Moving away has always been a lot of work, talking from past experiences.
Through the window of a car running in high-speed, Keith takes in the scene with mild interest. Dallas – a city that always seems too big for him – looks like a small, lone dot from afar; or more like a single collective unit created by many intertwining individuals. As he drives farther away from the capital, countless rows of trees stretch along the highway with seemingly no end in sight. Dusk is slowly approaching, tinting the sky in vivid orange, and while the peak of activity has passed, the road refuses to take a break. The same applies to Keith, who has been staying awake the entire 3 hours trip.
Even as the skies dye itself to black and the flickering lights from the cars outside flashes through his line of sight, he stays restless, focusing on a smudge at the corner of the car's window, unmoving.
Keith is by no mean unacquainted with moving away – seeing as he moved from Japan at a young age before settling down in Dallas, Texas.
"How about you get some sleep," Krolia says, eyes set unmoving at the road in front of them. "It's a sixteen-hour drive and we're gonna take turn driving."
Keith regards his mom for a second. She eyes the road with great concentration. Her eyes rarely move from the window. She's avoiding his stare for a reason – Keith can tell from her puffy, red-rimmed eyes, and the redness of her slender nose. Krolia has always been proud of her own strength – Keith knows because he has a part of her inside of him too. She doesn't like to show an ounce of weakness, not even to her own blood.
The music playing at low volume is "All Out of Love" by Airsupply. No one is listening, of course, so Keith turns the volume lower until he can barely make up the words. Curling into himself more, he buries his neck deeper into his gray parka, forcing himself to sleep. Even at a time like this, the highway is bright enough and filled with cars coming and going – people with places to go; people with no place to go; people with purpose; people trying to hold time back; people trying to run away. Keith wonders briefly which category he and mother fit in.
The moment he received the scholarship letter from his brother's university, Keith knew he'd be leaving Dallas all the same, but what he didn't expect was what he had to leave behind in that scorching hot city. Every time he moves away, Keith always leaves a little bit of himself, whether it's in a form of a book or a box of his and Shiro's old toys. He never had that many friends to begin with and has always been scared of being forgotten. Now with the death of his father, Keith didn't leave anything behind.
He doesn't exactly know when he began dozing off, but when he finally opens his eyes it's already bright outside, and the sun leaves a distracting glowing spot in his eyes. The inside of the car reeks of cigarette, so he rolled his window down and let the wind sweeps through his messy hair. Krolia offers him a cig that he appreciatively accepts, putting the cigarette between his lips and lights it with a cheap plastic lighter. Keith narrows his eyes at the street signs indicating his exact location and releases an easy puff of smoke into the air. The taste is bile and acrimonious in his mouth, but Keith doesn't have it in him to care, not when the road in front of him still stretches for miles and miles away. After a long, steady look at the street, he holds his breath for a moment and puffs no more than two or three times before his cigarette turns into ash.
The passenger door slides open and Keith steps outside, pulling his body into a half-hearted stretch, his dark parka riding high on his stomach. He slinks into the driver seat and waits until Krolia is finishing with whatever it is she's doing before turning the ignition on and starting the car. He doesn't drive right away though, distracting himself with watching the world outside of the car's window, the busy rest area – filled with people coming and going, even though it's practically out in nowhere. Krolia throws a pack of cold, convenience store sandwich onto the dashboard and folds her legs.
"What are you waiting for, Keith?"
Keith does not answer. He steps on a pedal and changes gear quietly before the car begins to hum and rolls forward into the highway once more.
Keith drives for six hours before Krolia takes her turn once again.
Tucson is dry and hot, but nothing new to Keith. He lived in Texas, he'd survived worse. The city's no bigger than Dallas, and surprisingly more modest, if he says so himself. His new house is located near his university, and the neighborhood is unexpectedly calm and not as heat-ridden as the rest of the city.
His new house is, surprisingly big and comfy. Too big, actually, for a widow and his two grown sons. It's a two-stories house with ruddy brick tiling, embellished with two giant oak trees and neatly organized bushes of flowers adorning the front yard. The driveway is big enough for four cars and a garage! Keith has never owned a garage in his house before. Upon closer investigation he notices Shiro's gross beat-up Honda is parked in the driveway.
