~Sokeefe Forever (Part 1)~

~Chapter Nine~

(Keefe's POV)

I didn't plan on running out of the hospital and abandoning Sophie.

My legs seemed to have a mind of their own.

It was like I didn't have any emotion. I was just a numb boy with...

The thought trailed off when I heard footsteps behind me.

I spun around to see a boy with bright periwinkle eyes and a strawberry blonde head of hair.

"Um... Why are you out here so late in the day?" He asked.

"Oh." Keefe swallowed hard. "No reason." The boy raised his eyebrows.

"Are you sure? Nobody comes to this neighborhood at this time of day. They usually come for pastries in the morning, but then it's empty for the rest of the day. And I've never seen you around before." He added. "I'm Dex, by the way."

"Wait... You're the guy that wanted to ask Sophie out?" Keefe blurted out. Dex blushed.

"Yeah." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, answer my question. Why are you here?"

"Why do I have to tell you that?" Keefe asked, crossing his arms. "I can just leave. Right now. Actually, that's what I'm gonna do." He spun around and started to run, but Dex grabbed his arm.

"Please. Tell me. I'm a good listener. I won't tell anyone. Nothing interesting happens here. I just want some adventure, and you look really... Adventurous." Dex begged. Keefe sighed.

"My best friend is in a coma. And I need to be alone to think about it. So I ran." Keefe muttered. He had to admit, it felt good to talk to someone.

"Oh." Dex sat down, and Keefe sat next to him. "Been there."

"Really?" Keefe asked.

"Yeah. I usually run away when I'm upset. My parents are used to it by now." Dex murmured. Keefe couldn't help laughing.

"That's amazing."

"Not really. The first time I did it, my triplet siblings wreaked havoc on my town to find me. When I got back, they made me clean it up." Dex admitted, making Keefe laugh again.

"Sounds like they'd get along well with me." Keefe noted.

"So... Is there any way I could help?" Dex asked quietly.

"Actually..." Keefe paused. "Yeah, there is."

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(Sophie's POV)

"Sophie?!" Grady, Biana and Edaline shouted as she sat up. Then they rushed over to hug her. But Sophie wasn't focused on them. She needed Keefe.

She needed to stare into those beautiful ice blue eyes and tell him she loved him back.

"Where's Keefe?" Sophie asked.

"He ran away, honey. We don't know where he went. He left with no explanation, and we can't call him." Edaline explained.

Suddenly, the doctor came rushing in to check her vitals.

When that was done, Sophie demanded to get out of her bed.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, but both of your legs are broken. You can't even move if you wanted to." The doctor said.

"Please. Can't I go in a wheelchair or something?" Sophie begged. The doctor sighed.

"I suppose."

"Perfect. Mom, you push me. Dad and Biana, if you see Keefe, run after him. Don't let him get away." Sophie instructed. "Please." She added when they all exchanged a look. Then Grady and Edaline kissed the top of her head and pushed her out of the hospital.

"He probably ran somewhere we don't know about..." Sophie whispered. "Or maybe he left the country." She muttered the last part.

"I'm sure we'll find him, sweetheart." Grady assured her. "Now, where do you think he would go?" Sophie shrugged, and then winced from how sore she was.

"Probably somewhere I won't think to look. I don't think he wants me to find him." Sophie mumbled. Then it hit her. "He probably just... Ran. He didn't think about it."

"Okay, well, that leaves us with a lot of places he could be." Edaline murmured.

"Right." Biana agreed.

Suddenly, Sophie heard a gasp behind her.

"Dex?" Sophie asked. Dex nodded, his jaw still wide open.

"You're awake from your coma?" Dex whispered.

"Yeah." Sophie replied.

"Dang it! I just ran into Keefe! He still thinks you're in a coma, so he went to go get you a gift! He's at the airport!" Dex exclaimed. Sophie's eyes widened, and then she groaned.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" She shouted, making birds fly out of the trees cause of how startled they were. "We need to find him. I need to talk to him. Now."

"You better get him quickly! His flight is in forty minutes!" Dex explained.

"We're never gonna make it in time..." Sophie whispered. "The airport is fourty minutes away."

"Wait, um, guys, did you forget how rich I am?" Biana asked behind them. "My parents have a helicopter and everything."

"Really? How did I not know that?!" Sophie exclaimed. Biana shrugged.

"It doesn't matter." Biana replied. "Come on."

"Alright." Sophie agreed. "Time to go get Keefe."