The Best Guesst – so glad you are liking it! And yea, Lance isn't too sure what he saw yet… ;)

Iclalraventt – Thanks! That's great that you're enjoying it!

Chapter 4: Friends?

After surviving the first week of freshman year, Keith and the others quickly became good friends, including Lance (however reluctantly at first.) Shiro began joining them at lunch as well and lunchtime became their social hour. That's where they all got caught up, discussed upcoming tests, made fun of each other (Lance mostly), and just all around had fun.

It is now a few weeks into school and they are all at their usual lunch table at the back of the cafeteria. Lance was sitting, listening to the others talk. Hunk and Pidge were talking about a robotics club meeting coming up. Shiro was listening to them as well, interrupting once in a while with his own comments or questions. Lance found his attention wandering to the only other quiet one at the table. Keith had his attention on his drawings in front of him. He is always sketching new concept art for his 'bike' or altering old designs. He was listening, Lance could tell by the way his eyes would glance up sometimes, but didn't really join in on the conversation. Lance has come to learn a lot about Shiro and Pidge. Pidge is really smart with computers and tech stuff. Shiro, a commander in ROTC, is studying to be a pilot. With Keith however, he's hardly learned anything about his likes, dislikes, hobbies, home life, etc. What he has learned is that the slender boy usually has the same thing for lunch every day, a sandwich and some chips. He flinches when touched and avoids touching others. He doesn't smile much and when he does it is very soft and small like he's afraid to smile. Lance would bet all the money in the world that that boy's smile could light up a room. Lately, Lance and the others have been hanging out after school on Wednesdays at a local burger joint. Keith however, never joins them. He always has some reason as to why he can't join. Lance must have been staring because Keith finally spoke.

"Lance?"

Lance looked up at the sound of his name. The soft voice carried over from where he was staring. He shook his head a bit to return to reality. "Oh, uh… huh?"

Keith furrowed his brow. "Are you alright? You look pretty deep in thought over there."

Lance didn't even answer Keith's question, instead asking a question of his own. "You gonna join us at The Burger Palace today?"

Keith looked a little caught off guard at first but then looked away, avoiding everyone's gaze on him. "I, well, uh…"

"Come oooon." Lance whined a bit but smiled. "You never come with us when we go."

There was a pause. "Actually," Pidge pondered for a moment, "he's right."

"Yea, Keith, we'd all like to have you there." Hunk smiled brightly at him.

Shiro nodded in agreement. "They've got some excellent burgers there."

Thought still reluctant, Keith resigns. "Alright. I'll, uh, ask my dad after school."

The others cheered.

The rest of the day goes on and Keith is hardly paying attention in his classes. The only thing on his mind is having to ask his father to go out with his friends. The last time he asked his dad to invite a friend over, he laughed in his face, not believing anyone would be his friend. He hasn't asked him since then and that was almost six years ago. He wasn't sure how he'd react now and he dreaded his reaction, but he really liked these people. They were good friends to him, he has fun with them at lunch, and would like to be able to go out with them outside of school. That's all he could think about while going from class to class.

In ROTC that day, Shiro could tell something was off with him. He was quieter than usual (if that was possible) and hardly paid attention, that was unusual for him. He always paid attention in ROTC and was one of the best students in there. Towards the end of class, when they had some time, Shiro tried to talk to him.

"Hey, what's up?" Shiro placed a hand on his shoulder and felt him flinch a bit under the touch. He moved his hand away. "You seem quieter than usual. You know we weren't trying to be pushy or anything at lunch? I mean, we were," he smiled jokingly, "but it was all in good fun."

"Oh, yea I know." Keith smiled softly. "I'm alright. I promise," he lied.

Walking home, Keith's brain is going a mile a minute, unsure of what to say to his father. He sighs in slight relief when he sees his father is still at work. That gives him more time to think of what to say. As soon as he walks in he starts cleaning house, making it look spotless. He does the dishes, takes out the trash, does the laundry, cleans all the rooms, and sweeps and vacuums. He runs down to the store down the road and buys a case of his father's favorite beer (the store clerk knows his father and sells to Keith). Keith fixes a small dinner with what food he can find.