"This is the house? You said it was cheap," Keith says, rolling down the window. "There's nothing cheap about this." Even the whole neighborhood looks too luxurious to his liking. He looks at the closest house next to his; separated only by tiny alleyway, a giant mansion with yellow-painted walls, with at least three floors and a big-ass pool. There's even a goddamn fountain on the front yard.
"It was cheap. And has enough room for the three of us." Krolia supplies matter-of-factly, parking the car into the driveway right next to Shiro's black Civic. "And it's only a five-minute walk to the university, so Shiro won't have to stay in the dorm anymore."
"Are you sure the previous owner of the house wasn't murdered viciously?" Keith tries to jest, but Krolia merely tightens her jaws and doesn't answer. Whoops, too fast for that kind of joke. Keeping a cautious gaze fixed on his new house, Keith steps outside the car and opens up the trunk. He hears the front doors swing open and Shiro strides outside, a warm smile growing on his face.
Keith senses his presence and raises his face from his luggage. He narrows his eyes and looks at the young man – his brother making his way towards him. He is still so freaking tall, Keith seems to be looking far overhead.
"Keith! Did you grow taller again?" Keith feels Shiro's large hand against his back. It's warm.
"We saw each other last week. Are you trying to piss me off?" he says, dumping a large luggage into his brother's arm.
"Less talking and more putting those arms to work boys," Krolia ushers her two sons, in her arms she carries three large cardboard boxes expertly.
Keith unloads a basket and another big-sized luggage before stepping inside the house. Unexceptional but adequate lightning; vivid décor and tiling; wide space he has no idea what to fill with. Everything about the house is sumptuous but interchangeable. After a quick survey of the interior, his eyes come to rest on the house right next to him, noticeable just across the huge window on the side of the room.
"Do we live next to a Hollywood actor?" he says absent-mindedly, pushing the window open to let the cool gust of wind sweeps through the humidity inside the room.
"Oh," Shiro drops down another box down by the staircase. "It's just a big family or something. They weren't here when mom and I last came here, and apparently they haven't been back since."
"Don't you find it strange?"
"What is?" there's an earnest wrinkle forming between Shiro's dark brows.
"Mom said she bought this house for cheap, and look how big this place is, Shiro. And not to mention we live next to a goddamned estate."
"I mean… it's better than sharing room in the dorm…" Shiro shrugs his shoulders like he couldn't care less. Keith huffs and rolls his eyes at his brother. "I made Lunch, are you hungry?"
Keith shakes his head, but as if on cue, his stomach begins growling noisily.
"Okay, just let me reheat the chili while you go help mom with the rest of the stuff," Shiro says with a laugh before sauntering to the separated kitchen area. Keith grunts, cheeks heating up a bit as he takes off his parka, folds it, lays it on the sofa next to him before walking outside to the driveway. He has on a tight-fitting black t-shirt and black washed out jeans. His hair is sticking out in weird places but he has no time to worry about his appearances, obviously not in this heat.
"Don't we have a swimming pool?"
"No, but our neighbor does," Krolia answers aloofly, pulling out a roll of rug Keith doesn't even know how it could fit inside the car. "Do you want me to buy you a kiddy pool, Keith? The fall here is drier than Dallas after all,"
"Ugh."
"There's a public pool though. And a basketball yard just in front of the church." Shiro suddenly says from behind him, making him jump on his feet. "Lunch's ready, by the way."
"Look, I'm not going to paddle in a pool filled with other people's sweat, okay? Just forget it." Keith grumbles, pulling out the last cardboard box from inside the car. It's lighter than the rest. As he peeks inside, he finds his father's old cherished telescope.
"Oh… is that…?" Shiro trails off, eyes blinking repeatedly before focusing on the box in Keith's hand.
Keith frowns and nods his head.
