[Pt. 2 Klance baseball au]

Lance

Today was my first day of the new semester at Tyson University. Mr. Luinsky and his contract turned out to be the best offer that got me the closest to the big league. All I had to do was keep my grades up, and play well, and I would be mentioned in sports highlights and noticed by big league teams. My dream was coming true.

Tyson Uni wasn't just known for its elite baseball team though, they also had accelerated science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculums. They were the highest in that department for miles. So it was natural that my friends from middle school, Pidge and Hunk, would meet me there.

I spent my day exploring the campus with them and catching up. They were interested in my career as a baseball player and I learned they were both entering the honorary academics cores. I tried to imagine what it would be like to be smart.

Classes started the next day but practice was that evening. I met the rest of the kids that were here on scholarships. My jaw dropped when my eyes locked with Keith Kogane's.

He looked better than he had the last time we spoke. After the last game of the season back in high school. His bowl cut and round cheeks had turned into a handsome face, with a mullet. I wrinkled my nose. He never had good hair choices. He stared at me.

I remembered he had given me his number, but I had never texted him. I never thought of it. My summer before the semester begun had been filled with traveling to all the colleges that had offered me scholarships. Then I had been practicing and training. Camps and courses. I could only get better.

Now, looking at Keith, I realized maybe I had made a mistake. His personality had evolved since our middle school days. He wasn't such a dick, and he seemed alright at the championships. Other than the mullet, he looked really good. Maybe I should..talk to him. Catch up.

I spent the afternoon running. Coach wanted to practice conditioning. Everyone ran ten miles that day. I stayed in pace with Keith and this other guy, Lotor. He was handsome too, with long pale hair and a chiseled face. None of us spoke until after practice.

I was coming out of the locker room, ready to head to my dorm when Lotor waved me over to him. He was leaning against the gym building in jeans and a tank. He was ripped.

"Hey, I'm Lance." I smiled.

He smirked. "I know who you are." He had a surprisingly thick accent. I nodded.

" And you're Lotor. " I said. He nodded.

"And you're fast. What position?" He asked me.

" Pitcher. 95 miles per hours. " My speed had increased over the summer.

Lotor's eyebrow raised in surprise. "I'm impressed." He lowered his sunglasses and winked at me. " See you on the diamond. " He turned on his heel and sashayed off.

My blush wasn't hidden as I turned around. Keith was standing there. I gasped in surprise.

"Don't sneak up on me man."

His arms were crossed. "Watch out for him, he isn't nice." Keith nodded towards Lotor's swishing ponytail in the distance.

I placed a hand on my hip. "Oh and you are? You don't even have the decency to say hi."

He rolled his eyes. "Hi. But I'm serious. Lotor is deceptive."

" I bet. " I said. "What? You just jealous he made a move on me? And you didn't?"

Keith's ears turned red. He frowned. "You haven't changed."

I laughed. " Your hair has. "

Keith raised an eyebrow. "I let it grow out."

" Looks hideous. "

Keith shook his head before turning on his heel.

"Kogane!" I called after him. He didn't turn. " I'll call you! "

He stopped in his tracks and glanced at me over his shoulder. He shook his head again before stuffing his hands in his pockets and heading off. Whether he liked it or not, I still had his number.

...

Keith

Practice had been gruelling. But I was glad to see Lance.

Mr. Luinsky had called me halfway through summer vacation on a surprise note. I'd gotten a hell of a lot of offers by then, like Lance had said. People saw me play. They liked how fast I came back in the game against the Royals. But Tyson was the best in the state. My dad drove me to training camps all summer and I'd only gotten better. My parents were ecstatic when I got the call, and Shiro promised to drive me to the campus.

But there was another reason that I liked Tyson so much.

A person specifically.

Lance fucking McClain.

I wasn't surprised he still had my number. I was surprised I cared. I thought I had let him go after championships. The rest of last school year passed quickly for me, taking the Cadets all the way to Nationals. We lost to some Californian school in June.

That night after championships I'd waited for a text from Lance. I waited for weeks. I was hung up on him. I had dreams. Dreams of him striking me out, among other things. I was haunted by his blue eyes and his smile. Then I learned he was going to Tyson.

