*Y'all can't imagine how hard this chapter was for me to write omfg. I've spent the past 8 hours staring at my laptop screen in an attempt to finish this. I only had 200 words written this morning. When I got to 1k I realized I had just made a major contradiction and had to delete 300 words. I hate myself. Anyway. It's done. Yay.*

(2414 words)

October 19

Romelle walked to the door of her apartment, having had heard a knock. She looked through the peephole before opening the door with a smile, "Allura, I wasn't expecting you."

Allura kissed Romelle's cheek before letting herself in, "Is it a crime to surprise my girlfriend with a visit?"

Romelle closed and locked the door, "Of course not. I was just about to call you."

"Oh? What about?"

Romelle smiled before grabbing Allura's hand and pulling her to the bedroom, "I won the Hi-C competition!" she grabbed her backpack and pulled out a folder, then took a certificate out, "I got first place!"

Allura smiled, "That's amazing!" she pulled Romelle into a hug, "I'm so proud of you!"

Romelle hugged her back happily before pulling away, bouncing on her toes a bit, "I won $1,000! That was the grand prize!"

"Oh, wow! I didn't think it would be that much!"

Romelle giggled a bit, "Now we can go all out for our Halloween costumes. We don't have to worry about sticking to a budget."

Allura rolled her eyes, "We never had to worry about that. You were just too stubborn to let me pay for yours. You're my girlfriend, let me spend money on you."

"Well, now you don't have to because I can buy my own. I still think we should be princesses."

Allura giggled, "We aren't children."

Romelle frowned, "Oh come on, Allura. How often do you get an excuse to wear a fancy gown? I never got to go to prom, my school didn't have one. Let me wear a pretty dress."

Allura sighed, "Alright, when you put it that way."

Romelle smiled again, "Yay!" she threw her arms around Allura, hugging her again.

Allura hugged her back with a smile, "Let's get real dresses instead of costumes. We can donate them to Cinderella's Closet after, that way some girl will get a free dress this year. That's what I did with my prom dress."

Romelle let go, smiling big, "That's a great idea! Let's go now unless you have something you need to do."

Allura shook her head, "I have nothing."

Romelle went to the living room and grabbed her purse, "This is going to be so much fun!"

"It sure is," Allura smiled as she followed Romelle out the door, happy to see her so excited.

"I have to go to the bank to cash the check first, but then we're good to go."

"Sounds good."

And with that, the two girls were on their way to the bank and ready to get the best Halloween costumes the others will have ever seen.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

"Are you sure they'll be here on time?" Romelle asked, curled up next to Allura on the couch at Allura's house later that night. They had bought their dresses and were now searching for tiaras online.

Allura nodded, "I have Amazon Prime, they'll be here in two days."

"Alright," Romelle pulled out her phone and looked at the pictures they had taken in their dresses. Romelle had gotten a baby blue floor-length dress with an aline neckline, very Cinderella-esque. The top of the dress was adorned with flowers and the bottom was tulle. Allura, on the other hand, went with a light pink, knee-length dress with a halter neckline. The top was lacey and the bottom was tulle as well, "I think we chose beautiful dresses. And going with silver flats was a good idea, the heels would've gotten very uncomfortable at the party."

Allura nodded, "I took my shoes off halfway through prom. Pidge just wore combat boots with a slight heel. She was smart and went with a more comfortable shoe."

"What is she being for Halloween?"

"I don't know actually," Allura looked up from the laptop, "Last year she didn't dress up at all, she probably won't this year either unless Lance gets his hands on her. He's always looking for excuses to get her in a dress. He's always going on about how cute she'll look. In a platonic way. They're like siblings that actually get along all of the time."

Romelle laughed a bit, "Your friends sound very fun."

Allura nodded, "They are. Lance is a handful in any scenario but especially so when he and Pidge get together. They can wreak all sorts of havoc if they feel like it. Pidge is very blunt with most things but it can be quite funny, she has a great sense of humor. So does Hunk but he will never say anything that may hurt your feelings, at least he tries not to. Shiro has his moments with inappropriate humor but, for the most part, he's well behaved. Keith is our token emo kid that will spend any get together either standing in a corner or hovering over Lance. There is no in-between unless someone drags him into some sort of activity. But he's really nice and very interactive in other situations. He just has a bad history with parties. Even small ones are a bit of a hassle for him. But that's okay. Lance and Shiro make sure he enjoys himself."

Romelle nodded, "I wish I could meet them."

"Maybe one day you can," Allura kissed her forehead, "But for now we can stick to FaceTime when we get the chance."

"We only ever FaceTime Hunk."

Allura sighed, "That's true. I suppose I have fallen out of contact with the others. Maybe we should have a group call? I think that would be fun."

Romelle smiled, "Yeah! I'd love to see the rest of them."

