Chapter Text
Linh’s POV
Linh was slowly getting annoyed. Tam wouldn’t stop sitting in his room doing nothing. School was finally out, it was a nice day, and he would just sit in his room playing block blast on his phone. It was sad. Linh had tried to get him out of his room. He wouldn’t even let her open the curtains to let some light in. At least she had a date with Marella today. She could finally get out of the house- Wait a second.
A few minutes later, Linh had found her phone and called Marella.
“Hi Linh, what is it?” Marella asked.
“Tam’s been in his room moping since school ended.” Linh told her. “Hasn’t Keefe been doing the same thing?”
“Yeah.” She said.
“Could we bring Keefe and Tam along with us this afternoon?” Linh asked.
“Ohhh…” Marella said, catching on.
They both smiled evilly.
Tam’s POV
Tam shielded his eyes from the sun. Why did it have to be so bright out? It was too hot.
“Why did you drag me along on your date?” Tam grumbled to Linh. She had insisted on walking to the beach instead of just driving. Tam didn’t get how only that length could affect climate change. He was fine with walking, and he did a lot, but why walk when it’s 90 degrees and you have a nice car with AC?
“You needed to get out of the house. It’s a beautiful day.” Linh replied. “Anyway, we’re almost there. And we won’t have to wait for Marella.”
Tam looked up to see Marella. Except she wasn’t alone. She was standing with… Oh no. Why. Why did Linh have to do this to him. Standing next to Marella was Keefe Sencen. Of course Linh had to do this. It must be punishment for staying inside all day. Tam suddenly wasn’t tired anymore. In fact, he had the urge to sprint all the way back to his room.
“Hi Bangs Boy.” Keefe said. Tam sighed.
Keefe’s POV
Keefe knew something was up when Marella dragged him on her date with Linh. He wasn’t that close with his cousin, and all she’d done before was complain about him being mopey. She wouldn’t want him to be following her and Linh around.
All his questions were answered when he saw Linh walking up to them- with Tam next to her. Marella, having been gossiping about everyone about everything since she started Foxfire, figured out he had a crush on Tam pretty fast. And of course she told Linh. At least Linh was kind enough not to tell her twin. Tam didn’t seem to hate Keefe as much, and Keefe didn’t want to ruin that. He knew Tam didn’t like him the same way.
“Hi Bangs Boy.” He said, knowing how to bug him. Tam groaned.
“Linh, why did you do this to me?” Tam asked his sister.
Linh whispered something in his ear that made him turn bright red.
“I DO NOT!” He said.
“It’s very obvious, at least to me.” Linh replied. She whispered something else. Tam grumbled something back and tugged on his bangs.
Keefe looked over at Marella, confused. She was smiling at him. He knew that smile. He had the same smile when he and Sophie were trying to get Fitz and Dex to finally go out. He immediately knew what was happening.
“No, no, absolutely not.” He told her.
“Of course, of course, absolutely.” Marella said. “Yes.”
Then she whispered to him. “Karma.”
Now it was Keefe’s turn to groan. Why was this happening to him? Well, he had pulled a lot of pranks, jokes, too many things to count. But which one? Then he realized it didn’t have to do with any of that. It was just because he had Marella Redek for a cousin.
“Let’s head down to the beach.” Linh said. Keefe realized he couldn’t go anywhere now, so he followed, dreading what was going to happen. Well, he thought. At least I can act like I don't mind and enjoy whatever peace I have until Marella and Linh go into the next part of their plan.
Tam’s POV
He didn’t have a crush on Keefe. He couldn’t. He hated him. He hated that Keefe’s hair was so perfect. He hated that Keefe was always teasing him and making him blush. He hated that Keefe always looked really cute. He hated him so much. There was no way he had a crush on Keefe. And even if he did, there was no way he would enjoy being around him. Not even a little bit. He was especially annoyed because he had worn black, which was not helping with the heat. Not that he regretted wearing black. He just hated the heat.
As Linh started setting up the umbrella, he grabbed a blanket out of his bag and laid it on the ground. He then sat down and pulled out a book. He planned to sit there and read all day. Linh may have been able to drag him out there, but he wasn’t going to talk to Keefe. For some reason Linh thought Tam had a crush on Keefe. It made no sense. Just because he blushed every time Keefe looked at him didn’t mean he liked him. He felt someone looking at him, so he looked up, expecting to see Linh glaring at him for not “enjoying the beautiful sunshine and ocean and sky and seagulls.” But instead of Linh, it was Keefe.
“What’s your book about?” Keefe asked.
“Four girls do this ritual thing in separate parts of the world, then they all get powers, and eventually meet. Two of them are heroes, one is sort of a villain, and the other one keeps on accidentally setting things on fire.” Tam explained, a bit surprised that Keefe wanted to know.