As soon as he is done cooking, his father walks in. He drops onto the couch looking around. He notices the house, the folded laundry, the case of beer on the coffee table, and looks up to see Keith bringing him food. He sighs, annoyed, and pops the cap to a beer. After taking a long swig, he finally looks to Keith. "What d'you want now, boy?"

Keith fidgets with his hands a bit before finally speaking. "Well, uh… some friends invited me out tonight. I was w-wondering if I could, uh, g-go out with them." He tried to muster even a bit of conviction but failed miserably.

There was a pause. A thick silence hung over the two of them until his father finally spoke. "What did I tell you 'bout friends?" He stood up from the couch, looming over the shorter teen. "Boy, nobody wants to be your friend and you don't deserve friends anyway." As he began approaching him, Keith backed up until his back hit a wall. "You really think that just 'cause you cleaned a bit and cooked, that I would forget what you've done?!" He reached out and grabbed that long black hair in his fist. He started dragging him down the hall while Keith grabbed at his father's wrist, screaming. He knew exactly where he was being taken. He was thrown into the closed and the door was slammed shut. He heard three clicks in succession as his father locked the door as well as the two added locks. "Maybe this'll remind you who's to blame for you mother's death!" he heard his father say as he walked away.

He may be older but he always feels like his seven-year-old self when he's back in this closet. He curled into the same corner, eyes squeezed shut, and whishing he'd never asked.

Once again, Lance found his attention swaying back to the black-haired teen. He was no longer listening to the biology lesson. All he could see of Keith, however, was his hair falling loosely around him. His face was buried in his arms and has been since he arrived. Lance was beginning to worry. He normally has his head down anyway, that's true, but he usually at least continues to listen and pay attention to the teacher. This time it doesn't even seem like he's trying. Lance has to wonder if he's fallen asleep.

When the bell rings, however, Keith is the first one up and out the door, not even sparing a glance to the tan boy. Keith heads straight to Algebra for fourth period. He receives a cheerful greeting from Pidge but he doesn't reply. He simply takes his seat. She happens to mention not seeing him last night but he just looks away and buries his face. Pidge frowns, confused and worried for her friend, but doesn't say anything further.

When lunchtime comes, Keith sits down and starts sketching. He has no lunch with him this time and the others exchange worried glances.

Hunk shrugs to the others and turns to Keith. "Hey, buddy. We're sorry you couldn't make it last night. We're going out again if you want to join." Hunk gives a bright smile.

Pidge nods in agreement. "Yea! It's okay if you couldn't make it. We've got all year, plenty of time to hang out."

Before anyone could say anything else, Keith packs his stuff and leaves beginning to feel his eyes sting.

At 10 years old, Keith finally made his first friend at school and bravely decides to ask his father if he could invite him over. Even at this age, he walks to and from school. He makes it home and begins cleaning house until his father gets home from work. When his father walks in, he drops onto the couch and props his feet up on the old coffee table. He notices little Keith standing in front of him, fidgeting. That's when he also notices the recently cleaned house.

"What d'you want, boy?" he asked in a bored tone.

"Well I, uh, wanted to invite a friend over-"

He couldn't say much else before his father burst out laughing. Keith flinched from the harsh, unkind sound.

"Friend?!" his father barked before laughing again.

Keith could feel his eyes beginning to sting.

After a minute, his father stopped. "You really think you've got a friend?! Ha! That ain't a real friend!" He stood up, towering over the small kid. "Ain't no kid wanna be your friend!" he chuckled a bit more a left into the kitchen.

Keith ran to his room, tears threatening to fall. He dropped to the floor beside his bed and pulled his knees to his chest. He needed is best friend back, his little Rover who always kept him company during times like these. He stared at rover's bowl. It has been sitting in the same spot, empty, for a few months now. He missed him so much. He buried his head in his knees as tears soaked his jeans.

Well, not a whole lot to say about this chapter. But I've had this idea for something later in the story and wanna know y'all's opinions. I was thinking of including some sexual abuse towards Keith (not by his father tho). What to y'all think? Yes or no? Until next chapter,

NyteXade