Allura pulled out her phone, "I'll ask them."

ayellura: is anyone up for a group video chat?

hunkinthetrunk: i'm with shay but she said she's fine with it if you are

shirogone: i just got home from the academy so i'm free

kmskeith: lance and me arent doing anthging

katiehatesyou: parker just canceled on me so i guess im free too

leggylance: wait he cancelled on you??

katiehatesyou: he and jude are having dude bro time

leggylance: what a dick

hunkinthetrunk: bros before girlfriends

shirogone: that's not the saying hunk

hunkinthetrunk: yeah but the real one is mean

katiehatesyou: it's fine. jude has just been feeling a bit left out. they need a day just for the two of them. im the one who barged in and stole his best friend

ayellura: okay lets talk about this over video chat

Connecting...

Connecting...

Connecting...

Everyone's screens lit up with four video boxes and then a fifth miniature bix of themselves in the corner.

"Hi!" Lance spoke first, "God we haven't all talked in forever!"

"Are you in Keith's lap?" Pidge asked.

"....No."

Everyone laughed.

Keith rested his head on Lance's shoulder, "We fit in the frame better this way."

"Shay and I are sitting next to each other and we fit just fine," Hunk said.

Shay waved, "Hello!"

Everyone said hi back in unison.

"Shiro put a shirt on," Pidge said.

"I'm working on it!" Shiro said, his phone was propped up on something while he looked through a pile of clothes on his bed, "I just got home from the academy and past me was stupid and decided not to fold the laundry before I left. Now I can't find a shirt," he pulled a black shirt out of the pile, "Aha!" he put it on quickly, "There."

"Perhaps you should fold that while we talk so your father doesn't kill you," Allura said.

Shiro mocked her, "Perhaps you should fold that, don't judge me."

Lance giggled, "Oh, is that your girlfriend, Allura?"

Romelle nodded, "Yep! I'm Romelle. Allura has told me about all of you."

Pidge smiled, "Nice to finally meet you. Hunk told us Allura got a girlfriend. I guess we all don't talk to each other much anymore, huh?"

Everyone frowned.

"I guess not," Keith said.

"Well, we're talking now," Lance said with a smile, "That's what matters."

Keith smiled, "Right," he kissed Lance's shoulder.

Pidge rolled her eyes, "Wait until we hang up to get all gross. No one wants to see that."

"You're just bitter because you're not with your own boyfriend right now," Lance crossed his arms.

"Um, no," Pidge said, "I'm not upset with Parker. Jude has been really... off.. lately. Like, depressed and angry. Parker needs a day with him to sort it all out. They've been friends since 8th grade. They need some time to work through it alone, without me there. For all I know, I might be part of the problem."

"You've been their friend for a year now and he only started getting weird a month ago," Shiro said, "If it was you then it would've started a long time ago. It's probably some personal stuff. Didn't you say his parents are like fucking Nazis? Maybe it's a home life situation."

Pidge sighed, "Yeah, Parker will figure it out. Anyway. Enough about that. Someone else say something."

"What are you guys doing for Halloween?" Allura asked, "Romelle and I are dressing as princesses and going to a costume party at a sorority house."

"We're all having a small get together at Pidge's," Hunk said, "We wish you could be there. But.. distance."

Allura sighed, "Yeah. Well, I'll be visiting for Thanksgiving. Coran and I don't celebrate it since we're from London, but I get time off school either way so might as well come to visit everyone."

"That will be awesome!" Hunk said, "We'll all be together again. And you can finally meet Shay."

Shay smiled, "I've been dying to meet you in person."

Allura nodded, "Romelle might come with me."

"Yeah," Romelle said, "My parents moved here from Manchester when I was six, so we don't celebrate Thanksgiving either. I just have to see if I can pull it off. We'll figure it out. It's still a month away."

"I don't celebrate it either," Shiro said, "My parents came here from Japan before I was born. We just have a fancier dinner than our usual dinner. He didn't want me to feel alienated from my friends for not celebrating American holidays when I was a kid. So, we do something. Just not a full-blown celebration."

"I don't celebrate it either," Lance laughed a bit, "I moved here from Cuba when I was eight."

"Well, aren't we a big bunch of immigrants," Allura joked.

Keith chuckled, "I don't really care enough to celebrate it so we're not doing anything."

"I guess Hunk and I are the only ones doing something," Pidge said.

"And Shay," Hunk said.

"Right," Pidge said, "Sorry." she didn't mean to exclude her.

"My family has a huge celebration," Shay said, "My entire extended family comes over. My parents are hosting this year."

"We don't do much," Pidge said, "Pretty much just what Shiro does, a fancier than usual dinner."

"My family goes all out for the dinner," Hunk says, "But that's the only thing we do."

