biana. "Look, you guys didn't have to come out here."

"You think we wanted to watch that?" Dex asked incredulously. "Yeah... hard pass."

Sophie realized she was still holding her lunch tray with one hand. She set it down on a nearby table, her appetite gone forever.

"Lunch is almost over." Keefe said gently. "Do you want to go ahead to PE? Or we could ditch. Whatever you want."

"It... it's okay. It's silly for this to make me upset. Let's go ahead to PE."

"Okay." And Keefe took her hand again with a glance at Dex and Biana. They got his hint and went ahead. Keefe led her gently down the hall, but paused when he realized she had started to cry quietly.

He turned her around to face him, then led her to a bench and sat down beside her. Not too close, though. He seemed to want to give her space. Sophie didn't want space, though. She needed reassurance. So she scooted closer, laying her head on his shoulder. His arm came up immediately and rested across her protectively. She relaxed into his chest, but continued crying.

"I don't understand." she said through her tears. "Was he trying to pay us back? Did he just want to hurt me?"

Keefe hesitated. "I think it's his twisted version of payback. You break up with him and start dating me, he starts making out with Linh in the middle of the lunchroom."

"Did I really hurt him that much?" Guilt flowed through her. She hadn't handled anything correctly.

"No, Sophie." Keefe tightened his arm around her. "It's okay. It isn't your fault. It's Fitz's decision- and it definitely didn't gain him any popularity."

"What about Linh? She's just fine with that?"

"I don't know. He's probably twisted the story. I guess he would've had his pick of girls, most of them have had crushes on him since they met him." He said this last part with a sad twinge in his voice, and Sophie knew he was talking about her.

"Keefe, I'm-"

"No, Sophie. This isn't about me. I don't need a bunch of girls who have silly shallow crushes and only care about a family legacy and good looks. Why would I?" He pulled her closer. "I have you."

Aaand Sophie started crying even harder.

"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" He pulled away, holding her gently by the shoulders to search her face.

"Keefe... I love you so much. But I don't understand you. Literally every girl in the school has a crush on you- no one cares about your family- and you still... you still..." Her brain finished the sentence, even though she couldn't push out the words. He still wanted her.

"Sophie. Those girls... that's not love. It doesn't matter at all. I love you. I love you because you are talented and powerful and beautiful and completely your own person... and I know you don't believe me- I can feel it- so I will keep telling you so until you do."

Sophie cried so hard she had hiccups, but Keefe squeezed her tighter and whispered in her ear.

"It's going to be okay, Sophie. Someday it won't matter to you what anyone else thinks. It doesn't matter to me."

"I know, and that's why I feel so bad that it does matter to me! It shouldn't!"

"It isn't bad to care what people think. You have a lot riding on you, and I wish you'd take some of the pressure off yourself. But... that's what I'm here for."

She nestled her head farther into the crook of his neck, deciding she was never leaving. "You are pretty good at that."

"I'm good at everything, Foster. Keep up." He laughed. She thought about giving him a look, but couldn't make herself move. He laughed again. "You know it's time for PE, right?"

Sophie sighed. "Do we have to?"

"No. But I figured you wouldn't want to cross Grady."

"Ugh... fine." She reluctantly stood up. He did too, and stepped close to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She leaned back, making him tighten his hold and pull her back up, like some old-fashioned dance move. He laughed and spun her around, kissing her softly.

Then he hugged her close one more time before releasing her- but intertwined their fingers. They made it to PE just before the bell rang. They had some normal skills training, but then the coach called them to circle up for an important announcement.

"We have a special assignment. You will need to pair up-" The words had barely gotten out of his mouth before everyone looked around for their friends. Sophie locked eyes with Keefe immediately, and he smirked and shrugged. Sophie turned just in time to see Biana grab Dex's arm- he turned bright red but grinned at her. Sophie tried not to notice Fitz wrapping his arm around Linh.

Sophie almost laughed at the look on Tam's face as he looked around for someone to pair up with since his twin was with Fitz. Suddenly, Marella appeared out of nowhere and claimed him in her bossy way. He looked relieved... and was that a hint of a blush on his cheeks?

"Now that you are all paired up, I hope you will let me explain the assignment," the coach continued, slightly annoyed. "We have never had this type of assignment here at Foxfire before. Each team will be assigned a special ability. They will try to replicate this ability with their skills. Don't worry," he said as the prodigies gasped and whispered. "These are all possible. And they will not be abilities that either member already possesses. By next class, you should all be able to convince someone that you possess the ability you are assigned. Any questions? Good." And he nodded at several teachers in the back of the room who went around distributing a slip of paper to each team.

Keefe grabbed their slip, and read it before showing it to Sophie.

'Hydrokinetic,' it said simply.

"So we have to try to use our skills and act like a hydrokinetic?" Sophie asked, bewildered. "I wonder why they're doing this."

"Probably part of the same thing to put more emphasis on our skills. But this shouldn't be too hard. Wanna come over to the Shores of Solace and practice on the beach?"

"I would, but... Grady told me to come straight home."

"So do. Go home to change out of your uniform, and tell him we have an assignment we need to work on at my house. It'll be the middle of the afternoon, and my dad will be home. He can't argue!"

He made a convincing point. But Sophie knew her father would have no problem arguing. But... they did have a chance. So Sophie smiled up at him and promised she'd ask.

