He stepped out of the car and trailed his hand around to the windscreen. Two sticks tapped on his hand and he twisted it up, waiting before his fingers curled around them to walk forward. His leg bounced, sitting on the chair, anticipating the release. Then his hands came down, wrapped white around the drumsticks, and slammed on the drums. A smile grew on his face after the initial wince from the echo. The rhythm came easily, without him really having to think about it. Axca stood in the doorway, on her phone silent, letting him do his thing. She tried to hold back his contagious smile but it still peaked through anyway. After a while he silenced, gasping for breath. Axca cheered and clapped and he laughed.

"Stop it"

"That was quite an adventure"

"Yeah, yeah. Play it"

The video echoed through his skull and he couldn't help but grin.

"Send it to me, and put it up on Instagram if you want"

"Yes sir"

He knew she would be saluting and rolled his eyes. He shoved his shoulder into hers.

".. Do you want to talk about it?"

His lips pinched

"Watch it. Or I'll need to make an angry song about you."

She laughed and rested her elbow on his shoulder, he leaded his head against it.

"I feel like I need to get everyone like cat bells or something. But ones with different pitches and stuff."

"Ohh I would love to see how James reacts to that"

"Fuck off. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were obsessed with him."

"Teasing him is a fun way to tease you. You guys are pretty close"

He hummed in agreement

"So close in fact,"

"Oh I don't like that tone"

"That you.."

"No. Stop"

He batted her away but she only ended up closer, practically whispering in his ear.

"Know what each others mouths taste like"

His face burned and he slammed his hands down on his ear, suppressing a shudder.

"Are you ever going to let that go."

"No way. If I had to walk in and see that, you can put up with my teasing"

"Hate you"

"Do all of your exes still hang out with you? Oh that must be so awkward."

"Yeah mostly, and no. It's not really awkward we're all on good terms"

"Ooh, is that a challenge? I can make it awkward if you want"

"No. Leave me alone. You don't even go to our school"

He hurried out of the room, his face a brilliant shade of red again.

"Not currently, I can ask to change though!"

He flipped her off behind his back and she laughed. 

__

"Hey, is that the guy from the coffee shop?"

Matt nudged James and they both looked where he pointed across the cafeteria.

"Oh! Yeah you're right"

"Allura told me he was going to be going here"

"Allura?"

"The hot chick from the cafe?"

"Oh, maybe"

Keith snorted

"I have no clue but if there's only one girl who works there, you have no chance. If you want to say hi though, I'm pretty sure his name is Lance"

"You talked to Allura. When did this happen??"

James clicked his fingers

"The mind reader, right?"

"Bingo"

"Hold up. Hold up. Who started the conversation?"

"She did"

"No way. How come you get everyone!"

"I can tell you now she's not interested. She just recognised me from a national swimming competition in primary school"

"Holy shit. You swim?? On a national scale??"

"Used to. She did too"

"What the hell! When did this happen?"

"You two gossip more than the girls"

__

"Good morning students, you have a new student joining your class. This is Lance McClain, Lance just find and empty chair"

"Good, now please turn to page 45 for your equations."

Keith frowned and rested his head in his hand and turned towards the window.

"Keith. Kogane."

He sighed and resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Yes?"

"It seems you don't have your workbook today. Such a shame. You'll just have to share. I know it's only the first week back but let's try not to make this a habit."

"Sure sir. Though I don't think I need to do this."

"And why is that?"

"There's no point. It's all too easy and I've learnt all this before."

"Well, then you won't mind helping your peers. Lance, move over here. He can help you."

He really did roll his eyes this time and he would've liked to flip off the teacher too, but it's more fun when he could see the reactions.

"Hey Keith."

"Hey"

"So everything's too easy, huh?"

"Yep, that's what happens when you're in the top 5."

"Of, of the school?"

"Yep. What questions are you struggling with, I was told to help you"

"Uhh a, c, f, g.. Maybe some more"

"Just- just tell me the equations, not the letters."

__

"You know, you're kinda unrecognisable without your cat."

"Well then maybe I should bring her to school so that everyone knows how weird I am."

"I didn't mean it like that. Your piercings are cool, I'm surprised you are allowed to keep them in"

He laughed and shook his head.

"Oh I'm not allowed, but everyone has just given up with the pointless chore of telling me to remove them."

__

"Here, you can't just sit around doing nothing all lesson."

He was handed a test tube rack, filled with test tubes.

"Hey, what am I meant to-"

She had already moved away. He placed it on the table and dropped his head onto his arms. A harmless sound of popping filled the room, followed by Keith's laughter.

"Keith!"

He shrugged and slid the test tube back into the rack.

"Sorry"

He could hear the exasperation in the sigh.

