𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 3 - 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚.

Ever since the incident yesterday Lance has felt on edge but he doesn't show it to anybody, not even Keith.  He feels like someone is following him everywhere and it suck's especially at college because it makes him feel jumpy at every  interaction,  so jumpy in fact that when someone crashes into him he flinches then falls onto his ass on the floor - its a girl and she's already extending her hand to help him up "Oh gosh im so sorry! I wasn't looking where i was going!"

He took her hand to lift himself up "I-its fine."
"You aren't hurt are you?"  She asked in concern    "No im alright thank you uh-"    He waited for her to say her name so he could thank her properly "Jessica."   "Thank you Jessica."      They both smile softly and just as Lance goes to walk away Jessica speaks back up "Can i make it up to you?  get you a coffee or something?"    "Oh god please don't waste your money on me!"    He shakes his hands in front of himself to emphasise a silent 'no' but the red haired girl seems persistent  -  "please! its the least i can do for bumping into you."  

Maybe the caffeine will help distract him?   he sighs and agree's to the offer and they walk off to the food hall where all the snacks and such are,   they go to the coffee machine so Lance can get his beverage. The two of them sit somewhere to start chatting about themselves and their lives  "Well i have a boyfriend and we've been through a lot together!" 
"I think i've seen you guys around together actually!  he's the grumpy emo right?"   that had Lance chuckle as he nodded "We'll you two are a good pair together."     she smiles once again.    They continue to chatter and even exchange social medias however,  Lance has no intention's of messaging her since this could lead to something he didn't want, something he definitely know's Keith doesn't want. Friendship.

"I Should get going so thanks for the coffee Jessica."    He got up to discard the coffee cup in the trash meaning he left Jessica at the table waving to him "Bye Lance!"    he heard so he turned his head then raised his arm to softly wave back,  and then off he went to a lecture like he always has at the end of the day.  Sitting in it though all he could think about was work, how he would't get home until 10pm..it would be dark, he would be alone walking in the dark in his waiters uniform or hey maybe he would run home to avoid whatever terrified him out there.  When the lecture ended he found Keith waiting outside the door and grabbed his hand so they could begin their every day walk home and everything was fine until something came into focus out of the corner of Lance's eye, he stopped so abruptly it almost had his boyfriend falling over.    "Jesus christ babe i couldve fell! why'd you stop walking?"        He didn't answer because he was looking around frantically to find whatever he saw behind the corner  "babe..?"       then his gaze returned to Keith who looked worried   "Huh? yeah im fine..just thought i saw something."

"It happens to all of us so its alright now cmon lets get home before you have work."    the rest of the way home was quiet but comfortable, he was safe holding Keith's hand under the 3pm sunlight, only it takes so long that now he has 30 minutes to get ready then to be at work. Lance drops all his college stuff to the floor like he always does and bolts upstairs to get dressed, make himself look presentable again, Keith on the other hand puts his backpack on a hanger near the door along with his jacket for the time being - then he flops down onto the couch to turn the tv on. The news is on talking about it's usual crap but then it moves on to a darker topic, a murder scene at a home, its only a woman around their age. She went to their college.

Wait.
She went to his and Lance's college and now she's dead, she was murdered, Did someone they saw everyday do it? was it an accident? did some sick person kill her for the hell of it? so many questions ran through Keith's mind until they only became painfully loud chatter in his mind, he switched off the news before Lance came downstairs in his uniform "Hey do i look okay?". the brunette asks "You look more than okay..you look amazing." "Awhh thanks babe!" He kissed Keith's cheek softly "now i gotta go! don't forget about the shopping and the chore's." Then Lance left. Now Keith has a list of everything he needs to do when Lance is at work, its the same routine every friday, study, chores, go do the shopping around 8pm - so he did just about that.

He went through all his notes, emails, assignments and homework for 3 hours ((5pm)) then did their laundry and cleaned almost every crevice of the house for another 3 so now it reached 8pm, everything was a tiresome process but its a routine that works for him so thats why he doesn't change anything about it. The store is only a 10 minute walk but it feels like it takes a whole year to get there, the sidewalk littered with streetlamps goes on for what looks like infinity as Keith walks through the darkness of the night, a few people are around which is comforting because it shows he isn't alone, a car pulls up right beside him with a woman in the front seat. He's never seen her before..

"Hey! Keith right?" "Yeah..thats me." okay this is totally not creepy, "Im Jessica, i met Lance earlier unfortunately when i bumped into him..i bought him coffee to make up for it." Okay thats actually sweet but Lance fell? what the hell!? "Anyways i was wondering what kinda things he likes, i still feel really bad about the whole ordeal." Keith looked confused but he told her a few anyways because she genuinely seemed sorry and that was a good thing. "Literally anything blue, sugary but sour candy and literally every fruit imaginable-". She laughed to herself "Alright thanks and hey are you going to the store? i'll need to go to get those things you just mentioned. I can drive you!"

Usually he wouldn't accept anything from strangers but if Lance trusted this girl why couldn't he? sure she was kinda creepy but he barely knows her so that must be a factor of why he feels like that, he got into the car and it only took 3 minutes from where they were to get to the car park, get out and actually start shopping. Keith pulled out a list of things he needed to get as well as their alternative's if prices went too high for an item - put them all inside the basket carefully so nothing would get squished by other heavier things..especially Lance's fresh ingredients stuff, once everything was picked up he went over to pay for them using one of those self service things that stores installed now. Jessica just so happened to be done the same time as him so he could see everything he mentioned that Lance like being scanned.

"So do you wan't a drive back home?"
"Why? you wanna stalk me or something?" He meant that in a light hearted joking way but suddenly Jessica was oddly defensive. "What? No! i'm not a stalker! i was just trying to offer something nice so why would you even assume that!?". god some people had no humour, Keith shook his head and sighed "It was only a joke but I'm sorry if it offended you and no i can get home don't worry." Without a word the red head left and got back into her car, driving off down the road again to wherever she lived in that direction.
—————-

The walk back home took just as long as it felt because now Keith was tired, ready to pass out against a pillow and sleep for a few hours but he has to stay awake for Lance coming in which would be in the next 3 minutes, what he did do though was lay on the couch he cant bare to stand anymore without being all drowsy. When his boyfriend finally came in he looked just the same, purely exhausted "Baby im homee..". he called out and the best thing Keith could do was murmur sleepily "M'here.." , Lance flopped down onto him with a huff before looking up with tired eyes "Hey."
"Hi." "Soo how was the 7 hours without mee?" the brunette smirked playfully like it was supposed to be funny but it just looked cute making Keith chuckle a bit "Fucking terrible you have noo ideaa."

"Did you do everything you needed to?"
"Mhmmm." He was stroking Lance's back with his palm gently now
"Anything interesting happen?"
"No..well actually yeah. Some girl, i cant even remember her name, Jessica? yeah. She said she met you yesterday and still feels bad about bumping into you so now she's basically gonna make you a gift basket."

"..isn't that kinda creepy?"
"She genuinely sounded concerned dear but still yeah, its hella creepy."
"Whatever i just wanna go to bed." Lance mumbled already falling asleep on top of Keith in his work clothes
"Yeah me too lets go." Somehow without falling over from tiredness, Keith picked Lance up, turned off any lights downstairs and walked upstairs.