Lance had been in New York for two weeks now which meant it was time to go back to Malibu. The flight was at 2 that afternoon and Lance was subconsciously counting down to the time he'd have to say bye to Roni again.

He knew that it would come sooner or later but it had been so much fun hanging out with her again...and they were closer than ever. They had caught up on everything and he felt he could talk to her about anything..but that was how he felt before they went back to Malibu the first time- and now they would most likely be staying there,and she would be off in Virginia.

He was pretty excited to go back to Malibu though- the whole thing with Shiro and Allura was great since it had taken all this hard work and planning which was majority him, and Shiro and Matt being together. Lance had wondered on that but now it was done. And he was glad they were all happy, and he did owe Lotor an apology he admitted.

He should've seen the whole thing coming from a mile away he had always been able to and liked to think of himself as a love doctor but..maybe not with those two.

And then Keith's little slip on having a "gift" for him also made him eager to go back- he had been talking a lot to Keith and he had slightly assumed that maybe Keith would want to go a little further with this thing..but he couldn't jump to conclusions. Not again.

He had put Keith to the back of his mind though- today was his last day with his older sister, and he wouldn't be wasting it thinking about something he couldn't change. Plus, today Veronica thought it would be a great day to go to the Apollo Theater.

He had never been but had seen enough videos of Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Bruno Mars perform there and had always thought it would be cool to go.

There were tours and historical events on the weekdays but because it was a Sunday Veronica had set them up to have a private tour with a friend of hers who worked there. She said it would give them a behind the scenes experience.

"How did she get a job at the Apollo Theater??" Lance asked. "What does she even do?.."

"Haha no actually her mom works there." Veronica said holding up her finger. "She is a bartender."

"Oh. That's cool too." Lance said sheepishly. They were in the rental van heading to the theater.

"What is the apollo theater?" Rachel asked.

"A huge theater where a bunch of cool people perform." Veronica said smiling and nudging the 6 year old.

"Thea-" Maria spat. "The-"

"Is she trying to say theater?" Kevin cooed.

"Think so." Victor said turning around in his seat towards the little girl. "The. At. Ter." He pronounced.

"Theat- th-" Maria tried again.

"Give her a moment. She always picks words up pretty quickly." Rosa said.

"Like how she started saying fananza after Lance came home saying it that one day?" Victor asked chuckling.

"You probably shouldn't have brought that up again.." Melissa warned.

"Fananza!" Maria exclaimed.

"All progress lost." Lance sighed.

"She'll be back at it again.." Kevin said.

"Fananza! Theater!" Maria exclaimed giggling and clapping her hands. "Fananza Theater!!!" She squealed.

"Good job!" Rachel said hugging Maria as tight as she could with them both in car seats.

"Yes! To the Fananza Theater!" Veronica exclaimed pointing to the front of the car and grinning at Lance.

He couldn't contain his smile.

Why would he want to?

The Apollo Theater was just as amazing up close as it had been under the google search bar- the extravagant lights with the bolded letters practically screaming WELCOME TO THE WORLD FAMOUS APOLLO THEATER!! Lance could feel his heart speed up.

The street wasn't too busy like it would be if there was a show- and they parked a little while away from the theater. "I'll tell Acxa we're here." Veronica said pulling out her phone.

Lance felt his heart stop. "Acxa?.." He asked- his voice barely above a whisper.

"Um..yeah." Veronica said glancing at him unwarily. "Something wrong?.." She asked uncertainty.

"Nah nothing nothing." He said smiling. But the sweat was already trickling down his neck and the hairs already raised. Acxa was a pretty common name...

Who was he kidding. It was most likely her- especially since he had seen Zethrid and Ezor in the halls at Garrison Academy before he moved and Acxa hadn't been around somewhere after 7th grade. He never paid it much attention but it all added up...

He took a deep breath as they entered the theater. The inside was like any theater lobby with more gold trimmings and red velvet carpeted walls and floor. It was a long hallway with a collage of Apollo Theater's legends- it was breathtaking seeing the walls covered in images of such famous faces.

They were so close.

"Woah." Marco breathed as they headed down the hall. Heavy golden laced chandeliers hung from the ceiling and long mirrors covered half of the wall on the right side.

"Woah is right.." Lance said. Rosa and Kevin lingered in the back holding hands and peering closely at the collage.

Veronica had made her way to the front of the hall and turned left. It was a secluded spot where a desk was and a girl stood behind the desk-

"Acxa!" Veronica exclaimed hopping over to the desk. The girl quickly looked up and smiled.

"Veronica hey-" she said and then stopped mid sentence when she saw Lance.