"Go to Mr Takashi"

__

"Oh hey, fancy meeting you here"

"Sup"

"Why are you here?"

"Scared my class by experimenting in science."

"Do I want to ask how?"

He shrugged

"Mixed two things together that exploded when combined."

Lance snorted

"Did you know that before or after you mixed them?"

"Mm, I don't think it matters either way"

Lance gasped and Keith could feel 'dramatic' seeping off him

"That almost sounds like you tried to explode something"

He smiled

"You'll never know"

He heard a sigh

"Keith, come in"

"Hey, I'll see you at lunch"

Keith grinned

"If you can find me"

And walked inside, closing the door behind him.

"Hey"

"Hey.. You seem, calmer, than normal"

"Well I know this isn't your fault"

"This is weird. Are you high or something?"

"No. No I'm not. Your teacher said you exploded something in the science lab."

"Yeah, I was just given a bunch of substances and told here's something to do because you've been doing nothing this lesson."

"Your mum told me what happened to you over the break"

He tensed and his jaw set.

"I told her not to."

"Not to tell me, or not to tell everyone"

"Everyone. I don't want people treating me differently because of it. I'm fine on my own. I don't need help"

"Everyone needs help sometimes"

"Not in this case. If it's not my fault I'll just go."

__

He dragged his fingers over the rough bark. His eyes fell closed and he breathed in the summer air.

"You look lonely."

"Oh hi, how long have you been looking for me"

Lance chuckled and sat down against the tree next to him.

"That doesn't count as an answer"

"Were you in trouble with Mr Takashi"

"No, Shiro is chill. He said it wasn't my fault"

"Shiro?"

"He's a family friend, that's what everyone calls him. He's like my uncle in a way"

"Oh, cool cool."

".. You don't seem to have many friends."

"Ah. No. It's annoying being the new kid, and everyone has already formed their groups. You're without friends too"

"Mm I have friends. I just can't be bothered right now"

"The guys from the coffee shop? Matt and...?"

"James. Yep. He does sports whenever he can and Matt is probably in a lab somewhere. I don't want to have to find them"

"At lunch? Do they eat?"

"I don't know, James likes curry but it's not really something you can bring to school."

"Hey, who is Axca? I kept meaning to ask but never got the chance"

"My sister. The cat is hers actually, it just prefers me more."

"Oh I hate when that happens, my siblings steal all the love from my pets."

He chuckled

"I first met her when I came home and she just ran at me and climbed on my shoulder. She screamed when we took her off."

"Cats don't scream"

"Oh no, this one does. It was absolutely a scream"

"Really? How'd you get to school with her then"

He huffed and scratched the back of his neck.

"I left the house before she woke up, which was very difficult because she sleeps on me."

"Wow, that's just cruel. You didn't even give her cuddles"

He scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"How many pets do you have?"

"Last I checked 3, but you never know, someone might have found a frog on the way home"

"I bet its very hard for you to leave in the mornings if you have to give them all cuddles before you go."

"Yeah but my family all wants hugs too, and I've got a big family."

"Are you ever on time?"

"Probably not. An unfortunate family trait."

"Oh shit."

He chewed on his lip

"You okay?"

"How noisy do you think she'll be? She probably didn't take that long to find out I was gone. What if she screams until I come back? Oh, what if she comes to find me?"

"I don't think you should worry"

He chuckled

"No she was able to instantly tell that I was home, she's a terrifying cat and will find me if she wants to"

He pulled out his phone and slid it open.

"You don't even have a password?"

"Is that weird"

"No, but usually people care about the privacy."

He hummed and swiped across his apps.

"I don't really have anything on here"

"What if someone steals it, its easy money if they're able to get in."

"Oh and are you going to steal it?"

"Mm, that depends on how much it would sell for."

"Probably just 30 bucks"

"I'll take it"

He laughed

"Are you that desperate?"

"Ah, well big family ya know? A lot of the money just goes to food, especially since everyone likes ma's cooking" "There's only the 4 of us so its pretty cosy"

"I don't even know if I was alive when there was only 4."

Keith huffed

"Hey Axca, do you mind telling me if Red's alright?"

His phone vibrated almost instantly after he sent the voice recording.

"Yeah?"

"Keith your heathen of a cat has so much energy!"

"Is everything okay?"

"No! No everything's not okay! I was meant to leave for work 20 minutes ago but I had to lock everything so she wouldn't leave. Why did you think this was a good idea!? You should have just taken her with you!"

"Well that's no use telling me now. I can't leave until 3"

"She just won't stop crying or jumping everywhere. As soon as you can I need you to run home. Sprint if you have to. I might even ask mum if she can pick you up early so I can be free from this nightmare"

"If, if. This is a big if, but if you let her leave do you think she'll get lost or find me."

