I Can Try [Klance AU]

Chapt 1 -- Portuguese Beach

Just a little warning, this fic does contain slurs as well as the rare homophobic slur
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"Sept 12

I'm pretty glad that the weather is cooling off in my town, the wind whips the trees' branches and they seem to dance under the clouds. It's beautiful, but I am disappointed that summer is nearly over. People don't go swimming, or sneak off to the beach at night during fall. But no one has told me to not try."

Footsteps pounded down the hall and Keith shut his laptop closed, unable to finish reading the latest blog post from BlueConstellation28, Keith's favorite blogger. From what Keith has gathered over around 10 months of reading the posts, the blogger is a boy, around his age, and lives in the same town as him. Though Keith hides it well, a small spring of excitement surges through him knowing the fact that his favorite blogger lives near him.

Shiro leaned in the doorway, holding his backpack over his shoulder. His kind eyes looked down at his younger brother and he smiled at him. "Are you ready for school? I can drive you."

Keith nodded, scurrying over to his dresser and slipping on his vans. "Yeah, I'll meet you downstairs." he said brusquely and checked in his backpack. The plastic bag reflected in the dim light coming from the window, and he quickly zipped the compartment, concealing the money. A small pit sunk into his stomach, but he shrugged it off and walked out of his room, closing his door.

He met with Shiro at the bottom of the steps and looked over at the living room couch, occupied by their sleeping mother. Her wild hair was scattered about, and her eyebrows moved before she turned over on her side.

Shiro noticed Keith's somber eyes staring at his mother for seconds too long. "Keith." he said. Keith's head turned to him. "Let's go, she's fine."

Keith followed Shiro out of the door and to his brother's truck. It rained last night, by the dust-stuck water marks on the black paint. Shiro also noticed them, and grimaced as he unlocked the car. "I'm going to have to wash my car when I get home." He said. Keith didn't respond.

Instead, Keith sat still in the passenger seat as Shiro started the engine. The dogwood tree that sat in the house's front yard was loosing the last of it's blossoms, it's leaves' color dulling for the cold weather coming in.

'But no one has told me not to try.'

Keith made a small chuckle to himself, remembering what BlueConstellation28 said. Going swimming in the Santa Rosa beach during the cool weather? I wish I had the confidence to do that. Keith thought to himself.

Shiro pulled up to the side of Maria Carrillo highschool and took a turn into the parking lot. He parked and turned to Keith. "Make sure you catch up with your English Teache- oh okay, you are already gone." Shiro looked down at his lap, hearing the door next to him shut.

Keith adjusted his backpack on his back and walked down the sidewalk on the edge of the campus, lined with pine trees. Students also were arriving to school, walking together in groups and standing next to the trees and on the benches before the 1st period bell rung. He took a sharp turn around a corner behind the school and met up with a tall boy who was a senior. His brown eyes glanced at Keith and he turned to him, looking around for anyone who is watching.

"You got the money?" His deep voice questioned, his blonde hair hung over his eyes like knives.

The pit in Keith's stomach grew, and so did his irritation. "Yeah, Rolo." He bit. "Just don't rip me off like you did the first time."

"Chill, squirt. I was just messing with you, I wouldn't do that again now that I know you mean business." Rolo took the money from Keith, counting it in his hands. He made a grin, and took out a bag of weed, papertowels inside cloaking it from view. "What is your reason for smokin'? You don't seem to be the type to have it for just a good time."

Keith stuffed the bag into his backpack, and put it over his shoulders again. "I got my own reasons." He said slowly. "And I'm barely younger than you, you know. I'm actually a bit old for my grade, I'm a junior."

Rolo leaned down close to Keith's face, and Keith could see the stubble on his chin. He stunk of tobacco. "Good to know, then." He whispered. Keith could feel his lungs tightening from each centimeter Rolo's face got closer to his, and his face burned with irritation and embarrassment.

"The fuck are you so close for?" Keith muttered, his eyes glaring into Rolo's. "Don't try to kiss me now, or I will take my damn money back."

Rolo leaned away and cringed. "Nah, man. I'm not a fag."

Hearing that word twisted Keith's stomach, but he played it off to avoid any suspicion. Instead of breaking Rolo's teeth, Keith decided to start walking backwards away from Rolo. "Thanks." He said to him and turned forward, only to collide with another student in front of him.

It was yet another guy who was slightly taller than Keith, except he smelled a whole lot nicer. The closeness made Keith jump back, tensing up.

"Hey man, watch it." The guy said, looking at Keith with his dark blue eyes. His eyebrows pushed together and seemed to inspect Keith.

He began to open his mouth again, but a smaller student behind him nudged him away to continue walking. The short student with caramel hair and large, round glasses mouthed, 'sorry', and they both continued to walk down the path.

The bell rung for 1st period and Keith groaned. English. God, why does my teacher have to be so pissy and bossy. He looked out passed the parking lot and to the public library across the street, and looked back at the school. I could just skip 1st to catch up on reading my book project.

Keith made a sly grin to himself and walked out of the school entrance and across the street to the library. The trees that crowd the entrance to the Library's parking lot were turning red and orange, and a cool breeze made their branches sway. It reminded Keith of the blog post, and a smile threatened to creep up on his lips. As he walked through the parking lot and to the entrance, he took out his phone and went to the post to finish reading it.

"Yes, I'd prefer warm weather over cool, but chilly air has never stopped me from doing anything outside. Last night I went out to Portuguese Beach, despite how far it is from my house in central Santa Rosa. There was no moon in the sky, so I couldn't walk properly on the rocks leading down to the sand. I think I might have stepped on a crab on accident.

The sand under my feet was cool, and the wind sweeping up from the ocean was even colder, and I heard thunder overhead. No one was around, but it was just so exhilarating. Rain started to fall, but I walk into the water anyway. The waves got stronger, but I stayed on the edge of it so I wouldn't get pulled under. It was so much fun. I think that's the best part about Fall. When the climate gets cold, and everyone leaves nature. But the nice thing is, nature doesn't leave us."

At the end of the text, he inserted an image of Portuguese beach. The image was dark, but Keith could tell where the water met the sand. The blog had over 500 comments, and the blog had over 760 likes. Maybe there are other people in this town who reads his blogs too. Keith thought to himself.