Chapter 4

Principle Coran's theatre class was most likely the best out of the entire school. Everyone loved the funny and enthusiastic Principle. His over dramatic personality certainly fit the subject that he teached

It was already 2:30, 7th period. Electives only got 30mins each, and their class had just begun. Lance had met her at the door already waiting for her. His class was closer and he ended up dragging her in by her wrist, all the way to the back of the stage they had class on. Many kids were already seated on the floor with their legs crossed while waiting for the Principle to start handing out syllabus for the class. Unfortunately that meant they wouldn't be starting on any of the fun lessons that he had planned for the year. But at least it meant she had lance to talk to for an entire 30 minutes. Now that she thought about it, that's probably why he brought her all the way to the back, near the curtains.

"So pidgeon, did you really pout about me missing out on you this morning?" Lance snickered.

Pidge huffed, shoving her shoulder into his side, making him let out a small yelp. "How many times do I have to say it? I was not pouting."

"Keith said you were."

"Yeah well, Keith is an idiot,"

She glared, placing her chin in the hand she had propped up on her knee.

Now she was pouting. She would admit to pouting now.

Damn Keith.

"When do you ever listen to Keith, anyways?" She asked, glancing slightly up at him from her slouched position.

He simply shrugged, stretching out his long lanky legs in front of him so that he could lean his back against her shoulder.

"I only listen when he brings me good information and you pouting is the most adorable info."

"Lance," the brunette said in a warning tone.

"I know, I know, adorable and cute are off the table."

Huffing, Pidge started picking at a string on her favorite green sweater. She could just barely recognize the smell of his cologne that he wore. Mint and pine slowly swirled around her as she leaned a bit into him and placed her own head against his. "Only because it's usually in reference to me being short," she commented, snuggling deeper into him.

She had no idea why this comforted her so much. She always felt at ease with Lance. Especially when they would just lounge back together. She couldn't even count how many weekends where he would just relax against her while playing Killbot Phantasm I.

It was different from when she and Keith would cuddle up together under her blankets and talk. With Keith it was familiar. It was like when Matt snuggled her up in his arms or wrapped her up in a fresh warm blanket from the dryer. Keith was similar to a brother.

Lance was home though.

He was beyond familiar.

She knew what they had wasn't sibling love but she never really questioned what else it was either.

She was simply happy to drown in the warm tingles that spread throughout and over her skin when he would lean against her. Pidge would simply just be, around Lance.

"Tired, Lance?" She asked him. He hadn't said anything and she wondered if he was drifting to sleep.

"No, just comfortable."

Pidge quietly laughed at his answer. He sounded drowsy and she would bet her favorite sweater that his eyes were closed.

Lifting the arm that he wasn't trapping against her body, the brunette placed her hand in his hair and started to sift through it with her fingers.

Maybe she was his home too. Maybe that's why he felt such at ease with her. He was practically laying on her in the middle of class. He had to feel some kind of comfort around her.

"Want to head to Slav's ice cream parlor after class?" He asked. He still sounded a bit out of it but that was probably due to the massage she was currently giving his scalp.

"I don't have any money, lance." She planned on saving most of her money to pay for her sweet junk food during lunch.

"Pidgeon, I wouldn't have asked if I didn't intend on paying for you."

She was pretty sure he rolled his eyes.

"Fine, but I pay next time."

"You can try but I'm not gonna let you."

For whatever was left of last period, the two spent in silence. Lance was obviously very tired from early morning practice and a long day of school, so she let him sleep. He seemed to be very happy with using her shoulder as a pillow and she enjoyed being able to play with his hair and be close to him.

She was not complaining.

Once the bell had rang though, he sprung up like the lanky tree he is, energy completely renewed.

She envied his ability to have power naps.

Quickly walking to his bike after visiting their lockers, Lance took her bag from her and placed it into his little chest box he had hooked to his motorcycle.

At first she hated the death trap he had chosen to drive but after riding it the first couple times….she kinda loved the thrill it gave her.

