https://www.pinterest.co.kr/pin/642818546783558209/

"One more lap," Shiro urged Keith on, keeping up a steady clip. Keith was about ready to punch that infuriating smile right off Shiro's mouth- how was it fair that Shiro looked so good when he was running (and he even liked it) and Keith looked like he could pass out at any moment? Keith let loose a string of expletives but nodded and pushed his jelly-like legs forward around the track.

"So, who's this Lance guy?" Shiro asked nonchalantly.

Keith cringed. He should have known that Hunk would tell Shiro about Lance before he could. It wasn't Hunk's fault, he just knew that Shiro was going to pester him with questions and, honesty, talking and running weren't a good mix for Keith's aching lungs.

"No one."

Shiro sighed and punched Keith lightly on the shoulder, which nearly made him fall over in his weak state.

"Shiro, you've wounded me," Keith deadpanned, and Shiro laughed.

"Well, you're withholding important information."

Keith and Shiro didn't usually work out in the afternoon. Shiro didn't like how the sun was still high enough in the sky to bring a fair amount of heat and Keith just didn't like it in general. Normally, they'd meet at the local YMCA at 6 in the morning, run a few miles together, stretch, and then split up. Shiro would swim laps for an hour and Keith would go up to the gym to do weights. His biceps were still pretty stringy, but ever since Shiro had started forcing him to go to the gym four or five days a week, he slept better and felt better and... whatever. Keith would never admit it to his friend though- he hated it when Shiro was right.

The afternoon wasn't too hot, thankfully, which was why Shiro had called on Keith for the workout session. Keith supposed that Shiro was probably the only person he would ever run with. He was embarrassed as it was running in public, but Shiro's rippling abs and back muscles made him feel better, knowing that if anyone looked at them, they were looking at Shiro. Unfortunately for the college girls that giggled when Shiro walked by, the man was completely oblivious to any sort of flirtation.

Takashi Shirogane was a 23-year-old med student who Keith had met in high school. Back then, Keith had been some sort of friendless loser, but Shiro had taken interest in him and had pestered him daily. Eventually, the older boy drew Keith out of his shell and, well, the rest was history. They had been best friends since and, when Shiro moved to the coast to study, Keith went with him. It was convenient that the medical school Shiro attended was only 20 minutes from the Arboretum and Keith's college, so they were able to see each other often. During the school year, it was a little more difficult because they were almost always either working or in classes, but they always made time for each other.

Keith knew he owed Shiro a lot. He had been in a really bad place when Shiro had met him and he'd come a long way since, probably a lot of that development spouting from Shiro's positive attitude and constant encouragement. Keith wasn't a mushy or emotional person, far from it actually, but he made sure Shiro knew how grateful he was for their friendship.

Aside from Shiro, Hunk, and Pidge, Keith didn't have many friends. There were people at school he knew he could talk to and kids who said hey to him if they passed on campus, but Keith was okay with being a sort-of loner. He had always been more introverted anyway, and he knew that the friends he had were drama-free and loyal until the end. That was all he needed.

The track outside the Y was a quarter-mile long and Keith always looked forward to the last lap of the workout. He glanced over at Shiro, who was practically frolicking (how the fuck...?) and grimaced. Keith needed to change the subject. He inhaled deeply, braced his muscles, and then shouted "RACE YOU!" at the top of his lungs before sprinting out ahead of his friend. Shiro let out a very undignified yelp and hurried to catch up. Keith knew he was going to lose (Shiro was a marathoner- he could beat Keith easily), but he tried his best anyways, pumping his arms and legs as fast as he could as they passed the end line of the track. Shiro passed him easily, laughing happily as Keith groaned, slowing to a walk and catching his breath before flopping down into the grass on the side of the track.

Above him, puffy white clouds passed lazily across the sky and golden rays of sunlight filtered between and through them. It was a perfect summer day. Suddenly, a tuft of light brown hair popped into Keith's view, thoroughly surprising him.