"Oh find you definitely. But she'd probably kill a few people on her way."

"I want to see your cat, let her loose!"

".. The blood will be on your hands. Keith what do you say?"

"You are certain she'll find me and not get lost?"

"Absolutely, 100%."

"Alright then, release her"

"Your family is so chaotic"

"Who's isn't?"

"Do you have an Instagram"

"No"

"I saw it before, you scrolled past it"

"Ugh, my sister goes on it sometimes"

"I want to see what you have on there"

"I don't have anything on there"

"Do you think Axca would say differently? What are you hiding?"

"Nope"

He turned off the phone and cursed.

"Fuck I wish I had a password"

"Yoink"

He grabbed it out of Keith's hands and scooted away before he swiped for it.

"I'll ask Axca first shall I?"

'Does Keith have an Instagram?'

'Who are you?'

'Keith's friend, does he'

'Mm James and Matt both have my number already, how'd you get his phone'

'He doesn't have a password, it was pretty easy'

'Yeah true'

'Does he have an Instagram?'

'You've got his phone, you can check. How do you know him anyway?'

'You know he once came and got 7 black coffees in a day'

'Oh geez that could be anywhere, It happens alot'

'I told you to let the cat loose'

'Yeah I figured that'

'I'm Lance, I work at *******'

'Ohh coffee guy!'

'Coffee guy?'

'Nothing, nothing what's your number?'

"She asked me for my number"

He scrunched up his face

"Ew, don't flirt with my sister"

"I'm pretty sure it's so we can trash talk you"

"Whatever she says it's a lie"

"I'm checking your Instagram now"

"Just give me my phone back"

"Not until I see what's on there"

He rolled his eyes

"I told you it's nothing"

"I don't believe you, I have to check"

He clicked onto a video and the sound started playing. Lance choked and Keith snatched it away and turned it off. "I never expected you to do the drums and now that I see it, it fits you so well."

"Shut up. Everyone in my family does"

"I want to see more, I only heard a couple seconds"

His face burned and he choked out

"No"

"I'll just ask Axca then"

'I need the name of Keith's Instagram, I only heard 2 seconds and I need to hear more but he took his phone away' 'Give me a sec I need to find it'

'Should.be.deaf.drummer'

'Did you name it? It sounds like it'

'Sure did'

'I hope you got to work okay, any news on the cat?'

'Oh she took off ages ago, I would expect her soon.'

'Send me his reaction to it'

'Will do'

'What does your cat look like?'

'You'll see it when you do. It won't be that hard to spot, a cat running full speed towards him'

He looked up from his phone and saw a blur of colour approaching. He flicked on his camera and tried to track its movements. It flew out from the grass and landed on his chest. He choked out a laugh as it wrangled it's way up onto his shoulder. She shoved her face into Keith's and he huffed and scratched her head. He sent the video to Axca and turned off his phone.

"She really is weird"

"Yeah, I don't think she's going to let me leave the house without her anymore."

__

"Keith you shouldn't have a cat here"

"Oh by all means, take her off me" 

Her back bristled and he smirked and blocked his ears. She was picked up and she stuck her claws into his shirt to stay on. She howled and wriggled and fought in every way possible. The teacher dropped her from surprise and she ran back up to sit on his shoulder.

"I can still listen to you when she's here."

"Go sort this out with Mr Takashi"

His face fell

"It's not against any school rules"

"Go. I don't want it in my class."

He frowned and got up.

__

"You.. Have a cat.."

"Ostute observations."

"What's up?"

"I was kicked out of class because of her. Its not either of our faults that she hates being without me."

"I didn't see her yesterday"

"Yeah I tried leaving without her but she threw a tantrum, got my sister late for work and when she was released she came to find me instantly."

"Well I'll see what I can do, but what if someone is allergic to cats?"

"I'm pretty sure he was just being a dick. Plus he said 'I don't want it in my classroom, you have to go sort it out." "You've got 20 minutes until your next class, would you like to wait in here?"

"Yeah"

__

The bell rung and he collected his bag and left. The hallway was empty by the time he got to his class' block. He walked in late and made his way over to his seat. Keith heard whispers, he was able to piece together the words 'cat' 'weird' 'freak' and his scowl deepened. A paper ball landed on his temple and bounced onto his desk. He pushed it onto the floor.

"Hey, stop it. Everyone."

He ran his fingers down her spine and she licked his cheek.

"Miss, I can't focus with the cat in here. It's so loud"

He rolled his eyes and stood up. He hurried out of the room and turned out of sight. The teacher sighed and shook her head.

"Are you going to write that up miss?"

"No, it was a rightly earned break. I won't tolerate negativity. Can anyone go check on him? Yes, thank you Lance."