#like one conversation and a min of introspection and honesty could have cleared things up

[ahoyimlosingmymind]

I think what gets me about the situation, is that Fitz knew. He knew Keefe liked Sophie, and I genuinely believe a small part of him that he tried really hard to ignore also knew that Sophie liked Keefe-- but she was so dishonest with him about it. And I know the argument is that she didn't know she liked Keefe yet-- but in an objective, real life way of looking at it... that argument falls so flat for me. Like Sophie would have to be legitimately stupid to not realize she liked Keefe. I really don't see what harm her having an acknowledged crush on him would have done. There's the argument that she didn't want to lose their friendship, but she had no qualms about crushing on Fitz secretly, and he's one of her best friends too.

ANYWAY- not the point lol

Sophie notes a feeling of 'being caught' a few times when Fitz walks in on Keefe and Sophie, and it honestly felt like she was gaslighting him for most of the book. She tells him she wasn't avoiding him, when you could read it plain as day in her own internal monologue that she was, she told him she would work on talking to him and being honest, and from where I'm standing, she never really did. There were a lot of subtle things that Sophie did woven throughout the relationship that gets pushed aside a bit, because God forbid she be in the wrong.

It got to the point where Keefe was having to make loud horribly awkward comments about Sophie being Fitz's girlfriend, him having to make a point to tell her to tell Fitz things. The fact that Sophie can't tell that Fitz and Keefe are aware of something that she 'is not' is just... so dumb, from a writing standpoint but whatever. Keefe and Fitz both know the other likes her, and they both make comments about it and she's just like 'lalalalala'. (Bestie had a lot on her plate, but good God, she gets insufferable sometimes. And I used to be in love with her character, sooooo you know, I didn't always have a more negative opinion of her. )

Fitz knows exactly how Keefe feels. He knows that Keefe likes her, that Keefe feels guilty, but that Keefe also isn't really willing to back off fully, (regardless of his own claims) because he still wants that chance. Like maybe Keefe is trying to not act on his feelings for Sophie, but it's the fact that Fitz knows that Keefe does care about Sophie romantically that puts it in a whole new light. And he knows Keefe feels bad for it... but it's there. That undertone is there.

Then you have characters like Ro, who make Fitz out to be irrational and jealous and hysterical, and like he's in the wrong for asking Sophie about her internal world, and about Keefe, like he isn't literally her boyfriend. *rips hair out*

I'm not saying Fitz was perfect in the situation... but uhhh... it's giving traitor by Oliva Rodrigo. He KNEW, and there were so many signs he tried to ignore to avoid being a pushy and interrogating boyfriend, but he knew, and his concerns were dismissed. and for Sophie and Keefe to get together a few months later... oh my god. I"M ILL.

idk. I don't blame him for being suspicious and questioning, bc I personally would not be super chill with my S/O always hanging out and emotionally confiding in a person I knew liked them. Even if I trusted them not to do anything, it would just be horrendously anxiety inducing. Especially if my S/O was already being avoidant and not completely open with me.

Fitz was messy AF in their relationship too, but really, only when it came to matchmaking. Which he tried almost tirelessly to get a clear answer out of Sophie about, and every time she would clam up, or Ro would be like 'Why do you care?" like maybe because they're dating??

It was fairly obvious that Sophie wasn't 100% down for all the matchmaking stuff, and Fitz probably should have just accepted that, but I think he was taking her lack of a concrete 'no' as hope, even though he knew it was never going to end up the way he wanted it to. The way Fitz cared about matchmaking too, was arguably shallow. I'm not saying he was in the right for putting so much pressure on it, but it is understandable, given his upbringing. And these were all things they should have known about each other and discussed fully before ever committing to anything. But as we've established, Sophie is overly secretive, and clearly saw Fitz on a pedestal and not like a real person, which hindered her honesty. And Fitz low-key knew she liked Keefe the whole time anyway, and that Keefe liked her, and he was just hoping something would change, so he took her dodginess and lies at face value so preserve the ship he knew was sinking the whole time.

anway this turned into a rant about like five different things and I don't even feel like its coherent atp but haha

legacy keefe, letting it happen

that sounds like he doesn't actually care, or at least not enough to actually do what's right.