5 years. 5 years was a long time. But not long enough to forget that face. That stubbornly sharp intricate face. Images of Keith hidden in the janitor's closet and Acxa's sneer uploaded themselves in Lance's brain. His breath hitched.

"Lance?" Acxa asked. Lance didn't say anything. Acxa looked surprised but..unphased..like she didn't care that she was looking at a boy- who had grown- but a boy nonetheless who's best friend had been bullied by her and her friends. Did she not care?

"You two..know each other?.." Veronica asked looking between the two of them quickly.

Lance held eye contact with Acxa, she still looked calm while he knew she could see the anger leaking in his eyes.

"Um yeah. We went to Garrison Middle together." Acxa said holding Lance's gaze.

"Oh?" Veronica clasped her hands. "Well then this should be really fun catching up!"

"Mhm." Lance said. Acxa cleared her throat tearing her eyes away from him.

"So. This is your family Veronica?" She asked smiling again and reaching out to shake hands. She introduced herself to everyone except Lance. She seemed to glance over him.

"Lets go!" She announced turning on her heel.

The family followed her down a dimly lit hallway that smelled stale. Lance could see the shadows of door hinges on either side of him.

"This is the back entrance to the stage." Acxa said, her voice carrying from the front of the line. "When you came in- that big collage covering the wall? That's a picture of everyone that has ever performed at the Apollo." She grinned back at them. "Pretty cool huh?"

Despite the twitch of anger in his gut when she grinned, Lance found himself immensely intrigued and excited.

The hallway ended and Axca stopped at thick door. She had her hand on the knob and turned to them.

"Okay so this will open up to the back of the stage- it is super cool so I won't expect you to be quiet- no one else is here so." She smiled again. "You can be as loud as you want."

She opened the door and they walked through a dark area, it was hard to see but there was obviously equipment and light structures strewn around. A thick dark curtain held everything in the dark.

"Okay. Wait right here." Acxa said placing them all from left to right behind the curtain. She ran to the side of the stage and pulled a string. There was some creaking but the curtains began to shuffle away and she pressed some switches. Slowly, the lights cut on bathing the whole place in a bright yellow glow.

Lance's eyes widened as the multitude of balconies and stands appeared at the back and sides of the auditorium. Everything was red and gold- the carpets, chair covering- trimmings on the balconies and stairs. The seats went back far- stretching backwards up towards the ceiling giving it a circular appearance. The lights gave every nick and corner a golden warmth that flooded the stage. It was too much to take in.

"Oh my god." Rachel said breathlessly.

"Watch your mouth.." Melissa said just as astounded.

"Wow." Victor said turning to Marco who had began to grin.

"This is the coolest thing ever. Oh my gosh- look at how high the ceiling goes.." Marco started talking quickly and walking around the stage.

"That's like the most words he's said in one time like ever." Victor said- his grin just as wide as he hopped off the stage.

Melissa wandered off towards the seats and walked back through them.

Victor ran after Rachel who was walking through the chairs too. He shoved her and started running again. She pouted before laughing and racing after him.

Veronica had already made it to the second balcony and was speed walking with a concentrated look on her face.

Rosa and Kevin headed across the stage talking low, small smiles on their face.

Lance took in a deep breath smiling wide. He started to take his phone out- his friends had told him to take pictures of everything when he told them he was going. He felt a hand on his arm.

He turned to Acxa knowing this was going to happen sooner or later.

"Lance. Can we talk?" She asked, though it was more like a command.

She didn't wait for him to answer as she led him to the exit door- he didn't miss Veronica's look of concern from above.

"What is your deal?" Axca asked crossing her arms.

Lance frowned. "What's my deal?? What's your?"

She frowned too. "What are you talking about? I see a friend here- one from middle school and I try to say hi and you-" she stopped and her face fell.

"So you finally remember.." Lance sighed.

She didn't look at him. "Lance I-"

"Stop I don't need this- this is my time with Roni." He said turning.

She grabbed his arm. "I want to apologize." She said. He tried to pull away but her grip only became tighter.

"Just listen." She said pleadingly. Lance relaxed. "Fine." He said.

"I'm sorry. I'm apologizing for me and my friends- for what we did to Keith. It was childish and ignorant and also very normal for me to treat my crush like that when-"

"Wait.." Lance interrupted. "Did you say your crush?"

Acxa rolled her eyes. "Don't do that."

Lance smirked. "Just thought I heard you wrong."

"Yeah sure. Anyway, yes my crush. I did that to all of them and well.. It was cruel yes but I didn't know how else to deal with it. Now I have done better with that but at the time- reckless okay? And I'm sorry- can you accept my apology?" She asked holding out her hand.

