To be or Not to be in Love

Part 3

School sure is something, isn't it? And I've got super long lines for one of the plays that I'm doing so I've got THAT to worry about. But I shall manage somehow *dramatic pose*
************************************************

Two days after the poem was sent

Keith was in no mood to come to work today. Lance never responded to his poem. Maybe he just messed everything up and now what he wanted for some insane reason was lost, forever gone. When he got to work, Allura was about to greet him when her face immediately shifted into concern.

"Keith are you-"

"Not now, Allura. I really don't want to talk about this right now."

"About what?"

Lance had entered just then. Keith could not, would not talk to him. Why would Lance be so chirpy after leaving Keith in such a state?

"You know what."

"Did I do something?"

"Hell yeah you did! I gave you the poem, as promised and then you leave me on read. I called you multiple times and you never answered. And I thought... I thought that... ugh I'm just so STUPID."

"Woah calm down. Keith, I'm sorry I just-"

"What just WHAT LANCE?" Great. Now his vision was getting blurry. What was happening to him?

"I... I promise that I'll tell you and it's likely not the reason you're thinking. Just calm down and then we'll talk, okay?" Lance put a hand on his shoulders with a firm grip. Keith took a shaky breath and sniffled a bit.

"O-okay."

And with that, Lance let go and walked over to the stage to start rehearsing. Keith stayed back for a few minutes trying to gain his composure and to try and make sense of things.  Why had he reacted like that? It was just so strong all of the sudden. They just started to get along a bit and then that happened. He was honestly, probably, just overreacting. Lance did say he'd talk to him about it. But he ignored him for so long. What kind of answer would he give him, if any. What if-

"Keith?" Lance called calmly. How was he so composed while Keith here was quite literally falling apart over some dumb text messages?

"What." He replied, his tone bitter.

"Look, I have no idea where to start and-"

"No idea where to start? Oh I can help with that. 'Hey Keith you sent me a poem that I promised I wouldn't make fun of so instead I looked at it and then proceeded to leave you on read for days and ignore all five times you tried to call me. Then, I come in for work like it's the happiest day of my life because I made Keith feel hurt and betrayed after he felt like we actually may have been able to be friends.'" His eyes were starting to water again but he couldn't keep the tears down this time. "I-I just thought t-that I- look, I don't have many friends so I take what I can get. We're supposed to be rivals b-but maybe I don't want that. M-maybe I just want another friend. So why, Lance. Why did you ignore me?"

Lance just stared at him. And he kept staring. Until he looked down at his feet before taking a deep breath.

"Keith." Lance looked back up at him. "I am so sorry. I had no idea you felt that way. And the truth is, my brain didn't really process anything so I was just confused and had no idea what to say. And could have said literally anything about that poem. Because it was beautiful. And I know it's for the money and stuff but... it got to me. I'm not used to people talking about me like that. And I- I don't really want to be rivals anymore either."

He then pulled Keith into a tight hug. It was warm and secure, Keith grabbed onto Lance like he was his last link to the world. They stayed like that for a bit longer until Lance pulled back to speak again.

"That may have sounded weird, but I meant beautiful like just how it was written. All the words were engaging and they just flowed effortlessly. I don't think mine could compete with that at all."

"You wrote a poem?"

Lance's cheeks became dusted in pink. "Well, yeah. I just got nervous about sending it because I... OH NOT LIKE THAT I MEAN LIKE IF YOU WA- UUUH I MEAN AS IN I WAS SCARED! YeP!"

Lance was now covered in a bright red all over his face.

Keith chuckled a bit. "I'd be happy to read it... OH ONLY IF YOU WANT ME TO THOUGH CAUSE THAT WOULD BE WEIRD AND UM YEAH HAHA."

They then looked at each other. Lance's face softened,  still a rosy pink as he stood up. He looked at Keith for a bit longer, hesitating.

"What are you doing, Lance?"

Lance then ruffled Keith's hair. "Nothing ya weirdo. I'll see you in a bit." He smiled at Keith again before walking off towards the stage.

Maybe this crush wasn't so bad after all.
____________________________________

That is all I have for now... back to the pits of hell :)