'But he also knows that it’s seriously wrong because Sophie is with fitz and even if Sophie doesn’t realize what they’re doing, Keefe absolutely does. He does, and he wants Sophie to be better, but he also doesn’t want it to stop.'

that's not a good friend

he can be conflicted or whatever, but that doesn't change that he doesn't really care about fitz- at least not anymore

Hmmm no I disagree.

Because keefe really did do everything he could short of stopping seeing Sophie altogether, that’s literally the reason he felt guilty about it. He wanted Sophie and Fitz to be happy and he didn’t want Sophie to be emotionally cheating in Fitz. He really wanted their happiness.

Where it gets messy is that they both liked the same girl which isn’t their fault by the way. Keefe isn’t a bad friend in any right for liking Sophie.

The thing that makes his situation in legacy tough is that he knows that without realizing it, Sophie really is emotionally cheating on her boyfriend, but he can’t tell her that without telling her her heart emotions actually like him, which he doesn’t want to tell her because that isn’t fair. She should get to figure out her emotions on her own. And of course he’s going to want to keep hanging out with her.

But he’s also very clear that they need to be good friends to Fitz. He tells Sophie she needs to be honest with Fitz about their project—Sophie just ended up forgetting cause she had so much on her plate. And he makes lots of jokes whenever they’re around about how happy they are together and how great Fitzphie is even though he still wants Sophie.

He’s in this really difficult situation where he really likes a girl who he knows really likes him, but who also really likes his friend and is technically dating his friend. So every time they hang out, even as friends, Keefe feels a little guilty about it because he knows what’s going on with Sophie’s emotions—which ALSO isn’t his fault by the way.

But naturally there’s a part of him that’s happy his feelings aren’t unrequited. That’s to be expected. And it only adds to his guilt in legacy because of course he secretly hopes Sophie will eventually choose him and can tell it might be an actual possibility. He really, really likes her. But of course he doesn’t want Sophie to be a bad girlfriend—and he clearly cares about Fitz in legacy, telling Sophie to reach out and wanting them to communicate and be happy.

Keefe can simultaneously care about Fitz and wish the girl he is dating would choose him instead. Honestly, your ask kind of sounds like you’re calling Keefe a bad friend for simply having his own feelings outside of wanting the best for his friend. I’m sure it isn’t your intention, but keefe can both care about Fitz’s feelings and also want something for himself.

Like I mentioned, the messiest part is that keefe knows all of Sophie’s emotions all the time, which he can’t even turn off, so that’s not his fault! He wants to hang out with Sophie, and he doesn’t mind that she has these feelings for him… he actually WANTS her to have those feelings… but he hates that it’s during her relationship with fitz and wishes Sophie would either be happy with fitz and go communicate and be a good girlfriend or break it off with fitz entirely and maybe start talking with keefe with those little flutters in her stomach then. And you know what? It’s not keefe’s job to make that happen. It’s Sophie’s, and she’s a little confused and oblivious in legacy, which isn’t keefe’s fault at all.

So… yeah no.

The situation is complicated. Of course keefe feels conflicted in the position he’s in. He doesn’t have a lot of right options—or any—and he’s a seventeen year old with a lot more on his plate.

Of all the issues in the Keefe and Fitz friendship (which I’d love to see worked through in canon), them not caring about each other has NEVER been one of them.

Sophie didn’t handle everything perfectly—but she didn’t realize what she was doing.

Keefe didn’t handle everything perfectly—but he really, really tried his best, and didn’t do half bad of a job either.

Fitz didn’t handle everything perfectly either. What can I say. They’re teenagers.

Hope you have a good rest of your day anon :)