Not to mention the thrill she got when she had to cling to his back.

Lance had to stop before getting on to help her on.

Curse my short legs.

But once she was situated, he was seated in front of her and walking the bike backwards out of his spot to head to the ice cream shop down the road.

Slav's ice cream was probably the best that the town had to offer. It was her and Lance's go-to spot.

Sometimes hunk and/or Keith would tag along with them but most of the time it was just them.

Reaching around him as much as she could, the brunette placed her fingers in the large pocket he had on the front of his hoodie.

It was late September after all and his tall body could block out only so much of the bitter cold wind and a knitted sweater will only do so much.

She practically buried her head into his jacket the whole ride.

Not long after, they were pulling into the small parking lot. Like she said, it was right down the road from the school. Hearing the ignition cut off as they came to a stop, Pidge went to retrieve her hands from his jacket but his slipped in with hers and held them there.

"Cold, pidgey?" He asked.

She could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

"Not at all, i just wanted to hold you," she said sarcastically

He didn't know it but it wasn't a lie.

The minute he climbed off she followed right after him into the old, chipped paint, shop. Some of the leather booths had rips in them, as well as deep scratches in some places on the tables.

Some of the seats near the big glass windows even had sun damage. Honestly the old fashioned character the place had was what she loved so much about it.

Waving to Slav, who was on the phone from the other side of the counter, Pidge grabbed the booth in the back they had always sat at.

Lance slid into the seat opposite from her and pulled out his phone to most likely text his mamá to let her know he wasn't coming home immediately.

"So, how were your other classes today? I heard you fell asleep during 3rd," he asked once his phone was put away in his pocket.

"Can you blame me? Math is so boring and easy. Mr. Sendak practically talked me to sleep once he started the lesson."

"Not everyone is as smart as you are, Pidge," He said, making the tips of her ears burn.

"Maybe," she shrugged nonchalantly as their waitress came up to take their orders. It was, as always, the same.

Chocolate mint for the lanky jock and chocolate fudge for the nerd. "Perhaps one day we should adventure outside of our favorite flavors and try what else the menu has," she said as the woman left to prepare their ice cream.

"Why change what works Pidgeon," he smiled.

Pidge didn't know why but that sentence struck a chord with her.

"What were you and Allura talking about this afternoon at lunch?"

Pidge leaned back in her booth, crossing her arms, and gave him a contemplating stare. "Why? Still crushing on her?"

Not long after Allura started her sophomore year at the Garrison, Lance developed a crush on the highschool princess. She had caught the poor boy up quicker than she had ever seen. Lance of course had had many crushes before and after Allura, but none quite stuck as long as she did. It wasn't until the end of the first semester of sophomore year, that he finally started to move on. Her dating lotor probably played a big part in it as well.

Pidge couldn't have been more grateful. It wasn't that she thought Lance wouldn't have been a terrific boyfriend to the princess. Even if, for whatever reason, the thought of them together had made her a bit angry. It was because lotor obviously made Allura very happy. Much more than what she believed Lance could have.

Besides, it was proof enough by how quick he got over her after he realized she wasn't single anymore, that they were not meant to be together. "No, trust me that ship has sailed off the nearest waterfall and will never be seen again."

Once again, Pidge was grateful.

She most certainly didn't want to have to go back to being pissy and depressed for almost half a school year.

"I was just curious, you looked a little agitated with her for a second," he said as he grabbed the ice cream from the waitress and slid hers to her across the table.

"Oh, she was just curious to see if I was interested in trying out for the squad."

Wasn't technically a lie she told herself. He didn't have to know that Allura asked because she knew the brunette was any good.

Lance laughed as he scooped a ridiculous amount of ice cream in his mouth like a child.

He was absolutely adorable.

"What did you end up telling her?" he asked.

"Well of course I told her no and then I said that I didn't cheer."

"Not to mention I know how much you hate their mini skirts," he said, flushing a bit as he laughed.

