Keeper of the Lost Cities: React

Chapter 9: React to Jelly Beans

"This was a mistake," Sophie groaned. Fairfield, California was as usual, sunny and bright. Not that it matched her mood.

"Bringing them here, or giving Keefe jelly beans?" Fitz asked. He slipped his hands into the pockets of his gray hoodie. 

"Both," Sophie sighed. She wore the brown stripped she had worn what seemed like so long ago. The giant glass doors slid open. The first thing Sophie saw were the giant jelly beans suspended from the ceiling.

Keefe's eyes widened. "I want to eat..." he drooled, earning a smack on the arm from Sophie.

"They're plastic, Keefe," Sophie said, rolling her eyes. "Guys, remember, no powers-" she glared at Tam, who's shadow had dramatically stretched- "No shadow readings, no disappearing-literally-no sudden displays of exploding water fountains-" she gave a pointed look at Linh, who smiled innocently- "and try not to act like you've never seen humans before," she finished, nudging Keefe, whose mouth was still open in awe.

"I can't help it!" he protested. "This is awesome!" He proceeded to sniff a nearby human. "They smell weird, though."

"Keefe!"

"I told you, Foster. I can't help it!" Several people around them gave them strange looks, including the girl Keefe had just sniffed, who backed away. In Sophie's defense, she had done everything to prepare them, but it didn't help that their group was ridiculously good-looking, especially among humans.

Dex wasn't too impressed. "The technology here sucks," he reminded Sophie. "And personally, I didn't think those jelly beans were that good."

Biana laughed. "That's cuz I gave you the booger flavored one."

"It's true," Sophie nodded. "But you can try some normal flavored ones later." Right now, they were passing past the glass windows that revealed the actual factory. "The jelly bean factory produces over a million jelly beans per hour. That's 300,000 pounds a day, by the way. And 16 billion jelly beans are eaten each year."

"Who needs a tour guide when we have Foster here?" Keefe asked, pressing his hands against the glass.

That was one of the reasons Sophie decided not to go on the tour. Also because Sophie wasn't sure her friends could blend in even more. Especially Keefe. 

"What we really need is a Phaser," Keefe said. "I need all those jelly beans."

"Don't even think about using your powers, guys," Sophie said sharply.

Tam groaned. "I'm stuck with this guy over here-" he gestured at Keefe- "and I can't even give people shadow readings? I don't trust these people..."

Sophie sucked in her cheeks. "On to the Jelly Bean Cafe. Here they sell jelly bean shaped sandwiches and you can sample jelly beans, too."

Keefe's smile stretched. "Wait, but we didn't bring any money," he said.

"Got you covered," Dex said, waving a stack of one-hundred dollar bills.

"Woah, don't do that," Sophie warned him. "Someone's going to mug you."

"Don't need any," Keefe said. He walked over to the teenage girl at the counter.

"What's he doing?" Fitz asked. 

"Oh no," Sophie said. Keefe had already begun flirting shamelessly with the girl. "Someone stop him," she said. "Poor girl."

Fitz shook his head. "On it." He walked over and dragged Keefe away by the shoulder, only causing the teenage girl to gaze at Fitz in awe. "Idiot," Fitz muttered. "You can't do that!"

"Dex said he had money! What is your problem?" Sophie demanded.

"Woah," Keefe smirked, "someone's jealous," he said.

"We're going," Sophie said. 

"We didn't get anything," Keefe protested. 

"No, while you were over there being an idiot, look what I got us!" Biana waved a large bag filled to the top with several pounds of jelly beans.

"Awesome, let's go," Sophie said.

"Ugh, you're no fun, Foster," said Keefe.