“I’ll have to read it later. I gotta see if the fire girl is anything like Marella.” He said. He paused for a moment. “Except Marella sets things on fire on purpose.”
Tam laughed a little bit, then looked back at Keefe to see him staring, looking shocked.
Keefe’s POV
Keefe couldn’t help but be shocked when Tam laughed at his joke. It was a small laugh, but Keefe had been trying to get even a small smile from Tam since before he realized he liked him. So a really long time. Tam looked up, and saw him staring.
“What?” Tam asked, while glaring and- Wait, was he blushing? Is it possible he likes me? Keefe thought, seeing Tam’s red face. No. It must just be from the sun.
“Just haven’t seen you laugh before.” He said, shrugging. He then looked around, realizing Marella hadn’t said anything about his joke yet. Linh and Marella were gone. Ugh. This must be their plan. Tam caught on, and dramatically sighed, dropping his head to his knees.
“I knew they would do something like this.” Keefe muttered to himself. “I told Marella I didn’t need her help with my crush.”
“What?” Tam said, looking back up. “What does any of this have to do with your crush?”
“Um, uh, I-” He was interrupted by his stomach growling loudly. “Oh god I’m hungry, let’s get some fries.”
“Okay…” Tam said, still confused. “But what abou-”
“LET’S GO!” Keefe said, grabbing Tam’s hand without thinking, and dragging him over to the food truck.
Tam’s POV
Tam totally gave up trying to piece together what Keefe had said when he realized how much he was blushing at Keefe holding his hand. It’s not like that. He thought. Stop blushing. He doesn’t like you. His brain didn’t seem to understand that, though. “It doesn’t matter if he likes you or not because you don’t like him!” He whispered to himself. But what if you do like him? Did he like Keefe? He wasn’t so sure that he didn’t anymore. After reviewing the day so far, he realized. Oh god. This is not good.
“Tam? Tam!” Keefe said, shaking him out of his thoughts.
“What!?” Tam exclaimed.
“What do you want to eat?” Keefe asked.
“Oh, I didn’t bring any money.” Tam told him.
“That’s fine! I did.” Keefe said, holding up some very crinkled money.
“Uh, ok, may I please have some fries with mayo?” Tam asked the person in the food truck.
“Wow Tammy! You’re being so polite!” Keefe teased. “And fries with mayo. Really?”
“Um, I try to be nice sometimes.” Tam responded. “And yes, fries with mayo are amazing.”
“The more I get to know you the more I realize how weird you are.” Keefe told him.
Tam groaned again, but less annoyed this time. They got their fries, and went to sit down again. Tam sat down and looked at the “adorable, beautiful, angelic” seagulls, as Linh would call them. No matter what she said, he knew seagulls were really demons that had clawed their way up from Hell. He respected them for being able to do that. But he still extremely disliked them. He saw one staring at his fries. He gave it his best death glare. It just stared right back. Definitely a demon.
“Tam look!” Keefe said, pointing towards the ocean. A rainbow stretched across the sky. Maybe it’s a sign. Tam thought, and immediately cringed in embarrassment at the fact that he even considered that. Then he heard a shriek that made him whip his head around. They were under attack.
Keefe’s POV
Keefe stared at the rainbow in awe. This better be good luck. He thought. Then he heard an unnatural scream come from behind him. He and Tam both turned around, to see at least fifteen seagulls slowly walking towards them, all staring at the fries.
“Oh no,” Tam said. “Not again.”
“This has happened to you before!?” Keefe said, picking up his fries and preparing to run.
“Now is not a good time to explain.” Tam said, sounding annoyed. “Okay, no sudden movements. Set down your fries, and they’ll fly at the fries instead of us.”
“But- my fries!” Keefe whined. He was not giving up his gift from heaven. “I’m hungry!”
“Be hungry or be attacked.” Tam said, slowly backing away, leaving his fries on the ground. Keefe started thinking of a plan that might save his fries and them. If it didn’t work, they would be attacked by a flock of seagulls.
“I have a plan.” He told Tam, clutching his fries close to his chest and grabbing Tam’s hand. “Run on three.”
“Keefe.” Tam said cautiously. “Whatever your idea is, there’s probably like a five percent chance it’ll work.”
“Great! I thought it was more like one, but hey, it’s a chance!” Keefe said. “One, two, THREE!”
Tam’s POV
Tam heard Keefe shout three, then felt himself being dragged along. After a second he realized it would probably be a good idea to start running. It took him a few more seconds to realize what was happening. He and his crush were running across a beach holding hands, while being chased by a pack of demonic birds.
He was going to kill Linh.