Sad Chapter Alert!!!!
Summer was flying by like a breeze, and things were changing quickly. Biana had gotten her drivers license and had a shiny new blue mustang convertible, Tam and Linh spent less time with all of them because they were becoming Seniors and had to work extra hard, and Fitz and Keefe had also been distant because they were getting ready to leave for college soon.
Those months had been crazy and pretty much everyone had been running around like a chicken with its head cut off—but somehow they'd all survived it.
As Sophie woke up that morning, a stab of sadness hit her heart. Keefe was leaving for College the next day. He had to leave a few days before Fitz because it would take Keefe two days to get to the campus.
Sophie slid out of bed and slowly changed into a shirt and a pair of shorts before heading downstairs. Grady and Edaline were working with the animals, so Sophie fixed herself a microwavable breakfast burrito and a glass of milk.
After Sophie had finished eating she decided to go into town and get a few things. She had a plan for later that day and she knew that all of this stuff would be needed.
Sophie went into town and stopped at Walmart, Belk, Bealls Outlet, the Dollar Store, and Aldi. Sophie had gotten clothes, food, drinks, candy, and a few other things that were for her plan—she also got a giant, plastic tub.
When Sophie got home, she brought all the stuff up to her room and started working on the plan. She folded the clothes nice and neatly before putting them in the bottom of the plastic tub. Then she put down all the candy that she'd gotten: Snickers, M&M's, EL Fudges, Hershey's, bubble gum, and KitKats. Then she placed the food and drinks she'd gotten on top of the candy: Pretzels, Lemonade, Pepsi, Water, Cheez-its, fruit gummies, Chips Ahoy cookies, Oreos, chips, and Gold-Fish.
Then clicked the lid into place before writing with a sharpie marker: For your trip!
Afterwards, Sophie grabbed the tub—which was just a little heavy—and brought it outside and all the way to Keefe's house's gate. She pressed the button and smiled when she heard Ro's voice.
"Hello?" She asked, sounding bored. "What do you want?"
"I need to see Keefe," Sophie said with a laugh in her tone.
Ro's voice perked up. "Come right on in Blondie!"
The gate opened and Sophie walked to the front porch where Ro had opened the door for her.
"What's that?" She asked, starting at the tub. "Because if it's a dead-body, I'd like to know how you killed it."
Sophie couldn't help but laugh as she shook her head. "It's for Keefe."
Ro nodded. "He's in his room packing," She told him before shutting the front door and walking away.
Sophie nodded before climbing up the stairs with the giant tub. When she finally got to Keefe's room's door, her legs and arms were exhausted and she could barely knock.
So she yelled, "Keefe, let me in! It's Sophie!"
After only a second, the door opened and Keefe was there with a smile on his face, but it turned into confusion when he saw the tub.
"What's that?" He asked, pointing to it. "Because if it's a dead-body—"
"No," Sophie said with a laugh. "It's for you." She nudged it closer to him so he could see it. "It's got snacks and drinks and a few shirts that I saw and thought you'd really like."
"Wow," Keefe said looking shocked. "Thanks Foster, this is great."
Sophie smiled. "Well, what all do you have left to pack?"
Keefe moved out of the way and let Sophie in the room.
There were boxes everywhere and almost everything was gone. The furniture was still there, but no posters or pictures were hanging on the walls. Keefe's bed had no pillows or covers and his desk wasn't cluttered like it usually was.
Sophie started to tear up as she turned to Keefe. "I can't believe you're actually leaving,"
Keefe sighed. "Me neither—It feels like just yesterday I was a Freshman."
Sophie smiled up at him, wiping away her tears. "Well, you're technically a Freshman again."
Keefe chuckled. "Yeah, you're right. This means you're superior to me," He told her. "Ya know, cause you're a Junior."
Sophie nodded. "That means you have to do what I say."
"Don't I always?" Keefe asked with a laugh.
Sophie shrugged. "Sometimes,"
There was a long stretch of silence that hung in the air for a long time—and the longer it grew the more Sophie wanted to tell Keefe how she felt about him.
"Keefe I really—" She cut herself off as she stared into his beautiful, icy eyes.
"What?" He asked, staring at her as well.
"I'm really going to miss you," She said, backing down.
Right now didn't feel like the right time for love confessions.
"I'll miss you too," He said, sounding a little confused. "But it won't be so bad. Remember? I have to call you every Sunday."
Sophie nodded. "And if you don't I'll assume something's wrong and drive all the way to Savannah."
