Keefe Before Sophie; a KOTLC Fanfic

KEEFE’s POV

“Well?” Cassius scowled, “are you even listening to me Keefe?”

Keefe pushed his neon vegetables around his plate. He hated the day this happened—Dreaded it.

Temper edged his father’s voice, “Where were you during these classes? Your teachers are furious, and Dame Alaina tells me you were in detention the first week of the semester. Explain this to me.”

Keefe clenched his teeth, forcing an even stare at his father, “I didn’t feel like going to those classes—"

“So you sluffed?! Is this really what you think is acceptable as a Sencen?!”

Keefe cringed. He wished he were at the Vackers dinner table. They never yelled.

“If you are incompetent in your classes, take the blow. At least that would be less disappointing than a son who skips his classes.”

Cassius’ eyes were dark with anger. Keefe felt like he was drowning in them. He wished he could run away—far away.

“I wish you would take this all more seriously. You could boost the Sencen name—take us even higher in society—but instead you choose to waste your life. I expect to see you in all your classes in the future, receiving top grades. Do you understand?”

Keefe clenched his teeth.

“Do you understand, Keefe?!”

This wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair—and he couldn’t go through with it!

“I don’t want to be an ’acceptable Sencen’, Dad,” Keefe looked at his trembling hands, “I just—I just—I don’t care about your stupid trophies, or your stupid crest, or your stupid family name! Father, why can’t we just—why can’t we be like—like the Vackers?!”

“The… Vackers?”

“They care about each other—whether they're doing their worst or not! Why can’t you just—just—just—“ Keefe wiped away the tears he’d been trying to keep in, “why can’t you just… Love me?”

Cassius’ scowl deepened. “Love must be earned, Keefe.”

He stood and left the dinner table.

Keefe slouched against the table trying to banish his violent trembling.

He felt someone smoothen his hair.

“He's right, Keefe. As soon as you learn that’s how our world works, the better off you’ll be.”

Gisella patted his head and stood.

He listened to his mother’s heels on the marble until they faded away.

And Keefe was alone at the Sencen family dinner.