Lance still couldn't get over the fact that she had actually liked Keith..but he shook her hand nevertheless. "Keith will be so embarrassed when he hears this."

"Heh yeah probably. You haven't seemed to change." She laughed.

Lance narrowed his eyes. "I don't know how to take that.."

"Compliment. Lets keep it smooth. But please tell Keith I'm sorry." She said.

Lance nodded. "So Harlem?"

She nodded. "Yeah. In 7th grade we moved here. Who gives up a chance to be a bartender at Apollo Theater?" Acxa laughed. "It was hard to leave Zethrid and Ezor but..I'm here now right? And I practically live here so I'm pretty lucky."

"Very." Lance said.

"I go to the diner Veronica works at a lot so we started hanging out. You got a pretty cool sister." Acxa said smiling. Maybe the smile was too warm or the tint in her cheeks but Lance began to wonder how cool she thought his sister was.

"Yeah i guess i'm pretty lucky too." He smiled.

"Yeah. Now go take those pictures you were going to take." She said giving him a playful shove towards the door. He walked back into the theater.

"Hey thanks for that." He said to Acxa as she headed towards Veronica.

"Anytime. Feels good to set the record straight." She said smiling.

-----------------------

"I found a 10 dollar bill up there." Veronica said waggling the crisp dollar in front of Lance's face.

He frowned. "I should've known that face was too evil."

"Concentration isn't evil buddy." She smirked tucking away her money.

"Thank you again Acxa for giving us this one in a lifetime experience." Rosa said warmly.

Acxa nodded. "Of course Mrs. McClain. Anything for a friend." she smiled.

"It's nearly 2.." Kevin said frowning at his watch.

"Oh." Veronica said. Everyone's shoulders slumped and it seemed like the theater had lost its glow.

"We should head to the airport?" Melissa spoke breaking the silence.

Everyone nodded. Veronica stayed behind to hug Acxa and Lance caught the content look on Acxa's face, subtle as it was. He popped his collar on his way out- he hadn't totally lost his touch.

"I can't believe we have to go home soo soon." Victor whined.

"It wasn't that short- we've been here a while." Marco said.

"Yeah but still!! Imma miss Roni!" Victor said getting in the van.

"We all are. But we will always visit." Kevin said.

"Better." Veronica smiled.

"Or you will right?" Rosa asked.

"I don't know..I wouldn't miss Rachel and Victor fighting.." She said.

"Hey!" The children in question said in union.

"Just joking." She said laughing.

They all got in the car but the playful mood died as they headed to Veronica's apartment.

Lance was becoming tired of goodbyes.

He waited his turn to say it outside of her apartment.

Rachel.

Victor.

Marco.

Melissa and Maria.

Kevin.

Lance.

He fell into her embrace and forgot how long he was there until she patted his back. "You're so sappy Lance." She said.

He slouched. "But I love youuu."

"I love you too." She said hugging him tight again. He felt the familiar tug in his stomach that usually hut before the tears.

He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Imma miss you Roni."

"I'm going to miss you too."

"I think Acxa might have a liking for you." Lance said. He felt Veronica laugh and shake her head.

"Nah we're just friends."

"Hmmm..okay.."

She didn't say anything for a minute. "You think so?"

"I don't know..intuition thing you know?"

"You're so funny Lance." She chuckled again.

"I know." He said smiling.

"How's it going with Keith?" She asked softly.

Lance knew he slumped a little more in her arms. "I don't know..we got back from Tokyo..he ignored me.. We talked it out..then there was this ignorance again..and now we are good again but its like I'm holding my breath." Lance said.

"Sounds like he needs time."

"Well I've given him plenty of that."

"Maybe he doesn't want what you want."

And there it was. The fact that kept popping up in his head. He always pushed it away but- it didn't change the fact that it was true. All of this beating around the bush- was that what he thought of this as?

Beating around a bush? That didn't exist? Anticipating and preparing for something that wasn't going to happen- and no one told him it would. That kiss in Tokyo gave him the impression but..impressions didn't give him Keith.

It left him alone. Keith was alone. Lance sighed. Keith wanted to be alone. He couldn't change that. He didn't want to.

"Yeah. He probably doesn't." Lance said quietly.

"Hey! Don't think that way.. I didn't mean it like that- just maybe he isn't ready right now okay? Just wait."

Lance nodded, giving her a last hug and embrace and heading back to the van. Everything else passed in a blur- his parents saying goodbye, driving to the airport, the flight, texting Keith about Acxa, his clear embarrassment and his friends gushing over the pictures he sent. It all passed like he wasn't living that life.

He was tired living that life. Waiting.