Keith manages a deft escape, averting my not-very-keen Spidey Senses. I wake up again feeling cold and empty without him close to me. More than empty, I feel pain and somewhat ill. I wonder if I ought to go back to sleep and just suffer for the rest of the day. But my bladder commands me to rise.

With immense difficulty and excruciating pain, I become presentable and just in the nick of time.

"Lance!" It's Pidge banging on my door.

Geez, what time is it? Isn't it early to be bothering me? I squint toward my window, blinds drawn but allowing dappled rays of thin morning light to peek into my room. I turn back toward the thumping on my door.

"Lance! You coming with us for coffee or not?" Pidge appears to have stood back, exasperated, the abrasive knocking coming to an impatient halt.

I open the door, revealing Hunk and Pidge in their normal attire but wearing agitated faces. They don't normally have to hunt me down in the mornings. We usually meet downstairs, on the way to our jobs or classes. It must be past 7:30 if they've come to evict me from my room.

"Geez, don't you check your phone, Lance?" Pidge explodes impatiently.

"Yeah, yeah," I yawn, wondering where I left that. "I'll be there in a sex— sec!— y'all go on without me, I'll meet you there," I wave them off.

But neither budge even an inch.

"You're gonna go back to sleep," Hunk accuses.

"Yeah, well—"

"Just what were you up to last night?" Hunk lifts an eyebrow, peering over my shoulder.

"Nothing. Uh, I was... Spring... fucking— cleaning!—"

"Damn! You were what?" Pidge exclaims, shoving into my room without any kind of invitation from me. Hunk follows. "That was fast, Lance. Or was it not with Keith?" she inspects my laundry basket, poking at the sheets with surgical caution.

"Stop that!" I bat her away from my dirty laundry. "I— uhm—" I sigh, closing my door. "I guess since you're already here." I roll my eyes at the pair, Pidge looking reluctant to sit on my bed and Hunk at my desk. "Keith and I had a one night stand."

If Pidge had been drinking something, she looks as if she would spit it out now.

"Lance! You dog," Hunk gets up to high-five me. "Was it good?" he eyes me with wiggly eyebrows.

I can feel the heat rushing to my face like a hot frying pan to the face. The harder I fight, the hotter it gets. Why am I given to this blushy deadass give away. I can't fucking hide anything.

"Yeah," I choke through the embarrassment. "He was pretty good."

"I can't believe this," Pidge tuts. "Tell me you at least used protection."

She explodes at the shameful shake of my head.

"Lance—!"

"I'm sorry, okay!?" but there's no fire behind either of our words. "He was just... hot..." my blush worsens with the confession.

"Damn," Hunk pipes up again jovially. "Lance can get laid— who knew? Bout time with all the usual striking out. At any rate," he moves on. "Grab your shoes, Lance. You can tell us more after you've had some coffee."

"I'd rather go sit on a toilet until I die," I groan, clutching my stomach in garish protest.

It spins itself into knots, demanding all the strength that would be used to walk. Maybe I'll just lie down again.

"Hey, no you don't," Pidge intercepts my path back to bed. "It's your day to buy. You're not skipping out on us."

"I'll give you cash," I groan.

"Oh come on, Lance— wait... did you—?" I watch realization dawn across his features like the pink and rosy shades of sunrise. "You were the uke."

Pidge looks like her jaw may unhinge and fall to the floor. But whatever is on my face just confirms Hunk's suspicion. Hunk looks at me, my spine wilting, my eyes tired, holding my stomach with one hand, and shakes his head.

"Do you need to see a doctor?" Pidge demands.

"I'm fine. Can I just suffer in peace? I'll catch up and confess more later today, I promise."

"Don't forget you're playing guitar at the café tonight," Hunk tosses over his shoulder, pulling Pidge by the ear out with him.

I appreciate my pals, but I'm glad to be left alone. I don't immediately go back to sleep, painfully carrying out my morning affairs and googling what to do about the blood on my sheets (for my body and the fabric disposal). I debate for a solid hour whether I should text Keith. But I always come back to the same conclusion.

I sit tenderly in bed, completing online homework assignments with my laptop. It's well into the afternoon when I start receiving messages on Facebook.

💚Pidge💚 to Swaddle Up
@Lance You're alive, right?

💛Hunk💛 to Swaddle Up
@Lance Have you pooped today?

Yes and yes
Seen 3:14 PM

💚Pidge💚 to Swaddle Up
Good, we're bringing you food.

Damn thanks
Seen 3:15 PM

💛Hunk💛 to Swaddle Up
Don't mention it

💖Princess Peach💖 to Swaddle Up
Stop adding me to this group chat 😐

Allura Alforson has left the group. 👤+

💚Pidge💚 to Swaddle Up
Somebody add her back, it'll be hilarious.

💛Hunk💛 to Swaddle Up
You gotta wait Pidge, so she doesn't notice

This is why she hates us 😂
Seen 3:18 PM

💚Pidge💚 to Swaddle Up
Whatever, just be decent when we get there

And right on cue, there's a knock on my door. Anticipating warm food and friendly faces, I hop down from the bed and stretch. But when I open the door, it's not Hunk and Pidge yet. At first glance, there doesn't appear to be anyone, but his sniff draws attention to him, slumped against the wall.

"Keith?" I ask stupidly, staring at— very obviously— Keith Kogane.

"Can I come in?" he whispers to the linoleum flooring.

Awestruck by his unexpected arrival, I stumble backward and wordlessly let him in. He presents my phone unceremoniously from his pocket, another Post-It attached. It simply reads, Screen Fixed, in his wonderful distinctive handwriting. I lift the note and examine the screen, which has indeed been replaced. Incredulously, I turn back to Keith, sitting at my desk as Hunk did earlier this morning.

Keith looks more out of place there than Hunk did. I invite him to sit on my bed, but Keith shakes his head, looking uncomfortable. This feels unreasonably terrifying. Is he going to demand money, or break up with me, or tell me he hates me?

"I have a confession," Keith suddenly meets my unprepared and panicked gaze.

"O-okay," I stammer, breathlessly pocketing my phone.

Before Keith can say anything else, Pidge and Hunk suddenly burst through my door, causing Keith and I both to startle.

"Hey, La... awkward," Pidge crumbles upon sight of Keith. "Let's actually come back in a bit, Hunk."