Violet Nights

Chapter 2

Keith normally sat alone at lunch. It was the same routine every day: go to lunch, be stared at by a few people, sit down and listen to music while eating absolutely nothing. He never had a reason for eating nothing, he just didn't want to eat. No, he wasn't anorexic, he just hated eating. Why was it such an important part of life? Why must he eat?

It was questions like these that haunted his mind every single day.

Why eat?

Why drink?

Why get out of bed in the morning?

Why go to school?

Why live?

It was easily said that he was depressed. Sometimes it was because he was because he was jealous that he didn't have a family and everyone else did. Sometimes it was just because society didn't like him. Or anyone for that matter. Humanity doesn't like those who are different. They had been fighting each other over silly things like skin color and religion for centuries. Humans would never change. Maybe they didn't need to. But most wish they would. Violence and discrimination was just in their blood. 

Keith was watching no one in particular, his head rested on his hands at the very far end of the cafeteria. He just stared up ahead at all of the people as some light rock music played in his ear buds. He looked down at his phone every so often to change a song of he either wasn't in the mood for it or just didn't like it altogether. The quiet Linkin Park song ended and a new one came on. Specifically one by Three Days Grace. 

He stood, seeing everyone gathering their belongings to go back to class and followed, as far away from everyone as possible. Maybe that way, he could avoid any confrontation from the people he didn't want to see at the moment. However he did begin walking the same pace as Pidge and Hunk as they were leaving the lunchroom as well, talking casually and not acknowledging his presence just yet. When they finally did, Pidge began the conversation with the most recent news, as usual.

 "You hear about the party tomorrow night?" She asked, switching sides with Hunk to talk to Keith. He didn't respond but with the shake of his head. He wasn't entirely interested , but he listened anyway. This was how you got friends, right?

 "Yeah, you going?" She asked. He shook his head again, not looking up from his phone as he dodged some people walking in the opposite direction. He felt a pair of hands grab his arm and glanced over.

 " Oh, c'mon, Keeeeiiiith! " she whined dramatically. "Why not? You never go to parties. You need to be social!" Keith rolled his eyes as he approached his locker, putting in his combination as quick as lightning. He didn't look over as the locker door acted as a physical barrier between his and the two's faces.

 "Keith" she prompted, moving the locker door. He moved it back. Pidge waited for the person on his right to leave their locker before darting to his side.

 "Why don't you like social events? " she asked casually, glancing over at Hunk.

 "I just don't." Keith replied, moving around a few things in his locker and taking out a couple of textbooks, placing them under his arm. 

 " are you afraid of people? " she pryed, leaning against one of the lockers.

 "No."

 " then what is it? "

Annoyed, Keith spun around and slammed the locker door. 

 "Listen, I'm done talking about this!" He shouted, leaving the two with nothing left to say. He quickly turned the corner to his next class and disappeared. 

 Pidge shook her head with a sigh. "As hot-headed as usual." She commented, walking in the opposite direction with Hunk following behind.

 "I get worried about him sometimes." Hunk said suddenly, looking down at Pidge while clutching his materials. 

Pidge tilted her head, looking confused.

 "Well...he needs friends, we both have to admit this. And I mean besides us."

 "Yeah" Pidge agreed.

 "He has Shiro, but Shiro isn't around often. He needs friends his age."

 " We could introduce him to Lance" Pidge suggested, stopping in the middle of the hallway. 

 "He knows Lance. And you remember the first time they interacted. It didn't end well."

 " Maybe... " the ginger spoke quietly. "But they just need some time to find common interests. "

 "Are you kidding? Those two have nothing in common"

 " not that we know of " Pidge argued. 

 "He seems to get along with Rolo well."

 " Yeah, when they /talk/"

 "He just needs someone to hang out with, y'know?"

 "That's why we give him and Lance another chance. It couldn't be too bad"

And so the rollercoaster of emotions begins.