"If I wanted to show that much of my ass, Lance, I would just forgo pants."

Lance turned a pretty shade of pink as he choked on his ice cream.

One look at the neighbors front yard told her that Keith was yet to be home. Cosmo was spread out in the grass where the asian boy usually parked between the houses. He always laid there to wait for one or both of them to come home.

The dark black, almost blue, husky ran for the motorcycle and crashed into her as her feet hit the ground. She was littered with kisses for the second time that day. "Hi buddy, how's my big boy doing?" She couldn't have baby talked to him any higher.

Lance could be heard snickering to himself from behind her, most likely shaking his head at her antics. Pidge didn't care in the slightest though. She would love on her fur baby no matter who was watching.

Turning towards the lanky teen, the brunette watched as he grabbed her bag from his bike chest, handing it to her so she could slip her keys out and open the front door. From the lack of her mom's car in the driveway and the fact that her dad didn't get home from base until late, they were the only ones going to be there.

"Mom most likely went to the store to pick up dinner," she told him as they walked up the steps to her front door.

It was rare that her mom wasn't home to greet her. Lance already knew that but nodded his head anyway, entering the house behind her. Cosmo bolted in right after them and ran up the stairs before they could even close the door.

"What is it with him and your bed? Why does he like it so much?"

Pidge shrugged and dropped her bag by the door but remembered to grab her phone so she could go charge it.

"Feel like pulling up Killbot Phantasm I for me?" She asked him as they were walking up the stairs and entering her room.

"Sure thing, pidgey."

Turning on the GameFlux in the corner of her room, Lance flopped onto her bed and grabbed the controller on her nightstand. Not long after, Pidge exited the bathroom with all her hair down and dorky round glasses settled on her nose.

"I ever tell you how much I love and prefer your glasses?" Lance said with a fond look. He gave her the same look every time she put them on. It was the same look she could never place. She could always point out when he was gonna call her cute or adorable because he always had the same stupid grin on his face, but anytime he gave her that fond look he was giving her now….he never really spoke. Besides the whole, 'you know how much I love those glasses', line.

"You say it every time I put them on, Lance."

Giving her a smirk, the cuban lifted the blanket for her to crawl under beside him and handed her a controller. "I know. It's me trying to sway you to maybe wear them out of your house for once."

Pidged laughed at that. She was strongly self-conscious on how she looked already. Adding big round glasses attached to her face was not going to help boost her confidence.

"You know my opinion is great when it comes to fashion, querida"

Pidge had to stop herself from sighing at the Spanish endearment he always used for her. She couldn't quite explain why but she absolutely loved when he spoke in Spanish.

Hearing him speak his first language made her skin feel like it was on fire all over.

As a matter of fact, she was sure her face looked like it was to. She could practically feel the heat radiating from her cheeks and she hurriedly pulled her hair over her shoulder to try to hide it.

It probably wouldn't bother him to know that his Spanish phrases caused such a reason from her. He would have probably made a joke about how it made her look ….adorable.

And pidge simply could not have that.

"Katie, i'm Home!" Colleen yelled from downstairs. The sound of the front door closing behind her sounded right after she let her presence known and cosmo decided he would greet her with a bark right after.

"Hi cosmo," her mother laughed. "Hello to you as well, Lance."

"Hi Mrs. Holt!" Lance yelled back down to her.

Shaking her head, Katie nudged him in the arm.

"Focus, will you," she said, tilting her head towards the tv.

"Can I not say hello to your mother?" He asked with a look of feigned irritation.

"Not unless you want to get your ass kicked, McClain," she smirked. A look of determination took over his features as he gave her his own smirk.

"Oh you're on, Holt."

After an intense gaming session, which she won, and dinner with Pidge's mom, the brunette waved at her friend from the door as he pulled his helmet over his head and waved back.

Cosmo was seated at her feet, occasionally rubbing his head into her hand at her side. Obviously wanting pets while she waited for the lanky boy to pull out of the drive.

