Agent Moonlark

Chapter Twenty Six

Keefe

The next morning, Sophie hadn't come out of her room. And Keefe was worried. Everyone was mourning Mitya, but none more than Lur and Sophie. Lur because Mitya had been his wife for forty-four years. Sophie because she was beating herself up thinking about how it was her fault. Keefe could tell.

By seven o'clock, he had had enough. He had wanted to give her some space, but sometimes, grief and guilt shouldn't be handled alone. Well, actually, it probably never should be...

Keefe found his feet leading him to Sophie's room. He had somehow gotten Fork dude to draw him a map of Alluveterre, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway. He had memorized the way to Sophie's room. It had been hard. However, he felt like he would do anything to make sure Sophie was okay.

"Are you going to Sophie's room?"

Keefe turned around and found Fitz there. Fitz's jaw was slightly clenched. There was a sort of tension between them that they could both feel, but tried to ignore.

"Yeah," Keefe answered. He dug his hands into his pockets. "You?"

"She wouldn't let me in," Fitz said. He sighed. "Good luck."

"Thanks."

Fitz started walking away. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

"Treat her well, will you?" Fitz said.

"What do you mean?" Keefe asked nervously.

"I've seen the way you look at each other." Fitz gave him a half-hearted smile. "She deserves the best."

"You- you have a crush on her, don't you?" Keefe studied the boy in front of him and felt his confidence deflate. Fitz Vacker was the type of guy who would always be the perfect, golden boy. How could Keefe compete?

"I don't know," Fitz answered, much to Keefe's surprise. "I thought I did." There was only confusion in his eyes. "But then I realized that maybe I like someone else." From the red on Fitz's cheeks, Keefe could tell that it definitely wasn't a 'maybe.' Fitz really liked this other person.

"Well, I hope you'll be happy with them."

The conflicted expression on Fitz's face made it obvious that there was more to the story, but Keefe decided not to pry.

"If you ever need to talk to me," he smirked, "then take a number." He passed a slip of paper to Fitz.

"What? How come I only get #76?"

"I'm in high demand."

With that, Keefe skipped off to Sophie's room. The door was closed, so he opened it slowly.

Sophie was sitting on her bed, hugging her knees to her chest. She was staring at the wall, her cheeks wet with tears. Her eyes were red with shadows under them, and her hair was messy, as if she hadn't showered or gone to sleep. Maybe she hadn't moved since Keefe carried her here, yesterday.

Keefe sauntered into the room. "The Cheer Up Squad is here!"

"You're only one person," Sophie mumbled. "How is that a squad?"

"I count as more than one person." Keefe sat down next to her, watching a tear fall down her cheek. He wiped it away with his thumb.

"Here." He took out a charm bracelet.

"Keefe, thanks, but-"

"Look! A Kraken!" He hooked a tiny Kraken charm onto the chain. "Let's call him Krakie!"

Sophie chuckled. "Krakie?"

"A very original name, I might add."

"Sure." Sophie sniffed, trying to smile. Keefe saw right through it.