Chapter Six
"Pop?" Keith asked.
"Yes Keith?" His Pop answered.
"Where did Mom go?" Keith questioned.
Pop sighed a bit. "Well," he started. "Your mother and I, we did love each other, very much actually, it just.. didn't work out."
"Why?" Keith pressed forward with a confused eyebrow raise.
Pop huffed another sigh and continued. "She wanted to travel. To fight for our country. I just wanted to settle down in a forever home and be with just my family and help." He smiled sadly.
Keith nodded, kind of understanding. He was only five, so he didn't really get it yet.
"Keith." His Pop kneeled down to him to eye level. Keith made a sound, sounding like he said hm? "I want you to know, I will never, and I mean never, leave your side. Not until it's time to have you go out into the world yourself. Hear me?" Pop promised as he held out his pinkie for a pinkie promise. Pop never broke his promises. "I promise."
"Yes, Pop." Keith nodded, take his own pinkie finger and wrapping it around his Pop's for a promise, believing him.
Pop smiled down at him, then stood up. "Now who's hungry for lunch?" He smiled even widen.
--
"You promised.." Keith mumbled to himself, staying in his blanket cocoon.
It was Pop's birthday today, November 20.
Keith saw the day coming. He knew it would arrive soon and he couldn't bare with dealing with today. He didn't even want to go to school, and he was starting to like his school.
The big crowds weren't very comforting, but on his first day, he had almost all his classes with Pidge and bonded with her. And for Mr. York, he was okay too, probably because Hunk was in his class and is his favorite student.
He even had a class with Adam. And that night for homework, Adam sort of helped him with it. Sort of.
Keith also met a friend of Lance's during their lunch that they, thankfully, shared. Vera was her name. She seemed very confident in things she did and was very pretty. Long, straight, light brown hair. Peach skin dotted with some freckles across her face. Beautiful blueish-green eyes. Perfect straight teeth. Pretty, glossed red lips.
She looked just like a model and had no idea how Lance scored her as his friend. Well, he probably did it because he's the "lover boy" of Altea Area High, and is pretty popular with the girls, and some guys. Including Keith himself.
There was no way Keith could compete with Vera. She was so much prettier than him.
There was a knock on Keith's door. "Keith? You up?"
Keith sniffled a bit, trying to mask the fact he was crying, something that doesn't happen often. "Yeah, Adam." He drew in a big inhale and exhaled a bit shakily. "I'm up."
"Are you okay? I thought I heard crying. Are you watching a movie?" Adam asked worriedly.
Keith sighed. "Yeah, I'm okay. It's uhh.." he trailed off. "It's Pop's birthday." He murmured.
"I didn't hear that." He said as he opened the door. "Oh Keith! You are crying!" Adam sadly exclaimed. "What's wrong?" He said as he sat down on Keith's bed.
Keith let out another shaky breath. Guess the cat's out of the bag, he thought. "It's Pop's birthday." He mumbled.
Adam lightly gasped. "Oh Keith.." he trailed off sadly.
"It's.. it's fine." Keith said, wiping more of his tears.
Adam hugged his side, lingering the hug for another moment. "Let's go get breakfast, okay?" Adam told him with a soft smile.
The memory of Pop asking him if he was hungry for lunch floated around a bit longer, but Keith pushed it aside.
That was then. This, is now.
Keith nodded with a smile. "Okay."
"I cannot believe that Jacob did that!" Lance exclaimed with his hands in the air. He and Keith were walking home together. "Like, who would even have the guts to say that in front of the teacher! It's ridiculous." Lance groaned while putting his hands down.
Keith just giggled when he finished his ramble. "Guess he was just super confident."
Lance sighed. "Probably. He is pretty confident in what he does." He grumbled.
Keith huffed a laugh. "That would explain it then."
Lance let out a breath. "Thanks for listening to me ramble. And walking me home. Pidge and Hunk don't live never us and Nyma and Rolo are always too busy." Lance said with a small smile.
Keith ignored flutter in his chest and pushed down the blush on his face. "No problem. We do live right next to each other though." Keith pointed out.
"True." Lance said with a small head roll. They came up to the few houses on the street next to theirs. Lance sighed happily. "Almost home."
"You'll just have to do homework when you get home." Keith said looking over at Lance.
He groaned again. "Why did you have to say that. Now I'm not ready to go home and do homework. It's literally the worst thing in the whole world."
"Well, I could come over for a study session." He said without thinking. And when he did, he regretted it deeply.
Lance's eyes widened in the cutest way possible and had a big smile on his lips. "Really?" He asked, that big, adorable smile still present.
"Uh, sure. If Shiro and Adam let me." Keith mumbled.
Lance's beautiful ocean eyes brightened even more, which didn't seem possible. "I'll go ask Mama and Papa!"
"Lance, wait-" Keith was cut off by a noise from Lance that indicated he would be back as soon as possible. Keith sighed and started to walk home himself and get ready to go to Lance's house to study.
So sorry for the late update and very short chapter. I've been so busy cramping for semester finals and taking care of our 13 week old puppy. No update next week because of Christmas. Happy holidays guys!