Once he was gone, she huffed and closed the door, looking at her mom who was seated on the couch. "I'm probably going to catch up on some reading and go to bed. Is that ok?"

"Of course, honey," she smiled at her daughter.

Smiling back, Pidge told her mother to give her love to her father when he came home, and started for the stairs.

"Katie," Colleen said, stopping the teenager mid step.

Pidge placed her hands on the banister as she looked down at her mom. Colleen had a contemplative expression. The skin around her eyes wrinkling slightly, in what the girl guessed was, worry?

"You're not angry that your father isn't here much, are you?"

Her mother's question had caught her off guard. Why would she be mad that he wasn't at home? He was a respectable commander at the town's base. He made it home every day as quickly as he could and tried very hard to be present for special events. Not to mention, making his family proud with the work he was doing in the engineering department.

"Of course not, mom," she reassured her. "I miss him, just like we all do but I know he's busy and has good reasons."

Her mom gave her a tearful smile, "That's good sweetheart. Thank you for being honest with me."

Biding her mother a goodnight, Pidge headed to her room. Cosmo treading behind her.

The brunette flopped on her bed in exhaustion and grabbed her phone and book from her nightstand. She was currently reading a book about an old scientific discovery back in the early 90s. Science being a favorite of hers. She knew she wanted to do something with it as a career but had yet to set something in stone. She just started junior year after all.

About to start on where she left off, a tap on her window caught her attention and Cosmo let out an excited yip. Looking over, Keith waved at her from the branch he was perched on and she tumbled out of bed to let him in from the cold.

"Sorry, my mom probably closed the window before she left," she offered apologetically.

"It's fine, I figured you just didn't want anybody interrupting your time with Loverboy," he snickered, following her towards her bed and sitting himself at the foot of the mattress. Cosmo was instantly at his feet, laying down to get comfortable on the floor beside him.

"I'm sure he wouldn't have minded if you joined."

"And get third wheeled while you two geeks flipped out over, what is it? Phantom robot," he made a face in disgust.

"Killbot Phantasm I !" She corrected him loudly, not bothering to keep her voice low. Her mother knew of the two's antics and she was more bothered by what the asian boy had said anyways. How dare he call it Phantom robot. You would think by how much she played it he would have gotten it by now.

"Yeah, yeah. The point is, I didn't want to be left out, nor did I want to interrupt what you both had going."

"Lance has come over and hung out with us when it was just you and I," she said, confused by what he was saying.

"But what you and I have is completely different from what the two of you have," he smirked.

Why would he smirk? What was there even to smirk about?

"I'm not following…"

Huffing, Keith fixed his posture so he was sitting up straighter and facing her head on. "You can't possibly tell me you feel the same way about him as you do me."

Her eyebrows furrowed, "Well no, you are more like a brother to me," she stated. Hadn't she had this conversation with herself today in theatre class?

"And lance?" he questioned

"I don't get brother vibes from him."

"But it's more than friendship, right?"

Finally catching on to what he was doing, Pidge blushed and gave the boy a glare. "Don't even go there, Keith."

"No, I'm serious," he said. He looked at her eagerly. Like he wanted her to really pay attention and get what he was trying to say. "Think about it. You don't get brother vibes from him and the way you two act around each other can't possibly be classified as friendship."

"How do we act?" She gave him a defensive look as she crossed her arms and leaned against her backboard. She didn't think they acted any different than any other friends.

"Come on, Pidge. The blushing, the flirting, the close contact. Not even you are that dense."

Pidge didn't move or speak as she stared at Keith.

"Quiznack, you are that dense," he whined, placing his head in his hands.

"I am not. You and I have close contact moments all the time and occasionally flirt with each other. It's fun. Just kidding around, it's what friends d-,"

"But do you blush?" Keith said quickly, cutting her off.

The brunette only stared at him in surprise and in question.

"What?" She asked smartly.

Sighing, the asian teen reached for her hand and looked deep into her eyes.

