BAM! Finally an update! Hey guys. Please review if you read! (Or not no pressure)

Lance

Unlike Hunk and Pidge, Lance didn't have a class that started early. He wishes he did, however. His sleep schedule always had him early to bed which naturally, made him early to rise. Without much to do, Lance decided to call home; it hasn't been long but he still wanted to check in and know how things have been. Lance had to admit, he was kind of worried. If there is anyone that would be awake it would at least be his mom, that's where Lance thinks he got his early bird genes from. It would be nice to talk to her at least.

One ring; nothing. Then another, and a third. Lance thought he was going to get no one so he was just about to hang up. But then there was a click, and a "Hello?" Came from the other end.

"Hey." Lance said gently from the other end, smiling to himself. It wasn't his mama, but the voice was still a female. Though his sisters sounded kind of alike, he could tell that speaking to him was Veronica. "It's me."

"Hello me, nice to meet you." If not for Lance, she would have been the joker in the family. He snickered at that as she continued talking. If there was anyone that would have been his twin if he was born later, it would have been Veronica. It must be an older sibling thing; though she was younger by a couple of years, she was the second oldest. "You know, I had a bet going on with the others. I think I won, I knew it wouldn't be long before you called. You're such a mama's boy. Luis owes me five dollars."

Lance rolled his eyes while letting out another chuckle. Making bets on him; that's totally something his siblings would do. "Yeah yeah. How are things at home?"

"You know it's only been like, a day." His sister sighed at the end of the line. "Same old, same old. Actually, papa just announced he would be picking up more hours at work which means he's barely going to be home anymore. Without notice. Good for the money he said. Hasn't told any of us yet but… I heard it from the yelling. Mama was not very happy."

Lance's heart sank. It was supposed to be easier on his family when he was off to school; not harder. Stupid Lance; going away wouldn't have fixed anything even if it was the solution in his head. He wished if anything he could hurry back, that he would protect his siblings from hearing what went on between the adults behind closed doors. He was blaming himself now for leaving, currently staying silent due to his thoughts for what seemed like an eternity.

"Do you want to talk to mama, Lance?" Veronica's voice brought him back to reality, and all he could mumble out was a quick "Sure."

As he waited for his sister to get his mom on the line, Lance couldn't sit still. He wanted to talk to his mom, make sure she was okay. He knew what she will probably say, which would be some reassurance since he was hearing it from her; even if the answer is a lie. His leg was bouncing up and down; god he was so glad Keith was out of the room. If there's anything he wouldn't be able to handle at this point it would be his silent judgmental stare.

"Lance?" His mother's voice came through the phone. Her voice seemed a bit strained and cracked, he noticed. It almost seemed as if she'd been crying. "Hey honey, I didn't think you'd call so soon."

"Hey mama." Lance spoke softly. "Just had some time. Thought I would check in, how are you?"

"I'm good." She responded. Obviously a lie, Lance knew when she was lying. He didn't want to pry about why she was upset all that much, so he didn't. But he hated when his mom lied to him. She then asked about the school, if he met anyone, and what his roommate was like. He explained to her about the project, about Shiro and Pidge, then finally about Keith. His mom didn't do much talking which was unusual; but Lance didn't mind. It was nice to have someone to talk to while he was doing nothing.

After about an hour his mother and he said their goodbyes. After hanging up the phone, he laid back staring up at the plain white ceiling. He wished everything could be fixed and go back to normal but the reality is it wouldn't. His father working more hours would just put more strain on everything, and there was probably nothing any of them could do to change his mind. For now, all Lance could do is hope that if they didn't break before; this won't let his family fall apart.

He didn't know how long he stared at the ceiling. Eventually he was brought back to daily life when his phone buzzed with a text, then two, then three. Looking at it he realized it was time to go to lunch before he had to run to his class. The texts were from none other than Hunk, asking if he wanted to meet up to eat, to which Lance agreed. Putting family stuff in the back of his mind, Lance headed out his room with his destination the dining hall.

Once he arrived, he met Hunk at the table. Hunk told him how he almost missed class, Lance laughed. It felt like a fake laugh. Hunk mentioned the first-year festival and said that it would be fun to go. He also mentioned that it would be nice to go with Pidge. Lance agreed. It wasn't long until Lance had to go, saying goodbye and heading off to class. He hoped Hunk didn't notice anything wrong; though Hunk knew Lance all his life. He probably did.