Both of them are quiet as they step into the house, remorse etched deep in their eyes. Shiro quietly makes his way to the kitchen and lifts the pot from the stove, pulling out whatever dining wares available at the moment and opens up the kitchen window to let fresh air in. Krolia doesn't join them until Keith is halfway done, descending the stairs looking more tired than he's seen her in years. Keith picks up a plate for her mother and wrinkles his brow.
"Do you have work tomorrow?"
"Yes," his mother answers, scooping up a spoonful of chili.
"That soon?" Shiro joins in from where he's standing in front of the sink, washing dishes.
"Gotta start as soon as possible if you want to get paid at the end of the month."
Keith looks up. Right after the news of his father's death hit them, Krolia has been taking on odd jobs here and there, and thanks to their distant relative she was able to land a job at the hospital here in Tucson, even though it's a rather long shift at ER. Keith doesn't really like the idea of her working on night shifts, but she has bills to pay and her kids need to finish their study. "I mean, me and Shiro can just go find some part-time jobs, you know?"
"I want you boys to focus on your studies first, okay? Especially you, Keith. With the two of you on the scholarship track is enough to help me, so I don't want you two to mess it up." Krolia's words are final, and both the boys turn quiet. Shiro does have a job at a local garage, but his mother doesn't need to know that.
"Still, I think it's weird that you two haven't met our neighbors yet."
"Well, I know the nice old couple from across the street." Shiro adds, rather inadequately.
"Waaay across the street you mean?"
"Yeah, that."
"They're technically on a different block, Shiro."
"Could've fooled me."
"You know what, we'll find out eventually," Krolia says, taking a drink of water. Keith exchanges glance with Shiro, and they fall into a comfortable silence.
Shiro takes him for a tour of the university the next day. Their mother left for work early in the morning and it leaves the two siblings alone for the whole day. The main campus is big and located about a mile from downtown. Almost all of the buildings, even the new ones, are built with red bricks that set a distinct tone. The campus is roughly divided into parts, with the north and south sides outlined by a grassy expanse people called the Mall that stretches to the campus' eastern border. The west and east sides of campus are separated by the Student Union Memorial Center. There's a big separate library on the east side of campus near the wide sports stadium. They spent some time chilling in the local campus coffee shop because Keith's enrollment doesn't start until next Monday.
"So how's college coming along?" Keith says, mechanically tipping his coffee cup. Keith, like his mother, drinks his coffee black and thick, whilst Shiro ordered a frappe because he is a softie underneath all those muscles.
"Hopefully I could finish all my thesis nearing the end of the year," Shiro says, brushing back a strand of his hair.
Keith cocks his head and studies his brother's face. "Are you going to look for jobs right after you graduated?"
"Maybe,"
"Here?"
Shiro taps the lid of his cup in thought. "Phoenix, maybe."
Keith reaches for his own cup. "Hmm."
"You worried about mom?"
Keith nods. "The things with dad… uh I think it really takes its toll on her. I really don't want to leave her."
The corner of Shiro's mouth tugs upward into a smile. "I'm basically just a town over. And you still have 4 years left, don't think about it too much." He reaches his hand out to ruffle with his brother's hair, but Keith's instinct beat him to it – the smaller guy swats his brother's hand away. "If you're really worried about her, how about you ease her concern and go find a boyfriend or two?"
"Ugh, what the hell. I am not having this conversation."
Shiro laughs. He hasn't heard Shiro laughter ever since the death of his father. Hell, he hasn't even seen his mother smile since that day. Keith suddenly becomes aware of his own expression. What kind of face is he wearing now, looking at his brother, who's as grieve-ridden as he is? He doesn't even need to check; Keith knows he's wearing a faint smile.
Keith's not a crier. He doesn't cry when the news arrived. Actually, nothing seemed to be registering inside of his head for a few days before it hit him. He loves his family dearly; maybe a little too proud to admit the fact out loud, but Keith loves his mom and dad and Shiro. And maybe not crying at a funeral might sound a little cold, but that's just what Keith is. He feels a little dead inside to be weeping his eyes out. It's a good thing Shiro shared his share of tears.
