A NEW Beginning - Book 1

Chapter 10 - Day 1 - Keith

I leave Pidge in her workroom so she can say goodbye to Hunk, and make my way to the kitchen to grab a coffee. I tidy as the machine whirs, then grab my cup, and a muffin from the counter, and go back upstairs.

I poke my head into Pidge's room, to make sure she had actually gone to bed.

 She is already sound asleep, curled up in a ball at the end of her bed. 

That's our Pidge. She can be awake for days on end, but when she's been working herself too hard, she can go to sleep at the drop of a hat. Loud noises and bright sunlight, such as what was streaming into her room right now, didn't bother her.

I tiptoe across the room, and quietly close her curtains. I make my way back out, shutting the door behind me, and head back downstairs.

I unlock the door to my studio, walk in, and re-lock it behind me. I know Lance is out with Adam, but I just can't risk it.

I hit play on my Lance playlist, and stand at the window. Looking out across the ocean, I collect my thoughts, before I turn and face my current piece.

It was almost finished, I just had to add a few more touches, then I would let Pidge and Shiro see it. 

I know Lance is going to love it, no matter what, but I was scared of over doing it. I could rework the brush strokes over and over again, and I still would be nervous that it wasn't good enough.

~

I pick up my palette, which is really just a large plate, and start squeezing paints out of the tubes.

I stand back, taking in the moment, taking in the music, taking in the piece in front of me. I shut my eyes, and roll my head, loosening my neck. 'A Drop in the Ocean' begins to play, and I grin, as I'm taken back to that evening.

*****

Lance had shown up at my house, in the middle of the desert, in the middle of the afternoon. At first I was surprised and confused, and then I got angry. Angry at him, angry at Pidge, and angry at myself.
Things were going horrible, and could have ended forever, right then and there, if Lance hadn't said 5 little words.

I came back for you.

Things took a turn then, and the most amazing things happened, the things I had been waiting for. 

Before I knew it, I had Lance's face in my hands, and I was kissing him. And then he was kissing me.

We talked a lot that afternoon, and, of course, we argued some more, and, of course, we kissed some more, (a lot more). But we had a lot to work through, and a lot to discuss. 

It was almost evening when he looked up to the sky. "I promised Pidge I'd be back for dinner," he said, looking back to me, "I've got a fair drive back..." he paused, "Come with me?"

"I think we need to take this slow," I answered awkwardly, "I mean, I don't want to rush this, we can't just jump into whatever this is. We've got to make sure it's what we want. I think I better stay here for a while."

Lance stood up, "I've never been more sure of anything in my life," he sighed, "But I get what you're saying." He offered his hand to me, to pull me up, "At least walk me to the car?"

~

As we walked, I looked up to the sky. The clouds were a wash of reds, blues, and purples, as the sun set over the horizon. The cacti making striking silhouettes in the distance.

I took his face in my hands again, and kissed him one last time before he left. All of a sudden, drips started falling on our faces, as the sky opened above us.

I cursed, but Lance threw his head back in laughter.

He took my hands, and began pulling me away from the car, further in the desert, letting out whoops of joy as he ran. He stopped, and grabbed my other hand, and spun me round and round, on the spot, until he pulled me in and kissed me. Three short, breathtaking, kisses on the lips. Then he let go, and stood back, the glint in his eyes sparked something inside me, and I began laughing too.

He began spinning, arms thrown wide to the heavens. As the rain fell onto his beautiful face, he began yelling to the sky. "I've missed this the most! I love this rain, and I love this sunset, and I love this desert, and I LOVE KEITH KOGANE! This is the most perfect day of my life!"

The rain stopped almost as suddenly as it had started. You would barely have known it had rained, if it hadn't been for the soaked clothes, now clinging to our bodies, and the tiny puddles that had pooled in the rocks.

Lance stood there, silently, grinning up at the stars that were now beginning to appear.

I walked over to him, and wrapped my arms around him from behind.

"Come inside and get dried off, while I pack some bags," I say, pulling him back towards the house. He looks at me, still grinning, and raises an eyebrow. "You think I'm not coming with you after that? You ain't ever getting rid of me now..." I blushed.

"I never want to..." he answered, and took my hand, and lead me inside.

*****

That day was forever etched into my mind. That beautiful, absolutely drenched man, spinning around in happiness, with the sun setting behind him, and the purest look on his face. There was no one around for miles, but with the endless desert, and the rolling sky above as our witness, he had declared his love to the whole universe.

I walked over to the supply closet, and got out the black light paint I had saved for this moment.

"It wasn't just your most perfect day..." I grinned to myself, as I added the last few strokes to the painting, "It was mine too."