***Updated, Pidge didn't come to the Garrison until after the Kerberos mission

Where it all began - Part 2

(Lance)

I was so lonely.

I was a year older now. I was sixteen. I could finally leave the Garrison without permission. I had taken the pilots exam and not done very well. I mean I didn't get kicked out of the flight program entirely. I was a cargo pilot in training, which was still alright. I would still be able to touch the stars one day.

Pidge joined our group of friends, he was a little more private, but he made up for it in feist and spunk. He was also a super genius like Hunk and more and more I began to question my position as the group "leader."

Pidge and Hunk requested to stay with me, I was so happy to see them stay with me. Veronica had to travel to another Garrison base for six months. They were the only family I had. Though Pidge was becoming more distant and Hunk was worried about his motion sickness. What if they left me?

I hit the town that night. Maybe I could find some ways to ease the loneliness, I knew my family would be disappointed in what I had become, I was no longer Lance, I was someone else, though the people at the Garrison thought I was funny. Maybe they were more laughing at me than with me, but it felt nice to have people care about me, even if it wasn't in a good way.

"Hey, you are pretty cute," a cat call from the side of the street. I considered it, only for a moment, no. I shouldn't be going this. I wanted to fall on the ground and scream. People would definitely think I am crazy then.

I headed back to the Garrison after a couple hours of wandering. I didn't do anything bad, I was somewhat proud of myself.

"Now that Shirogane isn't here to defend your obvious behavioral issues you can get out of this program. We don't have time for someone who can take orders," that voice, Commander Iverson, who was he talking to? I tried to squint through the darkness, was that Keith? Whoever it was had a tiny backpack and was walking away very angrily, probably Keith. I passed by him on my way in, there was that hideous mullet, yep it was Keith. I couldn't believe it, he was getting kicked out of the Garrison? He was the best pilot in our class?

"Is that Lance McClain?" Iverson shouted, I immediately jumped to attention.

"Sir yes sir," thankfully I didn't do anything bad, the thought of encountering Iverson while under the influence was a nightmare.

"Congratulations, you are officially fighter class now, report with your crew to the simulator tomorrow morning," he yelled before storming off.

Me? Fighter class? I felt tears well in my eyes. No, Fighter Pilot Lance McClain didn't cry. I couldn't knock the giddy grin from my face as I ran to find Pidge and Hunk and tell them the good news. I found them in the commissary.

"Guys, guys, you will never guess what just happened? We got promoted to fighter class!" I said practically yelling, I quickly played it cool and ran my hand through my hair. I winked at the girls a table over who glanced at me. They laughed it off a few of them blushing. Damn right, ladies man, and best pilot in the school. That was who I wanted to be, that was who I was going to be. No more pathetic, useless Lance.

"Are you serious? This will be so much more exciting now," Pidge said, fist bumping me.

"Oh dear, that's going to be twice as worse on my stomach, but I know you have been wanting this, so congrats," Hunk said pulling me in for a side hug. I was glad I had them. I most certainly didn't deserve them.

When I went to bed that night I should have been so happy, but I could only think about Keith for some reason. While I was happy to be fighter class it didn't seem fair that the best pilot got kicked out just because he tended to be a bit more hot-headed. I wondered what he was going to do now? More interestingly Iverson had mentioned Shirogane. I remembered him, he had passed away a while ago on the mission ot Kerberos. Was Keith close to him? I had always considered Shirogane one of my heros, I remember crying when I heard he died. I wonder what Keith must have gone through? I wondered where he was now and what he was going to do now?

He may have been a prick, he may have broken part of who I was, but that didn't mean he deserved to be in pain. Hopefully he was going to be alright.