Hunk

He didn't say anything out loud, but Hunk noticed that his friend seemed to be sulking. He wasn't his normal cheerful and joking self like the Lance Hunk knew. Something may have happened in his family; Hunk knew Lance loved his family to pieces and it was a fragile situation for his friend. Even though Hunk wanted to make sure Lance was okay he didn't check what was wrong, because he figured that Lance wouldn't want him to pry. So he didn't, and Lance left.

After lunch, Hunk had some downtime so he got to go back to his room. He was surprised; the time that he walked into the room Pidge was there. He thought that the other would be busy and wouldn't be around. Pidge, he noticed, was looking at a picture of what looked like him with a girl. Pidge had only mentioned his brother Matt but maybe he had another unknown sibling, or maybe it was his secret girlfriend.

"Who's that, your girlfriend?" Hunk teased. Pidge jumped, frantically putting the picture away in a drawer and closing it shut. Fixing his glasses so they were straight on his face again, Pidge shook his head, denying a girlfriend. Hunk didn't quite believe him as it seemed like a picture girlfriend. The way Pidge was looking at it seemed like he missed the person greatly; it seemed like the look Hunk got when he talked to Shay. He figured it would be good to change the subject, Pidge seemed to appear a bit uncomfortable. "Hey, you going to the first year festival? I'm going with Lance when he gets out of class. Thought you could tag along. Could be the three of us?"

A smile came to Pidge's face. "Sure Hunk. I would love to."

Pidge

Throughout the hours that passed after he invited Pidge to the festival, Hunk came and went. Pidge thought he mentioned another class; but he didn't know for sure if that was why Hunk was away from the room. He was partially too embarrassed by the fact he got caught by his roommate looking at the picture of him together with Matt. Even though that was before his transition, Pidge loved that photo to death. If anything however, he was just glad that Hunk assumed the girl was his girlfriend, and not Pidge himself.

Eventually, it was time for Pidge to leave the room to meet with Hunk and Lance. The courtyard, which throughout the day had been pretty barren except when students were passing for classes, was now busy and bustling with life. Other students were grouping up at food trucks, lining up to play games, or just hanging around busying in conversation. There was a sign for karaoke in Alfor hall, Pidge noticed, and also for a painting demo in one of the classrooms. The second one had limited seats; Pidge could just make out the words almost full.

His main priority though is finding Hunk and Lance, so he kept searching the crowd hoping to find them. Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw Keith wandering around; though imagining Keith in a place where a ton of other people are seemed unlikely, he barely was comfortable sitting at a table with just Pidge. Eventually he caught sight of the two away from the crowd, drawing his eyes away from the other familiar looking kid. Thank god Pidge was small he could just squeeze in between to escape the clump of people.

"Hey guys." He breathed out, finally approaching the two. "Quite a crowd huh?"

"You almost got run over." Hunk joked, grinning from ear to ear. "We almost lost you for a second there."

Pidge rolled his eyes smiling. "Yeah you wish you could get rid of me." Lance hadn't said a single word since Pidge got here, not even a hello; which seemed pretty unlike the enthusiastic Lance he met the day before. Shrugging, Pidge added, "You guys ready to scout out some fun?"

Both of the boys nodded and the trio headed back into the crowd; walking around before making a decision of where to stop at first. There was so much around for them to get into, but the rumble of Hunk's stomach led them over to the food trucks where the boys settled to eat. There were many different food trucks there, but they chose one that sold classic hamburgers and hotdogs. Standing around to wait for their orders, Pidge caught a glance of the raven-haired kid he saw before. To his surprise that was indeed Keith that he saw earlier; Pidge was puzzled on why Keith would be amongst the crowd of people until he remembered the painting and Keith's artwork. Maybe he came for that.

By chance his eyes met Keith's. It would be weird to look away, and Pidge wasn't that rude so he lifted his hand and waved with a smile on his face. He wasn't expecting a reaction from the other, but a smile came to Keith's face and he returned the wave. What a surprise, Pidge thought.

"Pidge, I got your hot dog." Lance's voice came from behind him as he approached Pidge, two containers in hand. His eyes seemed to get wide as he realized who was standing across from them. "Keith? What is he doing here?"

By the time Hunk approached the other two, Keith had slipped away and wandered into a building; the one for the painting demo. So Pidge was right; that was what he was doing in the crowd. "Keith is here? Huh. Wouldn't take him for a festival person."