"Does my flirting cause you to blush?"

He started to run his finger over the back of her wrist.

"Do you feel butterflies when I do this?

The brunette sat in what she could only describe as embarrassment.

She had felt none of what Keith asked her. The only person that ever had, was Lance.

"Are you really going to tell me what you feel for Lance, is just friendship?"

Pidge didn't speak. She instead averted her eyes from the purple grey that stared at into, what felt like, her soul. His pale digits were still clutched around her own freckled hand.

"Pidge, I didn't want to have to ask you this. I kind of hoped that you would have figured it out before I had to."

The bed dipped around her as he scooted closer to her, placing his free hand under her chin and lifting her eyes back up to his.

"Do you have feelings for Lance?" He hesitated for a moment. Trying to pick his words carefully. "Do you love him?"

It was then that the word Pidge had been missing, the word that described Lance and what he was to her, fit perfectly in her head.

Everything finally made sense.

All the hot blushes that scorched her face and skin.

All the heart palpitations and flutters in her stomach when he gave her those dazzling and charming smiles. Was it really because she liked him? Was it why she wanted to scream the first half of sophomore year while the cuban boy pined over Allura? Was the reason why he sometimes blushed around her, the same?

No, she thought. Lance could never feel that way about her. Guys just didn't see her that way. Especially not handsome and popular ones like Lance McClain. She wasn't tall with long legs or even appealing to look at. She barely put any effort into her appearance because there wasn't any reason to. Guys didn't fall for a girl like her.

Lance didn't feel that way about her, and she couldn't afford to feel that way either.

Besides, why change what works. She thought to herself, recalling the boy's words from the parlor earlier.

Sighing and snapping herself out of her thoughts, Pidged looked at her friend with a glum expression. "Keith-"

"No!" He interrupted again. "You are not psyching yourself out right now.I know you, Pidge. The things that you think about yourself are nowhere close to the truth."

"Why does it matter to you?"

"Because I'm tired of watching my little sister pine for something I know she could have."

Pidge wanted to cry. It wasn't often Keith showed his emotions like this, let alone trying to comfort someone. He never went without letting her know she was the best and vice versa but never had he looked so serious. "How are you so sure that what I feel is love for him?" She asked.

Keith's signature smirk returned to his face as a quiet but noticeable ding sounded from her phone.

"I might be gay but that doesn't make me blind."

Getting up, he walked over to the window and stuck one leg out before looking at her.

"When you text Lance back, which I'm sure is who just messaged you," He said, stopping to enjoy the slight smile that graced her face at the comment. "Ask yourself, how do you know it's not love?

Embrace your feeling for once, Pidge."

He saluted her before ducking completely out of her room and yelling a, "Goodnight, Cosmo," before entering his own room.

The brunette glanced over at the now offending phone that laid beside her on her bed. She knew If she looked at it she would reply and never stop until it was late into the early morning. They always had long talks that lasted until the early hours of the morning. School be damned. Their conversations were more important.

Pidge was scared, though. Within the long amount of time she would spend texting him, her answer to Keith's question would be brought to light.

She wasn't quite sure she was ready for that answer.

Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, she reached for it anyways.

Loverboy: Have you started to miss me yet?

Shaking her head, Pidge could only smile at his question. Of course he was teasing her.

Pidgeon: You texted me first, so apparently I was missed first.

Laying back onto her pillow, the brunette stared up at her star shaped lights she had hung up above her bed.

L: I was afraid my best girl forgot about me again. ;)

A flutter started from her heart and dropped to her stomach. One simple and small thing like calling her his girl, had made her blush with warm tingles spreading across her skin…..

Everything had answered itself right there.

She was screwed.

Hopelessly and utterly, screwed.

Damn Keith.

Authors note:

Wow. Ok so I'm trying really hard to make my chapters longer than the first 3. I kinda hate leaving you guys hanging on such short chapters. Please let me know how I did on this and I beg of you to comment! Also Matt and Shiro will be making an appearance in the next one.