A Beat in the Stars

12

~4:30~

I wake up to an alarm on my phone, but it wasn't my alarm.

ME-Keith! I stayed up and kept you company, and you wake me up at this ungodly hour?

Keith-Sorry. My alarm goes off every weekday at this time because we go running on the track every morning before school starts. I fell asleep before I could end the call.

He sounded sincere enough, but I just groaned and hung up. I flopped back on bed for a few minutes before coming to terms with the fact I can't got back to sleep and decide to get up. I do my daily skin care routine in the bathroom and pick out an outfit; white tee-shirt, demin jacket with buttons and patches on it, dark jeans, and my blue converse. I made myself some toast and left a note on the fridge before grabbing my bags and heading to the school.

The track was quiet and the air was cool as I did laps, it was calming to be out here alone. The stars still shine in the sky, twinkling above me. It was beautiful, and I kind of begrudgingly forgave Keith for waking me up. Not that I was ever gonna tell him that. Almost an hour later some of the other members of the team started showing up, they seemed confused at first to see me but just shrugged it off and started to do laps of their own.

Once everyone was here I called them all over and we worked on our routine, not bothering to go inside first. Shiro and Allura showed up at 6:25, when practice was supposed to start, and seemed pleased to see us working on our own. Shiro had some new stunt ideas to add after watching the Blade. Non of the same moves, but they were all more challenging than what we do now. Afterward we go to the showers and then to class, school starts at 7:30 for us.

My first period is home ec, and my partner is Hunk. Today we're supposed to bake a cake, so I brought a photo copy of my Abuela's famous chocolate cake recipe. We get a perfect 100 and get to enjoy a piece of cake. My third period (since we're on block) is Allgebra II, which I simply just take notes and get my homework halfway done. Then lunch with Hunk, Pidge and Matt don't have the same lunch as us. Fifth period is Physical Science and I have a test I think I passed. Finally seventh period, dance. We all head to the up-stairs gym (our dance "studio") and review what we went over this morning. Shiro wants two members to lift me while I'm doing the splits, which is uncomfortable to say the least. When practice ends at 5:36, a few minutes late since technically we're supposed to be done at 5:30, I run out my truck and drive to the farm.

I sign in and start working picking Winter Lettuce, already tired from all the rest of my day. I work until 7:36 before signing out and heading to the park.

I sit down under the willow tree till I see Keith heading toward me. I stand to go meet him, then see him stumble and starts to fall. I rush forward and grab him before he can fall. Keith shook his head and I slowly lowered him to the ground.

"I'm sorry," He mumbled.

"For what? Not like you can help it?" I tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but seeing him look guilty I went on, "Hey are you alright? You didn't hurt anything did you?"

"No, I just feel bad for causing you so much trouble like this morning and now," Keith said quietly.

"Its no trouble, alright? I wanna help you. I feel bad when I can't," I said, my head tilted to the side a little. Keith started to hand me my jacket when a hugh gust of wind blew, he shivered and whimpered from the cold.

"Keep it, I've got others." I said, even though that was in fact my favorite jacket.

"But isn't this your favorite? I can't keep it. I-It's your's." Keith said.

I shook my head and crossed my arms, "There's no way I'm taking it back now, so just put it on. I can hear your teeth chatter from here."

"N-no I-I can't," He said, still trying to hand me the jacket. I take it from him then wrap it around his shoulders, leaving my arm there for a moment longer then I needed to before pulling back. Keith looked exhausted.

"I s-should g-get going," Keith mumbled, starting to stand only for his legs to give out. I caught him again. He started to apologize but I just picked him up piggy back style and carry him back to his house. After all the work I did today my whole body felt like it was on fire. My arms and legs screamed in protest with each step, but I ignored it. I felt Keith fall asleep and he only got heavier. When I finally reached his house I knocked with my foot, hoping Krolia was there. She answered the door and let me carry Keith up to his room. She offers for me to spend the night but i turn her down and start the long trek back to the park. I finally get back to my truck at 8:38, meaning I got home and in bed at 8:52. Despite the time i got to bed early, and pass out as soon as my head hits he pillow.