"Yeah, and he waved to Pidge."

Both of their eyes were now on Pidge, who was in the middle of eating his meal. Pidge had to admit; this was a little uncomfortable. He just wanted to eat his hot dog in peace. "He waved to Pidge? Keith waved to somebody?"

"Yes he waved to me." Pidge mentioned, brushing the other two off. "It's not really a huge deal."

"I still don't get him." Lance huffed, taking a bite of his hamburger. "It's only been like, a day but I was expecting someone way more friendly than him. He seems like a really rude person, he doesn't have to get along with me I just wish he wouldn't pretend that I'm not there."

"He's not that bad." Pidge said back to Lance. "I had lunch with him."

"Oh, okay. Wait – you had lunch with Keith?"

Lance's shock was almost hysterical, Pidge almost started laughing if he didn't feel that would be mean to the other. Even Hunk looked shocked, it appeared as if he almost dropped his burger. Pidge allowed himself a small chuckle, shaking his head. "You know, there's a lot more to people than just the surface."

"I guess."

With a shrug from Lance and Hunk, the three of the finished their meals and headed off to some of the festivities. Through the multitude of carnival games that they played, Pidge ended up winning a gigantic sloth. Lance, though he played as many games as Pidge only gained a medium sized fish. Hunk played one and got the prize of a small snake; but to him that was enough. Pidge thought he heard him mention he would pack it up and send to Shay.

After games they bounced around to other activity booths; making personalized banners, taking pictures with funny props at the photo booth, even watching Hunk doing a round at the pie eating competition which he won. When deciding what to do next Hunk practically begged the two to go into karaoke. Lance seemed to be unhappy with the suggestion, shaking his head no, but since everything else was filled with people he reluctantly agreed that it would be a good time anyways. Again that seemed out of character for him in Pidge's eyes. He seemed to be gloomy, it was like he was covering something up. Maybe he could ask Hunk about it later; though it wasn't any of his business.

The talent in the room seemed to be quite interesting to say the least. It ranged from people who were totally on key to others that seemed like it was a good thing that they didn't choose preforming as a professional career. There was one girl who sang "The Circle of Life" very passionately, but it was so out of tune everyone except her friends who were cheering her on seemed to be cringing. After that, the MC Lotor asked for any volunteers from the audience to go sing their heart out on stage. Pidge guessed by the way he looked he was a second year, probably volunteered to hold this event so the school didn't have to hire someone.

To the side of him, Pidge noticed that Hunk was trying to get Lance to the stage. Lance kept shaking his head and telling Hunk he wouldn't go up; but the larger boy seemed pretty persistent. Pidge watched as Lance finally gave in with a sigh, making his way to the stage behind a couple other brave people. Hunk seemed relieved that his friend was going up there; due to the fact it seemed forced Pidge didn't quite know what to think.

The first person in line went up to perform. Pidge kept his eyes on Lance who seemed extremely uneasy and anxious. "Hey, if you don't mind me asking, why did you push him to go up?" he asked his roommate, who seemed to be focused on Lance as well. "It seems like he doesn't want to be in line right now."

"I think something happened today." Hunk responded softly to the other, shrugging. "You must have seen it too, the shift in his personality. You're pretty observant." Pidge nodded as Hunk continued talking. "I was hoping it would get some of his spirit back. He's a character all right, and a good performer."

Another person stepped up. Then another. Eventually there was one more person and Lance would be on. "I hope so too."

"Someone Like You" finished, then came a person doing "Galway Girl", and then when those passed it was time for Lance to walk up. The anxiousness had not disappeared from his appearance and he fidgeted a bit as he told Lotor his song choice. After a few seconds the iconic start to "Eye of the Tiger" started, his acquaintance still looking nervous as all hell up there; Pidge was worried he might get sick up there or something. But the next thing he knew, Lance slowly but surely broke out of his shell and into the character Pidge and Hunk knew him to be. Lance was a real performer all right; shaking those hips and dancing around as he sang with a decent voice. Who would have guessed that Lance also could sing.

When it finished, the whole crowd exploded into applause; people cheering and some people even calling for an encore. Lotor even seemed to say something to him as Lance stood on the stage, a grin blooming on his face. Lance took a bow, and Pidge realized at that moment that Hunk was right; Lance's spirit definitely had returned.