Guess who forgot they were writing a book

K: You okay?

L: No

L: One of my friends messaged me asking to meet up

K: Okay?

L: Should I go?

K: If you want to

L: Helpful much

K: Sorry, I just think it's your decision

L: He wants to talk… what if it's a trap

K: Then welcome to my life

K: I thought you were a trap but pretending you're trans is taking it a bit too far so you're starting to convince me

L: I'll go

K: Okay

L: Can I have some moral support?

K: What do you mean?

L: Will you come with me?

K: I'm busy

L: No you're not you're texting me

L: And I never told you when he wanted to meet

K: Fine 

L: 3 today in Starbucks

K: Cool, see you then 

-

3 o’clock rolled around fairly quickly so it wasn’t long before Keith found himself sitting beside Lance in their local Starbucks. Keith had ordered an espresso and Lance a chai latte so both were steaming in front of them. Obviously way too cool to show up on time, Hunk was ten minutes late.

“I’m so sorry I’m late!” Hunk exclaimed, sinking into the seat opposite Lance. He froze for a second as he realised Lance had brought Keith along. “Keith?” 

“Uh, hi…” Keith mumbled, raising a hand in an awkward wave. 

“I thought I was coming to speak to Lance alone.”

“I can go!” Keith said, starting to stand up until Lance grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.

“He stays.” Lance replied, as if Keith wasn’t sitting beside him. Hunk opened his mouth to argue but swallowed to compose himself. 

“Why didn’t you tell me you were trans?” The question lingered in the air and Keith wondered whether he should ask the barista for a knife to cut the tension. Lance stared into his chai latte, unsure how to retaliate to such a selfish question. 

“I was scared, okay?”

“I’m your best friend, Lucia.”

“Lance.” Keith chipped in. He had seen the colour drain from Lance’s usually tanned face at the deadname and it was as if someone had stabbed him too. He felt like he needed to stand up for Lance, especially since he was so used to confrontation from all the years he had been bullied and called an outsider.

“It was like pulling a plaster off… I had to do it quickly or I’d wimp out.” Lance’s voice was so small and fragile that it felt like it didn’t belong to him at all. Keith was used to hearing his voice with so much confidence and pep.

“I’m sorry if I’m coming across as selfish… this is just… so weird to me. I don’t know how to react.” Hunk admitted, scratching the back of his neck and forcing a smile. “I hope you know I support you no matter what, man.”

Hunk called everyone ‘man’, no matter their gender, but that time it seemed to encourage a flicker of a smile on Lance’s face. 

“Trust me, it’s harder for me.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m sorry.”

“I’m a boy and, if you don’t accept me then we can’t be friends. I want you to call me Lance from now on.”

“We’ve been friends forever, of course I accept you, Lance.”

“Really?”

“Yeah!” Lance practically leaped up to embrace Hunk in an over-the-table hug and, despite the weird positioning, it didn’t appear awkward at all.

“I’m glad you two are getting along though. I knew you would as soon as Lance asked for your number!” Hunk grinned, glancing between Lance and Keith. He had been the cupid to shoot the arrow that hit them both and encouraged a romance (well… a friendship) to blossom. 

“Hunk gave you my number?” Keith questioned with a pair of furrowed eyebrows. He couldn’t recall giving anyone at school his number; let alone Hunk, one of the popular kids.

“Yep, I had it after we did a history project in year 9.”

“You’re lucky I didn’t change it then, huh.”