"Well, then, I just might not call you one day just so I can see you." He said with a laugh. "But in all seriousness," He said with a sad smile. "I promise to call you every Sunday—maybe even whenever I have free time. You mean a lot to me Sophie, and I'm not backing down from my promise."
They stared into each other's eyes for a long time. It was so quiet in the room that you could hear a pin drop. But then Sophie decided to end it.
"Good," She said, taking an unnoticeable step back. "What time are you leaving tomorrow?"
"Probably 6:00 in the morning," Keefe said, also stepping back and sitting on his bed.
Sophie nodded. "Alright—I'll make sure to be at your house before you leave."
"You don't have to do that," Keefe told her with a sad smile.
"I know," Sophie said. "But I want to,"
§§§
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Sophie groaned awake and wondered why she was getting up so early.
But then she remembered that Keefe was going to college.
Sophie grabbed her phone and saw that it was 5:50 AM. She panicked as she jumped out of bed and slid on a pair of flip-flops before running downstairs.
Grady and Edaline were already downstairs in the living room—and they looked at her quizzically as she ran by—but she didn't have time to explain.
Sophie ran out the front door and across the street to see Keefe loading up his truck with boxes upon boxes.
Sophie pressed as hard as she could on the button—and after an annoying conversation with Ro—the gate opened and Sophie ran up to Keefe.
"Keefe!" She said, catching her breath. "I'm sorry I'm so late, my alarm went to snooze."
"It's fine Foster," Keefe said with a chuckle. "Nice Pj's, by the way."
Sophie's face automatically turned red when she looked down and saw that she was wearing matching, kitten-themed pajama pants and a shirt.
"Oh," Sophie said. "Sorry, I didn't—"
Keefe laughed. "You don't have to apologize," He told her. "I think they're kind of cute."
Sophie's face blushed even redder, but it soon went away when she remembered something. "Wait," She said. "What are you going to do about Oakley?"
Keefe bit his lip. "I guess I have to leave her here—even though I doubt my dad will take care of her."
Sophie bit her lip and tried to weigh out the pros and cons before saying, "How about I take care of her?" She asked.
Keefe blinked, shock filling his features. "Really? What about Iggy?"
Sophie shrugged. "I can take care of both—and Grady and Edaline are animal experts. I'm sure they'll help me."
Keefe stared at Sophie for a second. "Are you sure?"
Sophie nodded. "Positive,"
Keefe grinned. "Okay, let me get her stuff."
Keefe ran inside, and was there for only a few minutes, before he came out with a bag and the cute Dalmatian on a leash. He made sure to tell Sophie everything that she liked and needed before handing the puppy over to her.
After only a few more minutes of talking, Keefe finally said the dreaded words: "Well, I guess I better head out."
Sophie felt her eyes sting with tears, but she promised herself she wouldn't cry. "Yeah," She said with a sniff. "Make sure you drive safely."
"I will," Keefe said. "After all, I want to be able to come back here for every break I get."
Sophie nodded before tackling Keefe in a hug. She couldn't believe he was going. No more corny jokes, clever pranks, or being the master of detention. Now Keefe was going to do great things that would make him have a future.
The thought made Sophie feel kind of insignificant.
"I know you'll only be a Freshman," Sophie muttered into Keefe's shoulder as they held onto each other. "But make sure you don't turn into a big hotshot while you're gone."
Keefe chuckled. "I won't. I'll leave that to you."
Sophie felt tears roll down her cheek and she cursed all of them silently. "And always remember that you have a home and family you can always come back to."
"I will," Keefe said with a nod.
Sophie pulled back from the hug, but she was still holding onto him. "I mean it Keefe Sencen. If you're ever having one of those terrible days, just know that you have a family that you can call any time."
"Yes ma'am," Keefe said, raising his hand to wipe away Sophie's tears.
The touch of his warm skin made Sophie momentarily forget that Keefe was going off to college—but as soon as his hand went away it all came back.
They stepped away from each other and said their final goodbyes before Keefe got in his truck and drove away.
Sophie watched the truck disappear into the dawn as rain started to sprinkle around her. Oakley let out a depressing howl and Sophie couldn't help but to cry with the puppy.
Sophie thought back to her time with Keefe.
There would be no more window sleepovers. No more getting detention together. No more leaving detention together. No more dancing in the middle of the street. No more cooking disasters. No more stealing food. No more secret rooms. No more winning relay races. No more mischievous smirks. And no more beautiful, icy blue eyes.
Sophie would have to spend two more years in Highschool without any of those things in her life every day. But somehow, by some miracle, she'd survive it.
She had to.
THE END!