Class starts on Monday, and the walk there is hell. The sun is glaring right at Keith's pale skin and the desert dust is swirling, getting into his eyes. When he finally arrives at the building he swears he's three shades redder. His first class in the morning is Introductory Astronomy, thankfully, and as soon as he's inside the class he takes the front seat at the farthest right corner. Apparently, the front seats are reserved for the nerds – not that Keith knows of.
What surprises him the most is how the people in his class already know each other, and it leaves Keith in his own lonely bubble for a while before two other people sat down right next to him.
"This is our spot, usually." A girl speaks up, and Keith lifts his head to make eye contact.
"Let him be, Pidge, he's just a freshman." The big guy next to her whines, rubbing his cheek apologetically. "Sorry about that, she's cranky in the morning."
Keith, despite the initial shock, is utterly composed. He observes the two people blocking his sight with mild interest. The girl – about half his size – has her long, light brown shaggy hair tied into a messy bun on top of her head. A round glasses that looks too big for her tiny head sits on top of the bridge of her thin nose, and her eyes are as warm as a cup of morning tea. The guy next to her could probably wrestle him into submission with those thick biceps and size, but the friendly smile on his face makes Keith think otherwise. He begins collecting his stuff and getting ready to change seat when the girl speaks up again,
"No, no, sit down, I'm just kidding with ya," she says before plopping down next to him, his male friend follows suit. She's in a middle of pulling out her notebooks when the guy greets.
"Oh, I'm Hunk by the way. Second year. Nice to meet you, umm…"
"Keith." Keith supplies, nodding at the big guy – Hunk. What fitting name.
"I'm Katie Holt, but everyone calls me Pidge." The girl says, pushing her glasses up her face. "I've never seen you before, and you're certainly not from around here, are you?"
"Uhh… I'm from Texas,"
Pidge's eyes light up with interest. "Really? Can you speak with a southern accent?"
"Not really…"
"Boo."
"Ignore her, please. When did you move, Keith? Do you live in the dorm?" Hunk asks this time; his friendliness is easing Keith out of his previous tension.
"I just got here a week ago, and no. I actually live just behind the campus."
"Woah, welcome to Arizona, dude. What do you think about the place?"
"Thanks, and it's hot." Keith answers simply.
"Aren't Texas supposed to be hotter though?" Hunk rubs his chin, deep in thought.
Pidge lifts one of her brows. "You mentioned living behind the campus? Just how close? 'cuz me and Hunk probably lives nearby too,"
"East 1st street,"
"Oh, I know that place," Pidge suddenly sounds a tad bit grouchier, the look on her eyes grown a bit darker. "Do you happen to see a big ass house on your neighborhood?"
Hunk whistles from next to her.
"Um, you mean the estate with the fountain in front of it?"
Pidge nods.
"I live right next to it,"
For a few seconds Pidge and Hunk exchange knowing glance, there's something in their eyes Keith couldn't tell impeccably, then Pidge turns to look at him with a somber look. "Whoa. Is it you? you're the dumbass who moved next to the McClain's? My deepest condolences, buddy," Pidge mutters the last few words under her breath that Keith almost didn't catch her.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Welcome to Tucson dude, good luck and enjoy your stay." Pidge says once more before excusing herself to the bathroom, leaving Hunk and a rather confused Keith alone.
"What the hell is her problem?" Keith asks with a frown.
"Well." Hunk reaches out to him, petting his back lightly with a pitying smile on his face. "You're gonna need that luck, dude."
His first class actually goes by very smoothly, and he manages to make friends on his first day too. Hunk and Pidge both are actually of his age, but Keith is a bit late to apply to a college that he missed a year. The two of them are surprisingly very smart that the professor has taken quite a liking to the trio and Keith couldn't imagine a better first day. Pidge and Hunk live three blocks away and they exchanged contact information before separating for the day. Keith passes his neighbor's house on his way back and continues along the sidewalk before stopping right in front of his porch to take one look at the house next to his.