What a coincidence.

So here I was, in my new dorm. I'd spent the whole day unpacking with Shiro and my mom, and after practice I'd taken a shower and watched some Netflix. Now here I was, my hair still a little wet. I was waiting for Lance to call. I wondered why he even bothered at this point. But I couldn't lie. I was excited. I could finally get the question off my mind that'd been haunting me since the championship game that night last May.

I was torn from my thoughts when my phone rang. I ran a hand through my hair and answered. Unknown caller.

"Mullet?"

" Don't call me that. " I growled.

"Hah, sure." He chuckled. My heart beat quickened. "Whatcha doing?"

" Talking to you. "

" Smart ass." I could practically see his smirk.

I bit my lip. I wasn't trying to endure this crush phase again. Lance hated me anyways, probably. Everyone always did.

"So what are you doing?"

" Hm, " he chuckled. "Talking to you."

"Very funny. " I rolled my eyes. "So, why'd you call?"

" I dunno.. " he paused. "To apologize? I feel bad for never talking to you over summer. Maybe we can start over? I owe you now."

I bit my lip. "Hah, yeah. Sure."

" Great! " I could practically see his grin. "I'm sorry by the way, for never calling..."

I shrugged. Then I realized he couldn't see me.

"It's alright, I'm used to it."

" Oh. " he didn't know how to reply to that. I was used to that too. "How was summer?"

" Hard. I took the Cadets all the way to Finals in Cali. "

"I hearddd." He laughed. " Congrats. Must've been nice for a rookie."

"Thanks. It was an experience."

"Lots of training?"

"Yep, never stopped. You?"

" Same. Camps and courses twenty-four seven. "

"Sounds about right."

" Hey Keith, "

"Yeah?"

" How do you know Lotor? "

I groaned. Of course he would ask. I wasn't exactly making sense earlier when I totally blew the guy off.

"Long story."

" I got time. "

I rolled my eyes. Of course he did. Cute.

"We used to play together. He uh, he was the one who got me into baseball in the first place."

" Really? "

"Yeah. He's played for a long time. Probably as long as you. Anyways, summer before senior year he called me up. Said him and Coach Iverson were looking for baseball players for the new season. I'd never played of course so I was confused. He said my athleticism sparked an interest. And my fire. I had no idea what he was talking about but my summer wasn't occupied. I started training that July."

" He taught you well didn't he? "

"One on one. I'd say he's what made me this good. That and my family's faith in me."

"Must be nice." Lance muttered.

"What do you mean?"

" Nothing. Continue. What ruined you guy's? "

"He did. I told you he's deceptive. I was good. I learned quick. I made the team and then, well. Turns out he wasn't just looking for a teammate."

" Huh? "

"He framed me for taking drugs. Steroids."

" Oh. "

"Yeah." Suddenly I felt the burning anger in my chest again. The anger that had arisen when I saw Lotor flirting with Lance today. " Not sure how he did it. But the team was all together when the shit fell out of my bag. "

"What happened then?" I felt a flutter in my chest when I heard how intrigued Lance was.

" I was cut for the time being. I was under investigation as they told me. I came back though. They figured out it wasn't mine. Blood tests and shit. It was a horrible process, and everyone at school believed I was a cheater. I knew I had been framed. I was pissed. "

"How did they find out it was Lotor?"

" Hah, they didn't. I did. He told me himself. He's the type of guy to brag about his wrong doings. Found me the first day I returned to the team and hinted about it. I was confused and appalled at first, but then it made sense. When I confronted him about it, he confirmed my theory by right out telling me no one would ever believe me. "

"And did they?"

"No. That's what makes me so mad. Lotor has always been the golden boy. No one would believe he framed the rookie. But, it's over now. I guess he really did want me on the team, but," I smirked. " Once he saw how good I was becoming, he wanted me gone. "

"Heh, yeah maybe. Guess that backfired though."

" Hell yeah. I just can't believe he came here. " I frowned.

"Well if he tries to pull any of that shit on you again, I've got your back." Lance said.

I couldn't help but smile. "Thanks."