"Flower boy!" the tuft of hair exclaimed happily. It only took Keith a moment to recognize that the hair belonged to the one and only Lance. Keith sat up quickly, blinking as his brain registered the situation. Lance stood before him on the grass, wearing grey sweats and a tank top that showed off his freckled shoulders. His smile was as bright as always and was comparable to the warmth of the sun, lips parted over his perfect teeth.

"Lance," Keith greeted, still a little out of breath. "What're you doing here?"

"I dance here," Lance informed Keith in a matter-of-fact tone. "This is Adam, my coach." He jerked his chin to the left, drawing Keith's eyes to a tall, lanky man with brown hair and rectangular glasses standing beside Lance. He looked to be a few years older than Keith, maybe 26 or 27? The man, Adam, did not return Keith's wave, however, as his eyes were glued to Shiro, who was fiddling around on his iPod, trying to get it connect to his speaker on the side of the track.

Keith almost laughed at Shiro obliviousness. "Shiro!" he called loudly, making his friend look up. Shiro's eyes drifted from Keith to Lance to Adam, hesitating on the latter. He smiled, setting his iPod down and jogging over to the group. Keith resisted the urge to roll his eyes- of course, Shiro looked like a fucking model as he made his way over to the boys, muscles flexed and sweat dotting his skin.

"Shiro, this is Lance and Adam," Keith introduced awkwardly.

Shiro's eyebrows shot up, "The Lance?" Keith blushed furiously. He couldn't be any more subtle.

Lance smirked, "You've been talking about me?" Shiro flicked his hair out of his eyes cooly, reaching out to shake Lance's hand and then Adam's. Adam looked positively dumbfounded (naturally).

Keith was nervous for a moment that Lance would be equally entranced by Shiro's good looks, but his anxiety was unwarranted as Lance only glanced at Shiro for a moment before returning his ocean eyes to Keith.

"You dance?" Keith asked, interested.

Lance nodded happily. "I'm majoring in dance theory, cutiepie. Adam and I come down here almost every day."

Keith frowned, confused. "How come I never see you here? Shiro and I work out here every morning."

"We practice at night. I don't think I've ever come here this early but Adam has plans tonight."

"Not date plans," Adam quickly interjected, smiling nervously at Shiro. Lance made a look at Keith that signaled that they were both thinking the same thing. Shiro seemed to be the only one who didn't notice.

"Aha," Keith said hoarsely. He realized that he was the only one sitting and quickly picked himself up off the grass, squinting in the bright afternoon sunlight.

Adam suddenly blurted, "We should all get coffee after this, if you guys are free."

Shiro glanced at Keith and they both nodded. "Sounds fun," the older boy replied. Keith looked at Lance for confirmation.

"Meet us outside the main entrance in an hour, 'kay?"

"Sounds good."

...

i am a horrible author i know i know i know

i swear on my life i've been so so so busy, it's been hard for me to even finish all my school work. god i hate junior year.

anyways, better late than never, but i'm so sorry for the long wait anyways.

qotd: how was your halloween?

here's a piece that i wrote for creative writing last week, if any of yall are interested

origin

warm and soft and secure:
the feeling of knowing where you're from
the feeling of knowing who you are
and what you  mean
and where you started

i come from honey dripping from the comb
sweet sunlight, warm the hive
amber nectar on my tongue
stir your earl grey and chamomile
lick your teeth to taste me

i come from the woods out back
the sound of papery white birch bark
that crackles in a fire
sumac berries and grass stains
get my fingers sticky with sap
sip from the spigot
tapped into a maple trunk

i come from the crunch of snow underfoot
chilled to the bone, hard breath in puffs
you're open-mouthed and wide-eyed from the cold
and you stick your hands in my pockets
because you've forgotten gloves

i come from the moon on the pavement
the flecks of micah as i pass over it
the way my favorite song sounds on the speaker
and how your palms curve to cradle a mug
and how i can look for constellations in your eyes
and how sometimes, i can't help but smile at you

warm and soft and secure:
your arms around me
and my tears falling to the freckles on your shoulders
i know where i belong because i know where i began

alrighty babes, i love you so so so much <333 thank you for 1.4k fandylions!! we truly are a family ((: