"What am I even doing?" Lance mumbles as he clicks the send button. Yet another email sure to go unseen by Keith. To think that they live only a state away and Lance doesn't even know where Keith lives.

Lance wants Keith to see the emails. Or he doesn't, because some of them are really embarrassing. He doesn't know what he wants. He just wants Keith back.

"Ughhhhhh," Lance groans, dragging his fingers down his face with exasperation. He shouldn't be mad at Keith, he really shouldn't, but he can't help but wonder what exactly Keith is doing over there. Does Keith ever think of Lance anymore? It's been an entire year and Lance still misses Keith. He kind of doubts he'll ever stop, but that means the dull throbbing pain in his chest will stay there forever. And that sucks!

But what if… what if Keith doesn't care about Lance anymore? If he's found another bestie to draw hippos with and play video games with and, and, and-

Lance starts crying. Again.

"This is dumb," he says out loud, though his voice is shakier than he'd like to admit. "Of course Keith cares! We pinky swore! You can't break a pinky swear!" But it's just some words, it's not like he signed an oath. He isn't obligated to stay your friend forever, you know. That's just selfish. He's somewhere else now, he can be friends with whoever he wants.

"I know. But that doesn't mean we still can't be friends!" Then why isn't he answering your emails?

"Because he didn't see them yet!" It's been a whole year. "Well, he doesn't even have a phone! He's really outdated!" How do you know he doesn't have a phone now? "Shut up!"

Lance just wants to see Keith again.

Later Lance bikes to Hunk's house. It always makes him feel better in the comfort of Hunk, Hunk's moms, and Hunk's adorable dogs. However, he didn't realize Katie would already be there, chattering excitedly about something. He doesn't bother to listen because it's probably something smart he wouldn't understand. He just plays on his Nintendo DS, which seems like all he's been doing lately. Video games are one thing Lance feels good at.

As Hunk and Katie chat, Lance idly fiddles with the buttons, dragging the stylus over the screen. He doesn't hear anything Hunk and Katie say until he hears the word "Hedwig."

"Hedwig?!" Lance screams, abruptly sitting up in the comfy blue bean bag chair. He immediately brightens, making Hunk visibly relax with relief. Lance probably looked all mopey before, but that doesn't matter.

"Hedwig!" Katie screams back.

"Why are we yelling?!" Hunk interrupts, equally loudly.

"You know Harry Potter?!" Katie and Lance continue, ignoring Hunk and pointing at each other with newfound vigor.

"I thought you were into science-y stuff, not magic!" Lance says, eyes sparkling.

"How can I not know Harry Potter? And anyway, I didn't know you liked to read!"

"I like comic books," Lance thinks of Keith, "and Harry Potter is the one book I will accept. Obviously it's the best! J.K. Rowling is a genius!" Lance rambles the way he used to before Keith left. Hunk grins at him knowingly.

"Hedwig is the best. If could own an owl, I totally would. Heck, I'd go to Hogwarts just so I could have an excuse to own an owl," Katie excitedly joins in. Hmmm. Katie does kinda look like a bird, but more like…

"Pigeon?" Lance says out loud by accident.

Katie sighs. "Not you too! My brother, Matt, calls me Pidge!"

"Because you're short?"

"Not the point!"

It's suddenly a lot easier to talk to Katie, even tease her. Lance used to feel really far away from Katie because the obvious gap in intellect, but Katie is actually pretty cool to talk to.

"What house are you in?" he asks.

"Slytherin!" Katie says smugly. "Obviously the best house!"

"No!" Lance replies, mock-offended. "But I'm a Gryffindor!" If Keith would just agree to read Harry Potter, Lance is sure he would be a Gryffindor as well.

"I'm a Hufflepuff!" Hunk chimes. Lance can't say he didn't expect that.

The rest of the summer afternoon is spent gushing over Harry Potter, and when Katie finds out Lance loves video games, she challenges him in Mario Kart (unfortunately, they end up tying, which is never satisfying) and Lance feels like he can actually talk to Katie without feeling inferior. He ends up having the most fun he's had in months, and is glad to call Katie his friend.

Keith, on the other hand, is not having much luck finding any friends.