Metanoia

9: Ice Cream

I got chocolate, like I always do. Pidge got mint chocolate chip rather then vanilla bean which I thought she was going to get. Hunk got NY style cheesecake flavored; that stuff is really good so I always take a few bites of his and he takes a few from mine. We always go out to get ice cream together, it's the thing we always do every week! And now that Allura works here, she gives us some pretty good deals!

"That'll be 6.30$ for the three of you," we got lucky this time with allura checking us out rather then any of her coworkers. She puts the employee deal on our purchases, so just take one dollar off of each of the ice creams! "Is it just the three of you this time? I thought that Matt came home yesterday"

"He's unpacking today and such," Pidge answered as she takes her ice cream and heads off to the table we always sit at.

"Thank you Allura!" Hunk said to her in his upbeat voice, paying for the tip before he went to go join Pidge with his ice cream. It was just me and Allura, I felt my cheeks going red. I pulled out my wallet and got out seven wrinkled up dollars and handed it to her to pay,

"So, um- Allura. I was wondering if, maybe-" I couldn't manage to get it out! I took a deep breath, and looked back up to her, "are you perhaps free this weekend?" One moment passes, then another- She was silent. Now that my vision wasn't foggy from adrenaline, I can see a panicked and sad look in her gaze as she looked at me, I shouldn't have asked.

"Lance, I-" she started, but I didn't want her to be the one to finish her statement, that would hurt to much ,

"I know, I know.. just- nevermind" I interrupted, just having to look away, looking down and taking a small bite of my ice cream.

"I'm sorry lance. Hey I'll mak-"

"Nah it's fine llur, have a good rest of your day!" I force one of my bright smiles and look back to her, I don't want her worrying about me. I lift my hand to wave to her softly before turning my heel to walk over to my friends. They were already talking about something. I still felt Allura gaze upon the back of my head, it burned through my skull like it was fire. This was actually the first time I asked her out, although I have flirted the idea with her of going out with her, I never actually asked her out.

"Lance, you ok? You're kind of zoned out." And now I can suddenly see hunks hand waving in front of my face, and I snap out of whatever I was in. "Dude, what's up with you?" I just shrug, I don't want to explain what just happened, especially still in front of Allura.

"Anyways, back to what I was saying. Ya know that guy we almost ran over? The guy with the longer black hair? Well I guess he's living with the Shiroganes or something?? He was there when we went to go have dinner with them last night." Pidge said, continuing her story from the beginning of a conversation that I didn't hear. I guess that new boy, Keith, was going to be sticking around for a while. I couldn't help but to smile, remembering my mom telling me to invite him over for dinner to greet him to town, maybe I'll actually have a chance to. Actually, I think I will! I stand up with my ice cream still in hand, grabbing my bag and starting to head out to the door.

"Wait, Lance! Where are you going!" Hunk said probably just as quick as I got up,

"To invite him to dinner," I answered back to Hunk as I took my phone out to call mamá.

"Who!?"

"Keith!"

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Mamá said it was alright if I went to go invite Keith over for dinner, she actually sounded ecstatic! I walked down the road where the Shiroganes live, having gone to Takashis place a couple times to play his video games.
Mannnnn all of these houses are nicccceeeeeeee! I forgot how nice these beach houses are! Once I become older and win the lottery or some shit I'm gonna buy one of these places for my family, they deserve one of these houses.

Lost in my own trail of thought again, I get there almost like there was no walking time in between at all; like, suddenly, I'm standing at their front door. I lift my hand to knock, but it freezes there as I think about how I'm going to explain this to Keith without sounding weird, or Keith actually agreeing. I'll figure that out when I get there. I hold back my nerves and knock the back of my knuckles against the door, rocking my feet back and forth as I wait for someone to answer the door. It doesn't take to long for someone to answer, the familiar face of Mrs Shirogane great me,

"Oh! Lance! Nice to see you dear! Please, come inside" she is kind, as always. She steps aside to let me in, I just take a few steps inside so she can close the door, "Takashi! Lance is here!"

"Oh, actually, I'm not here to see Takashi. Actually, rather, for Keith." She seemed surprised, and I understand why; Keith seems like he keeps to himself, and he's new around here so he probably doesn't have to many friends.

"Never mind Takashi! Keith, a friend is here to see you!"