Complicated

"Where is Kye going to stay?" Keefe wondered aloud, letting go of the hands, Sophie perked at his words and her eyebrows furrowed in that adorable way they always did.

"I'm not sure... we can't exactly give her too the blackswan, they might hide her from all of us. And she can't go with you because Lord Cassius wanted nothing to do with Kye..." Sophie's voice trailed off and he didn't even need to ask why, his father was a jerk. Plain and simple.

Keefe faltered as he turned to look at Kye who was being entertained by Ro, the ghastly vile in her hands and a smile lit up her face. Did she even realize what was going on? That her family was... missing? How was he supposed to tell her she had to go somewhere else? And where that was he had just about no idea. What if her family were hurt? Maybe ev- no. He had to be brave, if only for Kye. He had a younger sister now, he was a brother, but... how do you help a little sister if you've just found out you're her brother? Oh. And he would have to explain... everything, to her. Where would he even start? With the fact that their mother was evil and-- oh yeah that she was probably also the reason Kye had to be uprooted from her life? Or should he start with the lovely father of his who wished to pretend Kye didn't exist?

"She can come with me." A soothing voice interrupted his thoughts, he turned his head to look at the occupant, all worries rushing away when his eyes met Foster's brown ones.

"What?" He asked, wondering if he'd confused the words she had said.

"She can come with me, I mean Havenfield is a pretty good place and my mom might have recovered by now..." a shadow covered her gaze and she paused for a second, sympathy swelled inside Keefes heart. "But even if shes not I could use a distraction, and you know Grady would love her." Sophie finished, offering a small smile as he gaped at her.

"You would..." he started, emotion twisting his voice, "You would really do that for her? For Kye?"

Sophie nodded, a sparkle in her eyes as she smiled even wider."Maybe I'm doing that for you."

Keefe tensed, repeating her words in his head, and he was about to say something when he saw her features twist into that of confusion.

"I mean..." Sophie sputtered, her smile had vanished and her eyebrows seemed to be in a twist,  "Since we are... um." Keefe watched blankly as she seemed to search for the word, as if forgetting what she was to say.

"Friends." She said, her voice a high chirp that made him flinch. "Since we're friends and all," She insisted, looking less than sure about her statement, but in a way he couldn't seem too decipher. Seriously what he wouldn't give to spend five minutes in Foster's confusing mind of hers, five seconds really...

"Is that good?" Sophie asked, her pleasant tone seeming forced, as if she was thinking about something else.

"Yeah, that's great Foster.." He said, offering her a smile, she blinked at him, and then returned it with a probably forced smile.

"We should go." She said quickly, taking his hand and reaching for Ro's. Keefe paused, was something wrong? She was acting off.

"Foster... are you all right?" He asked and she opened her mouth and then closed it.

"Yeah I just... I'm confused." She muttered and didn't offer what about, so he didn't press. So instead of asking what he decided to deal with it later, he had something else to say first.

"Foster," Keefe started, waiting till she turned to look at him. And when she did he bit his lip, trying to find the words to show her how he felt.

"I..." He stuttered, pausing when he felt Sophie squeeze his hand, the feeling causing ripples of tingles all throughout his upper body. Focus, he told himself, this was no time to daydream about Fos- Not that it was ever a time to do that!

"Thank you, Sophie, for opting to take Kye." He said, hoping to convey his gratefulness. Her first name felt foreign on his tongue, his usual nickname just seemed too playful for such a grateful gesture.

"Your welcome Keefe, but whatever happened to my last name?" Her eyes twinkled playfully, as she had obviously noticed what he had called her.

"Oh it... ran away cause it wants to be replaced by Sencen." He said slowly, placing his words carefully so she thought it was a joke. A smirk appearing on his lips when Sophie blushed, and then shoved him.

"Smooth Hunkyhair," Ro commented, lifting an eyebrow at there entwined hands, Sophie's cheeks turned tomato red at this, "But maybe it'll help our sweet little Foster with her obliviousness."

"Um what?" Sophie asked, her pink cheeks lessening as her gaze flitted from Keefe to Ro and back.

"Or not. Guess I should have known better," Ro sighed dramatically. "But really Hunkyhair, it won't be that long till Soph-

"And anyways I'm going to keep my last name, whoever I might end up with." Sophie said, interrupting Ro's speech which made him like her even more.

"Yeah I get what you mean, but I can't wait to ditch Sencen," he commented, and then realized something he really hoped Ro wouldn't announce.

But of course she did.

"Oh Hunkyhair and little miss oblivious, maybe you're onto something." Ro started, and Keefe could've sworn Kye was cheering her on, a delightful smile on the face of the child who was being suspiciously quiet the whole conversation.

"Since golden vacker guy is super popular and prominent," Ro struck a pose at this, pretending to be a snobby and noble elf.

"I'm sure he's going to want to keep the vacker name, but Sophie over here wants to keep her last name. Now isn't that right blondie?" Ro waited for her too nod and Keefe rolled his eyes, knowing exactly what she would mention next, but of course next to him Foster seemed confused, Little miss oblivious strikes again!

"So what a dilemma yes? To find someone who doesn't want to keep their last name so you can keep your own, but I'm afraid I have just the perfect answer for you!" At this moment it seemed like Foster had guessed what Ro was about to say because she blushed a deep shade of red once more, tempting a smirk onto Keefe's lips before he could stop it.

"Well we all heard Lord Hunkyhair wants to drop the Sencen part! And he's available." Ro said and Keefe really wanted to slap her, and he would have if not for Kye who held the vile of amoebas marked just for Keefe.  

"Oh." Sophie muttered, opening her mouth to say more but he rushed to interrupt her.

"Oh but I have a secret romance," He smirked when Foster whipped around to face him, a confused look in her eyes, "With my AMAZING HAIR!" he said and ran his fingers through his hair slowly, causing Foster to snort in laughter.

"Lets just go." She said, laughing between each word, he smiled and quickly took Kye's hand, Sophie was about to levitate them when he squeezed her hand.

"Hey Foster?" He asked, and smirked when she turned to look at him.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"You only volunteered to take Kye because I'd have to visit you more right?" He asked and fluttered his eyebrows at her.

"Oh shut up!" Sophie smiled, levitating them.

Keefe laughed as Sophie dropped them into the void, just now remembering the way he'd left Forkle and his father.

Boy was he in for it.