She was still smiling as they made their way to study hall. When they got there, the smile fell off her face. Fitz was sitting against the wall in their usual spot, his arm wrapped around Linh- who was practically sitting on his lap. Her head was resting in the crook of his neck, and he was leaning his head over hers, whispering something. It made her want to throw up. And Keefe could feel it.

He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Don't tell me that's jealousy I feel?"

"No way. It's disgusting."

"Really? Because I was about to suggest we did the same thing."

She gave him a look. "That'd seem desperate."

"Probably. Is that a bad thing?"

"Yes, Keefe. Let's sit normally."

He pouted at her.

"Okay, fine. Maybe not normally. But not exactly like they're sitting."

"Hmm." And he led her over to the spot literally across from Fitz and Linh.

"Keefe." Sophie whisper-hissed. "What are you doing?"

"Just saying hi!" He said loud enough for anyone to hear. "I mean, they are our best friends, right?" He said the last part with an exaggerated look to the giggling prodigies around them- rumors spread fast. Most of them probably knew what was going on, and the rest were finding out.

But Sophie was nervous. "Not now, Keefe." She whispered. "It's not worth it."

"Yes." he whispered in her ear. "Yes, you are worth it."

She blushed and let him lead her to the spot across the narrow hallway from their friends. They sat down, and Keefe pulled her into an almost identical position as the one Fitz and Linh were in.

"What are you doing?" Fitz asked, irritated.

"Just sitting across from my best friend!" He stressed the last words. "With my girlfriend!" He managed to keep a straight face. Sophie was getting nervous- she almost didn't realize that this was the first time he'd called her his girlfriend. Fitz was getting madder and madder, and there was a hidden edge to Keefe's voice. She knew he was doing this for her, but...

"So, Fitz... how was your day?" Keefe asked in an extra-friendly voice with a big grin.

"Wonderful, thank you." Fitz spat, pulling Linh even closer. She had a nervous expression on her face too- she clearly knew exactly what was going on.

"Good, good. I see you and Linh are... close." Keefe smirked.

"Closer than any girl would willingly get to you." Fitz retorted.

And, just like in the movies, Sophie heard a whisper of 'Ooh, burrrn' around them.

"Is that so?" Keefe asked, still grinning ear-to-ear. He made a clear but subtle motion to Sophie, nestled up against him.

"Keefe, stop it." Sophie tilted her head up to whisper in his ear.

"But I'm having so much fun!" He grinned at her, but spoke mostly to the hallway around them.

Fitz gritted his teeth visibly. "How does it feel to be the second boyfriend? The second kiss? The second best?"

The crowds hushed. Everyone knew he'd gone too far. But Keefe didn't drop his grinning act.

"I don't know! How does Linh feel about being just the payback girlfriend?"

Fitz gritted his teeth harder, searching for a comeback. Linh had gone from nervous to scared. So had Sophie.

"She isn't a payback girlfriend."

"Really!" Keefe's eyebrows nearly launched off his face in fake surprise. He turned to Linh. "Then tell me, can you explain his sudden interest in you right after his breakup with Sophie?"

Linh seemed scared, but looked Keefe in the eyes. "Who says he waited until after Sophie?"

Her meaning sunk in, and Sophie saw Keefe really start to get mad. "You're kidding, right?"

Fitz simply looked him in the eyes with a defiant expression. Sophie's mind, meanwhile, was racing. Was Linh implying that they had gotten together before Sophie and Fitz broke up? It would explain a lot, but... Sophie didn't want to believe that.

Keefe wasn't having the same qualms. He jumped to his feet suddenly, and Sophie quickly had to shift to avoid falling to the floor. Fitz jumped up too, stepping close to Keefe.

"You have a problem?" Fitz asked coolly.

"No, but you clearly do." Keefe retorted. Again, echoes of 'burrrn' swept through the hallway. Prodigies were now watching the scene like a tennis match. No one was studying.

Fitz stepped even closer, his hands balled into fists. Keefe's arms stayed coolly crossed across his chest, and Sophie marvelled at his relaxed pose.

Fitz turned to where Sophie was on the floor. "What about you? Just gonna let your big strong boyfriend save you? Not gonna say anything? Don't care that this is all your fault?"

Sophie wanted to stay strong, but she curled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and laying her head down.

Keefe's anger was barely contained. "Don't you dare talk to her." he said quietly but with an edge sharp enough to kill.

But now it was Fitz's turn to grin. "And why not? We are best friends, after all!" He turned again to Sophie. "Feeling any... regret? Don't tell me you didn't get jealous when you walked in. And if you have any consious, you'd be feeling a boatload of guilt right now."

Sophie took deep breaths to try not to cry. He was right. He was right about all of it.

"Shut up." Keefe edged closer to Fitz and spat the words in his face.

"Make me." Fitz grinned and started to say something else, but Keefe balled his fist. In a flash, Sophie was standing up and gripping his arm to stop him.

"Stop, Keefe." She whispered. "Don't. Please."

He looked at her for a long moment. "You're sure?"

Sophie didn't hesitate. "Yes. He's horrible, but he's not worth a fight."

Keefe reluctantly unballed his fists, then stormed out of study hall. Sophie froze a minute, looking at Fitz's mocking face and the staring prodigies around her. Then she ran after Keefe.