"We shouldn't be talking about Thanksgiving before Halloween is over," Keith said.

Allura laughed a bit, "Are you guys wearing costumes."

"I'm not," Pidge said.

"Yes, you are," Lance said.

"Nope."

"Yes."

Romelle giggled, "What are you dressing as, Lance?"

"I couldn't really afford a real costume so I'm just being a male Ariel with a green skirt and a purple crop top. Green shoes too. Oh, and red hair clips."

"A skirt?" Romelle asked.

"Lance doesn't believe in gender roles," Allura explained, "Though I've never seen him in a skirt before."

Keith smirked, "He looks good in it."

"Keith. Now is not the time," Shiro said.

"What? Am I not allowed to say he looks good in his costume?"

Shiro glared at him through the screen. Keith just frowned and pulled Lance closer.

Pidge laughed a bit, "And what are you being, Keith."

"Nothing."

"Nope," Lance said, "You're both wearing something. I still have a week and a half to force you into it."

Shay giggled, "Hunk and I are just wearing our chef's outfits because we didn't want to go costume shopping."

Hunk nodded, "They're a bit stained but they'll do. What about you, Shiro?"

"I don't know," Shiro said, "I haven't thought about it. Adam has the same idea as you and is just wearing his police uniform."

Lance groaned, "You're all so laaame," he had a sad look on his face.

Keith chuckled, "Fine, pick out a costume for me and I'll wear it."

Pidge crossed her arms, looking annoyed, "Just don't put me in a dress."

Lance started clapping, "Yay!"

Shiro rolled his eyes, "He has you two wrapped around his finger."

Lance stuck out his tongue.

Keith rolled his eyes, "Oh how mature."

Lance turned to Keith and stuck out his tongue again.

Keith smirked, "You wanna do that?" he started tickling Lance.

Lance burst out laughing, "Stop!! StoOooOp! I'm sorry!" he almost fell off Keith's lap, but Keith stopped and wrapped his arms around Lance's waist to catch him.

Everyone was laughing, Lance was just pouting.

"You had it coming," Hunk said, still chuckling.

Lance glared at the screen, "You guys are just mean."

Keith pulled Lance closer, "I'm sorry," he kissed the back of Lance's neck.

"Don't get gross," Allura said, "We're all watching."

"Maybe they like that," Shiro joked.

"You don't be gross!" Keith said.

Shiro just laughed.

Everyone could hear as Pidge's phone went off, "I gotta go, Parker is calling."

"Don't leave us!" Lance pouted.

"It might be about Jude. I have to answer. Bye guys, I'll text the group chat later."

Everyone sadly said goodbye before Pidge hung up.

"We should probably go too," Hunk said, "We were working on some Composition homework when you called."

"Ugh, everyone is leaving," Lance complained.

"Maybe we should all hang up," Shiro said, "It's almost time for dinner."

Keith nodded, "Yeah."

Lance pouted, "Fine."

Keith whispered something into Lance's ear and Lance smiled again.

"I don't even want to know," Allura said.

Romelle sighed, "Well, it was nice to meet everyone."

Shay nodded, "Yes, it was nice to meet you too, Romelle."

"Bye," Hunk said.

"Bye," Shay said with a wave before Hunk hung up."

Shiro sighed, "Sorry, Lance. We'll text later," it was obvious Lance was most upset about having to hang up.

"It's whatever," Lance shrugged.

Keith whispered to Lance again and it only made Lance pout more, him crossing his arms.

"Bye guys," Shiro said, hanging up.

"Bye, Allura, Romelle," Keith said, then hung up.

Call Ended

Romelle smiled, "It was nice to talk to everyone."

Allura nodded, "Yes, it was. I miss them."

Romelle wrapped her arms around Allura, "You'll get to see them soon."

Allura smiled and kissed her, "You're right, I mustn't dwell on sad things."

"But, there is one more sad thing. I have to go home. I have a test tomorrow and need to study," Romelle frowned.

Allura sighed, "Alright," she kissed Romelle again, "We'll see each other tomorrow."

Romelle nodded, "Right. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Allura watched as Romelle stood and grabbed her purse, "Text me when you get home."

"Of course," and with that, Romelle left.

Allura stood, "Coran! I'm hungry! Let's order a pizza!" she left the living room, off to find her godfather.

*aaaAHHHHHH THIS IS SUCH A MEH CHAPTER! Anyway. I have no idea what the next chapter has in store. I just know it's klance and takes place in November. Chapter 15 will be Pidge and her friends. Then chapter 17 will be the final chapter. I'm also writing an alternate ending where Anna wins the game so look forward to that. (Edit: the alternate ending it now a maybe. Idk if I'll ever get around to finishing it. And I've added a Keith chapter in there for 15 and pushed the others back a bit).