Knee Socks and Booty Shorts Don't Mix

Chapter Eleven: Denial

"Lance, have you talked to Keith at all today? He's missed all of the morning periods already." Allura turned to look at the school's clock on the wall, Lance sitting in his chair in an uncomfortable position. It was time for lunch dismissal, but Allura insisted on holding Lance back for a while to question if he'd known anything about Keith's whereabouts.

"..no? How should I know where he is?"

"You two talk almost everyday in class."

"I wouldn't call it talking."

Cutting off Lance's sarcasm, Allura's phone vibrated in her pocket.

A: Shiro? What's wrong?

S: Keith isn't answering any of my calls. He is at school, right?

A: No..? He hasn't been here all day. I've been questioning Lance to see if he would know-

"I don't know where the fuck he is??" Lance scowled.

"Watch your language. I'm tired of you all swearing here and there- use quiznak instead."

"..what the fuck is a quiznak?"

Allura gave a distressed look, lowering her voice so Shiro couldn't here her, then continuing on the call.

A: He is probably not feeling well. Give him some time and see if he comes in tomorrow. If not, I would check in on him.

S: Thanks, Allura. I'll do that. I'll see you in a bit. Love you.

A: No problem, I love you too.

Allura hung up, going back to her previous event of grading tests.

"So..?"

"Keith hasn't been answering any of Shiro's calls and he's worried about him. Not to mention he hasn't shown up to school today."

"Why do you just assume I know where he is? Pidge is, like, his bestie or whatever. Why didn't you ask them where he was?"

"Lance, I know you and Keith aren't exactly on good terms right now, but you did say some things that shouldn't have been said."

"So this is all my fault now?? Keith started the whole thing!"

"It doesn't matter who started what, Lance! Keith's lost a lot of important people in his life and you bringing it up in the heat of the moment wasn't very mature of you."

"His mom left him and his dad died. He has Shiro. In my eyes, his life is fucki- freaking perfect. I don't even get to see the rest of my family."

"I can't believe how selfish you're being right now, Lance. Thanks a lot. Go back to Lunch."

"Finally! Thank god-" Lance grabbed his things and headed to the classroom door to leave before pausing in his tracks.

"Oh- yeah, how did I do on my exam? Did I ace it?"

"You're really asking me that right now?" Allura's arms were already crossed.

"Well? Did I?"

All Allura did was sigh with pure disappointment. "I can't tell you what your score was, but you passed."

"yES! Now I can rub it in Keith's know it all face!"

"..And how are you planning on doing so if you don't know where he is?"

Lance's face dropped in confusion and defeat. He really didn't know of Keith's whereabouts, and was too deep in his own bastardly opinion to admit he was just as worried as Shiro was for Keith.

---

"Hunk, it's impossible for you to fit another marshmallow in your mouth." Pidge monitored, eating their food elegantly while reading a novel on governmental theories.

"yuh ount gnowh uat!" (you don't know that) spat Hunk, trying not to let any marshmallows fall from his mouth as he was trying to guesstimate how many would fit. So far he was on 28.

Lance had just gotten his food, looking for a place to sit hoping Pidge and Hunk would allow him to join them like they used to hinting that with many glances towards their table.

Pidge elbowed Hunk in the side noticing Lance's strandedness, causing Hunk to cough the marshmallows out of his mouth onto his plate.

"Huh-what??"

"Okay, gross... and look. Should we let him sit over here?"

"iiiiiii don't know Pidge, he might just complain about Keith again."

"Hm.. guess we're just gonna have to find out."

Pidge waved Lance over to the table, Lance now relieved having a place to sit.

"Hey guys! What's goin on?"

"Hunk is doing the chubby bunny challenge- and failing."

"Am not! I got 30!"

"28..."

"Same difference. How are you, Lance?"

The tan teen shrunk in his seat, looking down at his food in desperation.

"..fine, I'm fine."

the three teens continued their conversations filled with everyday life updates for the rest of lunch while eating their food. Not a word was mentioned about Keith, mainly because it would cause Pidge to freak out on Lance again. But they were all thinking the same thing and worried about the same issues.

---

Keith pushed two 45 weights up with determination, now behind on his training since he's only been focused on basketball lately. He trembled a bit in keeping his concentration and lowered the weights to their stand under his chin taking massive breaths. Yet another call came from Shiro on Keith's phone, only to be ignored like the last 20 times.

Keith was previously spending most of the day in his room but couldn't help but do what he loved most; training. Whatever it was for, however he had to do it, he loved the thrill and attitude he received from doing it. So he started working out in his private gym room in his house almost everyday for a whole week and more. And for every one of those days, he decided to skip school. From his recent experience at basketball practice, the team wouldn't allow Lance to play because of his behavior towards Keith. Keith never blamed the other person in any situation- whether it actually was their fault or not. So he took himself out of the picture to solve the problem, to take care of the issue himself without causing anyone else trouble.

Keith overthought the night of the party every minute he was alone with his thoughts. Now that he was home alone with no social support...that was pretty much at all times he would replay the event in his mind thinking it was all because of him. Everything Lance said was probably true. He was an abomination. He messes everything up he has the chance to. Keith just... wants everything to stop for just enough time for him to process everything.

Within every second Keith stays at home missing school, missing his social interaction, missing basketball, missing his friends, he looses himself even more without him even knowing.