Living in a Blur: a Sokeefe University/Road Trip AU

Chapter 13

"So Keefe, am I like... your girlfriend, or..."

"I kissed you five seconds ago."

"Right, that part's been established," Sophie agreed. "But like..."

"And yesterday, I'm pretty sure I referred to myself as your boyfriend," Keefe added. "So unless you don't want to be my girlfriend—"

"I do," Sophie interrupted. "I really do."

"So, since I'm your boyfriend and you love me so very much," Keefe said, skipping quite a few steps, "any chance you'd go ahead and delete that photo?"

Sophie almost asked "what photo" before she remembered the whole reason she was on this trip in the first place. Keefe never would have agreed to drive her to New York if it weren't for her solid blackmail: a photo of him trying to change his grade on a Biology test. A solid honor code violation. "Right. The photo."

"I need top grades, Sophie," Keefe pleaded. "I shouldn't have cheated, but I did, and that isn't going to help me. Judge Emery isn't going to hear out another sob story from me, especially since his last offer was so generous."

"Offer?"

"Right. I didn't tell you about that." He looked at the ground. "If I graduate with honors, I don't have to worry about all that illegal stuff I did anymore. But trying to cheat my way to the grades I need is a great way to lose that golden opportunity. Besides, I need my degree."

"Right. You're on the pre-law track." And he actually wanted to succeed, meaning his lawyer father wasn't pushing him into it. Interesting.

"I'm not going to suddenly leave you stranded and not get you to New York, so the sooner you delete that photo, the better," Keefe said anxiously.

Sophie instinctively wanted to snip that he couldn't tell her what to do, and that she held the power in this situation. But things had changed since before... this. The feelings for each other they discovered. "Okay. Yeah." Sophie opened her phone and was about to select her photos app when she got an incoming call from an unknown number from her phone area code. "Wait, let me make sure this isn't a scam call." Sophie answered. "Hello?"

"Hey Sophie. Listen—"

"Stina?! How did you get my number?!" Sophie shared and incredulous look with Keefe, who could only hear her end of the conversation.

"Maruca got it from Biana for me. You know, in case of an emergency."

"Since you've been following me and Keefe."

"Right. So—"

"You admit it!"

"Listen to me, Sophie! I'm working the front desk at the next hotel that makes sense for you guys, and I'm guessing you're already here. My shift just started, so I guessed I missed checking you in and confusing you." Stina sighed. "Unfortunate. Anyway, I have a situation and I need you to come down here... without Keefe."

That was when Sophie realized she was speaking in a hushed whisper. Whoever was nearby, Stina didn't want them to hear her. "What kind of situation?" Sophie asked urgently.

"Someone asking for you who I can't say no to without probably facing consequences. I don't know what she's doing here or how she figured out where you are—"

"Who?!"

"Just get down here!" There must have been more complications on the other end, because the call abruptly ended.

Keefe's eyes were wide. He hadn't heard Stina's half, but he'd heard enough. "Is everything okay?"

"I need to go," Sophie said, grabbing her sweatshirt with her keycard in the pocket. "Don't come with me. Stina advised me not to bring you."