Chapter Four: Foxfire

Sophie's POV: It was my first day of school at Foxfire and within 5 seconds of walking in I was already lost. I had 11th grade English first period (I was in 9th grade but had a couple 11th grade classes) but I had no clue where it was.

As I walked through the hall, I tripped over my own feet and fell right into someone's arms. Surprisingly, that someone was Keefe. "Hey, Foster, didn't expect to run into you yet," he said, laughing.

I blushed, "sorry," I said. Then I realized who was walking with him.

"Hey Sophie," Fitz said, smiling a very charming smile, "how do you know Keefe?"

"The better question is how does she know you?" Keefe said.

"Keefes my neighbor," I said to Fitz smiling.

"She knows me because my dad was the one who brought her to live with Grady and Edaline" Fitz said to Keefe.

   "um, do you guys know how to get to the eleventh grade English class?" I asked, realizing I only had a couple minutes to get to class.

They looked at each other. "You're in eleventh grade?" Fitz asked me, "I thought my dad said you were in 9th."

"I am in ninth grade. I just take a couple eleventh grade classes," I said.

"Well, that's great, we have first period together. Me and Keefe are in 11th grade," Fitz said, "I can walk you to class while Keefe goes, well, wherever he goes when he ditches class,"

Keefe laughed. "Actually," he said, smirking, "I'm not ditching today."

Fitz looked at him incredulously, "you aren't?"

Keefe laughed again. "No, I usually go to class a couple times a week but since I ditched class all last week, the teacher thought I was sick," his face darkened and he sounded more serious, "she called my dad and asked if I was sick and if I was okay. He lied and said I was so that his reputation wouldn't be ruined by a ditching son but he made it very clear that it is um in my best interest to go to class from now on."

Fitz looked worried for Keefe and I felt the same way. What did his dad say to him?

Keefe seemed to notice our concern because he tried to turn it into a joke. "I'm probably still going to ditch though," he added with a laugh.

I laughed along with him and so did Fitz but I couldn't shake the worry. 'It is um in my best interest to go to class from now on.' What did he mean by that?

When we finally got to English, I expected Fitz and Keefe to go sit wherever they normally sat as I sat in the second row, but instead, Fitz sat down on my left and Keefe sat on my right. The girls in the class looked at me in a mix of emotions. Some looking jealous while others looked surprised, confused, angry, or, even disappointed.

"So Foster, happy we have class together?" Keefe asked with a smirk.

Just then, the teacher walked in and looked right at me. "Ah, you must be Miss Foster. I see you've already made friends with Mr. Sencen. Well, In that case I'm sure you'll be a great student," she said in a way that even I- who usually can't tell- could recognize that she was being sarcastic. I smiled for a second- trying to look polite- before looking over at Keefe who was trying his hardest not to laugh.

I turned to Fitz as I heard the teacher say his name. "Actually, Mrs. Mellnur, I think Sophie is a great student."

Once again, about half the class turned to look at me, Fitz, and Me sitting next to Fitz as all the girls glared at me in what looked like jealously.

I sighed. This was going to be a long school year.