" Yeah no problem. Guess you really had a rough start that year... But you still made it to Finals and made MVP. How did that make Lotor feel? "

"Not sure. But the look of anger on his face sure made me feel pretty damn good."

" Haha. " Lance went silent for a sec and then I heard shuffling. "Fuck-"

"What's wrong?"

" Nothing. Just, I gotta go. I'm sorry. "

"It's okay."

" It was really nice talking to you. " he said.

I held my breath. I had to ask.

I had to. I couldn't keep going like this.

"L-lance before you go can I ask something?"

" Uh, yeah what's up? "

"I mean, since you owe me and all. I was wondering.."

What if he's straight?

What if he really does hate me?

"Would you wanna maybe go on a date.." I gritted my teeth. " With me? "

...

Lance

A date.

I mean, I did owe the guy.

And to be honest I was starting to like him. Our talk had revealed some key things to me.

1) Keith Kogane loved baseball, my entire life.

2) He had a passionate fire in him, it was kinda hot.

3) He had dry humor. Not my style, but it complimented mine.

4) He apparently liked me. And probably had for a while.

5) I owed him.

"Yes." I said. " I'd like to. "

There was silence on the other end. I was about to ask if everything was alright when he answered. I'm sure he really didn't expect my answer.

"Oh- c-cool. Cool. I'll um, text you later?"

" Sure, man. "

I hung up. I felt heat coming off my cheeks. Sure, Keith was cool and had some nice traits about him. But I wasn't really into him. This was just because I owed it to him.

Right?

We decided on the next day after our last class since we didn't have mandatory practice.

Keith, I could tell, didn't go on a lot of dates.

He asked me out on a classic coffee date. I couldn't help but melt at how cute that was. He was probably over thinking everything and freaking out. Adorable.

I didn't check my text messages again before I set off for the date. The coffee shop was either the one Hunk worked at, which was closer to campus, or the one farther out, called Slauv's or something.

I went with the one Hunk worked at. Keith probably chose it right? It was closer to campus anyways.

I was surprised Hunk wasn't there, but I sat down and relaxed. I ordered a water and waited.

Five minutes passed. Keith didn't strike me as the type of person to be late. But I didn't worry about it.

Fifteen minutes passed. Maybe he was lost.

Half an hour. I worried now. Keith wouldn't be this late.

I decided to give him a call.

"Mullet?"

" I told you not to call me that. " he growled. "Where are you? Don't tell me your standing me up."

" What?? No way! I should be asking you the same thing. "

"I asked you out fool."

" Yeah, yeah. Where are you? " I refrained a giggle. I couldn't lie, Keith was more attractive when he was angry.

"At the coffee shop. Slauv's, like I texted you." He sighed.

My heart stopped. "Sl-slauv's..." I chuckled nervously. "Funny of you to say that..."

" Why? Why's it funny? "

"I might have.. And don't get mad... I might have gone to another coffee shop. A little closer to campus..?"

" I gave you the exact directions! " his voice was raised.

"I mean I- hey I said don't get mad!"

" How am I not supposed to get mad?? "

"Hm, maybe just don't?"

" I thought you stood me up! "

"But I didn't!"

" God, you're such an idiot...why did I think we could ever be together... "

"Hey! You should be lucky I even said yes to this! I barely know you anymore since we left middle school!"

" I barely know you either. But you somehow have been in my dreams for three months. "

"I-" I had no idea how to respond to that. "I have?"

" Why the hell would I have asked you out? Yeah, you have. Ever since I gave you my number at the championship game. You've been bugging me all summer. So I decided my best option was to ask you out, either you liked me back, or we could just be friends. "

"Oh." I stared at my empty water cup. " Well, "

"Well." He said back.

" I'm sorry. Again. For messing this up. "

"Yeah, you should be dumbass." He said. I chuckled. Cute.

"Guess you owe me another date huh?" He asked.

I felt my cheeks warm. "Yeah. I guess I do."
__________________________________________________________

Ily guys sm! Thx for the waittttt

Lmao I had like HUGE hiatus with this, but I got a lot of help from you guys so thanks it means a lot :))

hope you enjoyed it! Lmao if you want another continuation let me know!

And request other stuff too!!!

<333