(Discontinued) Voltron High School AU (Klance, Lotura, Adashi, Hunay)

76: The Other Hangout

November 09, 2018 [12:15 PM]

Veronica ran toward the cafeteria, cursing herself in her head for running late. Well, it wasn't really her fault, the teacher wanted to talk to her about her grades. Financial accounting probably wasn't for her…

She spotted her friend sitting at a table on his phone. She jogged up to him, panting out of breath.

“Hey, Veronica,” James greeted, then looked at her concerned, “Uh, are you alright?”

“Hey...sorry I'm late...I just ran here...and realized how...outta shape I am…” Veronica sat down and James offered her his bottle of water.

“I didn't drink any yet, so take it,” he requested.

Veronica nodded and took five gulps of the liquid, seeming to finally calm down from her exercise.

“Thank you,” she said appreciatively.

“No problem,” he smiled, “So, you ready?”

“Sure, unless you wanted something from the cafeteria?”

“Nah, I'm hungry, but the food here isn't the best.”

“Well, where do you wanna go?”

“Me? I...I don't know, what about you?”

“Wherever you wanna go, I'm fine with. I'm not that hungry,” Veronica shrugged.

“Uh…can we go to McDonald's?” James asked shyly.

“Of course.”

“R-really?” he asked shocked.

“Yeah?” Veronica raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment. “Let's roll.”

James nodded and the two of them left the cafeteria.

~~~

[12:30 PM]

James and Veronica were sitting in a booth in McDonald's. James had ordered a Big Mac meal with large fries and a Sprite.

“Thanks for taking me to McDonald's,” James smiled appreciatively.

“No problem,” Veronica shrugged, but then sighed, “hey, can I ask you something?”

“Technically, you just did, but go ahead,” James bit into his burger.

Veronica deadpanned and rolled her eyes before continuing, “Earlier...you seemed shocked about having a choice in where you got to eat. Why?”

James’ face fell. He avoided her eyes, as if he were ashamed of himself. For a long while, he didn't say anything. Veronica waited patiently. She wouldn't push him to answer. If he didn't want to, he didn't have to tell her.

At least, not today.

“I never really get to make decisions for myself...it's always about what my mom thinks is best for me,” James confessed after a full five minutes of internal contemplation. “And I want to make her proud, I really do, but it seems that everything I do just makes matters worse.”

“What do you mean?” Veronica raised an eyebrow in concern.

“I'm in a million different clubs in school. I'm in the Honors Society. I'm on the Dean's List. I'm eating healthy and doing everything else she says, but she still doesn't love me. I have no freedom there. It's like I'm trapped in a cage with too many appointments to count.”

Veronica slid next to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

“It's like...she lost all of her loving and caring nature ever since…”