Voltron One Shots

Araneae p.1 (A/R)

"Late to class again, Ms. Jackson?" The teacher chastises as I walk into second period science, a measly 2 minutes late, but I may as well have dishonored her ancestors for the way she acts.

"I'm sorry Ms. White."

"Sit down." I oblige, plopping into my seat next to the most beautiful person I have ever seen. Usually the seat was empty, as the only person who wanted to sit next to me was Keith. Sure I'm really popular, but that doesn't carry over into a class full of people I'm not friends with. All my friends were in math right now, but because I had skipped a year of math, I have two classes where I'm not really popular anymore.

Keith and I have been friends since first grade, when he moved here.  We were quick best friends, but we drifted partially apart around seventh grade. I became popular, and he got other friends. We are still close to this day, but not to the same degree as we were.

But naturally I was surprised to see this girl on my other side. I haven't seen her much before, if at all thinking about it.

"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted. This is our new student. Allura Walker. She's transferring here from California I . Now let's get on with the lesson."

Keith leans over to me, drawing my attention away from the other girl. "Why were you late?"

"I don't wanna be here." I reply quietly. "She's cute."

Keith shrugs. "If you say so... jealous much?"

I blush. "I'm not jealous, Keith, I'm gay." And so is Keith, shown off by the way he was so obviously pining over the boy on his other side. Lance McClain. We weren't friends by any measure, but we were friendly at lease.

Ms. White slams a plastic jar on the table between Allura and I. "Please pay attention, before you go to detention." She puts another plastic jar between Lance and Keith. "As I was saying again," she shoots us a pointed look. "You and your table partners will be taking care of this spider for a month. You will be studying its behavior, as well as studying the possible changes in your behavior towards the spider, or your partners. Any changes should be logged, as well as how you take care of the spider. If it dies because of personal error, you fail. If it dies of natural reasons, you and your partner will be given the opportunity to redo the assignment."

I tune her out, feeling confident that that was the only important thing she was going to say. This is the worst, I cannot believe we have to take care of a spider. Allura in the other hand, already hand the jar held up to her face, admiring the spider in the terrible fluorescent lighting. Although in fairness to her, I was admiring her in the same light. Perhaps this wouldn't be all bad...

••

I was wrong. Getting Allura's number is not worth this. She has the spider out of the jar now, and is letting it crawl on her arms. "We should make a schedule of who should take her home when." She says, petting it's back.

"I vote never for me." She looks up at me puzzled.

"You still have to complete the assignment."

I sigh. "Fine. Switch off on weeks?"

She nods. "I'll take her home first if you want." She sets the spider down on the table, and it walks over to the mountain of her things. "On one condition. Hold her. Just for 10 seconds. It won't be so bad, I promise."

It will most certainly be bad, but I don't wasn't to take first spider sitting duty. I hesitantly offer the back of my arm out to her. Allura smiles at me, stealing the air from my lungs. Then she picks the spider back up and sets it gently on my arm. I immediately tense