two idiots and a turtle (a kotlc fanfic)

chapter nine: in which some rules are meant to be broken

a/n: enjoy :)

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keefe

"We have a test tomorrow?"

Don't sound so shocked, Mr. Tamsicle. You and I both know that one of my hobbies is procrastinating.

...Why the hell did I call him Mr. Tamsicle?

I sigh, placing my star chart down on the side table and leaning over to pat Tam on the head. "Tammy, you don't have a test. I do, which is why you're helping me."

He pushes my hand away, smiling all the while. "I could always make you fail it."

I clutch my chest dramatically. "You wouldn't dare."

"Seriously, though. You have a test tomorrow and you're studying now?"

"I was busy with—" I pause mid-sentence. Do I really want to tell him right now? It can wait. "—Anyway! Help me."

Tam rolls his eyes, scooching his chair closer to me. "So needy."

His hand brushes past mine as he reaches for the chart, and I feel a zing of warmth tingle through my body as he leans over the paper, bangs falling over his face.

I pause, staring at him. The rays of light coming through the window glint off his silver bangs, making them sparkle.

Focus. Focus. Focus.

"-So then just make sure you remember the stars in that cluster, and-"

He glances up at me, eyes shining silvery-white in the light, brows furrowed.

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FOCUS-

"Keefe, are you listening?"

"Uh." I blink, startled out of my thoughts. "Um."

Tam sighs, running a hand through his hair (did he steal that move from me?) and grabs me firmly by the shoulders, staring into my eyes.

"Seriously, Keefe. You need to focus and listen to what I'm saying, okay?"

I nod vigorously, a sense of calm and focus flooding through me with his words, but the calm fades away as soon as he lets go, turning back to the star chart.

"Now, these stars form the constellation of Ursa Major, and the properties specific to these stars..."

The time passes quickly, with Tam continuing to lecture me about stars for hours upon end, but I never get tired of listening to him explain it. Elwin interrupts us periodically to give Tam some elixirs to speed-heal him.

Far too soon, the sun is setting and I'm light leaping back to the great and wonderful Waves of Wimpiness. Home, sweet home. As if.

I curtly walk past Father Dearest on my way to the stairs, giving him a scowl before heading straight up.

No time for chatting. Not like I would want to talk to him anyway.

Shelly trots over to me as I enter my room, and I bend over, picking her up and stroking her shell thoughtfully.

I have a test tomorrow, I should probably memorize some more stars, right? That would be the responsible adult thing to do. Am I a responsible adult, though?

Tam's voice floats through my mind, seeming to echo in my head for a bit: "You need to focus and listen to what I'm saying, okay?"

Of course I'll listen to what you say. Why wouldn't I?