Hearts don't break around here

Chapter 12:mango sorbet

1 Year Ago

Lance's phone lays motionless on the worn out coffee table. He knows he shouldn't be this anxious but he can't help it. He just keeps staring at it, unblinking. Waiting for something to happen.

"Want some water or something?" Keith calls from the kitchen.

Lance glares at the phone. "No."

"Maybe some cereal?"

"No."

Keith sighs. "Any dinner? At all? Ever?"

" No , Snickers. Can't you see I'm busy?"

Keith groans, and Lance can hear him rolling his eyes. "She's not going to call you tonight. It's after six."

"So what?"

"So work hours are over. Nobody gets offered a job after six PM. It just doesn't happen."

Lance continues staring, not wanting to give in. Working at the front desk of a hotel has been...exactly what you would expect. The only reason Lance ever stayed in his job was really because he couldn't think of anything else he wanted to do. But after observing, and maybe accidentally helping with the planning of a few hotel hosted events, he very surprisingly found something he loved even more than hospitality. Event planning .

And the universe is on his side, too. Shiro's girlfriend, Allura, actually took over her family's event planning business and Lance applied for her open, entry-level position the second Shiro told him about it. He doesn't know Allura very well, despite the fact that she and Shiro seem to be getting pretty serious. So, really, he doesn't know what she'll think of him in a professional work environment. He probably can't rely on Shiro's word either because...well, Shiro knew him when he was still basically wetting his pants. So no matter how many times Keith says, "oh my god, Lance. You'll be fine. There's no way you won't get it." Lance can't help but feel like he probably won't get it.

Allura said for him to expect a call, mid-week. It is Wednesday. Literally the middle of the week. Lance runs a hand down his face and continues staring at his phone. He sees Keith approaching him out of the corner of his eye. Keith sits down next to him on the futon. Lance immediately smells something fruity.

He turns his head a little aggressively towards Keith and sniffs again. "What is that? What are you eating?"

"Fruit Loops," Keith says, smirking a little. "Oh, sorry. Did you want some? You said you were busy."

Lance scowls at him. Then he scowls at the bowl. Then back up at him. "Fuck you."

Keith laughs loudly and he ignores it, turning back to his phone.

"Lance, please relax." Keith says, still grinning. He leans forward a little to get a better view of Lance's face. "You've been at it for two hours. Don't you have to pee?"

Lance remains scowling. "She'll call while I'm in the bathroom. I know she will."

"No, she won't."

"Yes she will, Keith! And we both know it!"

Keith sighs defeatedly, eyes scanning over Lance. Lance glances at him. The expression on his face is sympathetic.

"Okay, alright." Keith says gently. "If you're not going to move then...I guess I'll just wait with you."

Lance lets out a breath. " Thank you. Jeez."

Keith leans forward so that he is in the same position as Lance; elbows resting on his knees and chin resting in his hand. They sit side by side and study the inactive phone on the table in front of them.