The building stands by itself by the far end of the grounds, its windows tin a bit darker than his. The short and well-trimmed grass and perfectly shaped bushes tell him someone lives inside. he's been curious since the first day he's arrived, and now with Pidge and Hunk's inquiries, that curiosity adds in ten folds. Keith pushes open the front doors and the hinges groan a bit. His eyes register the sight, spacey but not quite homey yet and sighs. Regardless of the piping hot weather outside, the house feels a little chilly.
Keith doesn't meet his neighbor until the next week, on a rather mild Sunday morning. The sun is out but there's a cold wind blowing, and the clouds are thick enough to hide the merciless glare of the sun. Keith and Shiro both think it's a perfect weather to go sunbathing, so they sets up their lounge chairs and put on their glasses and chill down on their front yard. Krolia huffs at the sight of her idiot sons, but only shakes her head before driving off to work.
Keith doesn't know how long he dozed off, but when he opens his eyes, there's a commotion from the yard next to him. There, in front of his neighbor's lawn, a large SUV is parked, and a few people are gathering. A tall guy carrying a surfboard, a curvy woman that looks like his age, a boy a head shorter than the woman, a blonde girl accompanied by a long-haired dude that looks like a stoner and, and –
Probably the hottest guy Keith has ever laid his eyes on.
He's probably one or two inches taller than Keith, completely shirtless as he pulls out a luggage from the trunk of the car, his slim but toned stomach glistened with perspiration. He's wearing baby blue shorts that compliments his legs that go on for miles nicely, his brown hair cut short just above his nape and Jesus, that pearly white smile that starks a contrast against his honey-colored skin.
Keith pushes his sunglasses down to rid of a distraction, and that exact moment the guy decides to look at his direction. The moment their eyes meet, Keith honest to god swears something seems to explode in the distance. Keith swallows and bites into his lips. In the same moment the frozen air begins to circulate again.
The guy grins at him, and Keith has to resist to clutch at his heart. The guy whispers something to the taller guy next to him – his brother, Keith guesses. They look alike except for the color of their hair; the older guy has deep black hair and lighter skin color. After what it feels like hours, (and yes, Keith is still shamelessly ogling) the guy runs at his direction and Keith feels his heart rate picking up.
"Shiro. Shiro!" Keith hisses, nudging at his brother with his elbow. Shiro stirs and mutters something incoherent before pushing his body up against the chair.
"What?" he mumbles, still trying to get his mind together.
But Keith has no time for any bluster because suddenly the guy is right there before him, his chestnut hair a little damp and sticking into his temple. He looks nineteen or twenty, perhaps a little older. The slender outline running from his forehead to his cheeks and his childlike lips are sharp and preserved. He gazes at Keith, which makes Keith feel rooted to the spot. Those eyes are such intense blue, alluring, and sucking him in.
"Hi, you must be our new neighbor." He addresses with a wide smile, reaching out a hand. His fingers are slim and long. "I'm Lance."
Keith pushes himself up and takes Lance's hand in his, shaking it briefly. "Keith." Keith breathes out, still a little awestruck.
"I'm his brother, Shiro, by the way." Shiro adds with some loud throat-clearing noises when he noticed Keith's in no state to think straight. He could hear the teasing smile on his brother's voice.
"Nice to meet you." Lance then gestures to the crowd behind him. "There's my sister Veronica, my brother Luis and Marco, and my friends Nyma and Rolo. Our parents live in DC, so it's just us mostly. We're only here for college. Are you guys in college too?"
Keith nods. "Yeah."
"Cool, we'll see each other then, dudes. We just got back from summer vacation, sorry if it's a little late for any introductions. In any case, let's get along well. If you lads ever need anything, don't be afraid to knock. See ya," Lance takes a few steps backward while making finger guns and waves at the two siblings before joining the rest of his group. Keith watches his retreating back while still holding his glasses down.
"Oh God, Keith, seriously?" Shiro laughs from somewhere next to him, but Keith isn't paying attention.
"Shut up." Keith barks, refusing to acknowledge the heat that begins to crawl up his neck.
Maybe moving here isn't so bad after all?