Read Drums and Cats :: Attention

He hit his head on an open locker and cursed, tears swirling in his eyes. He made it to the nurses office without anymore accidents and dropped his bag in the doorway. He sat on the floor next to a bed and dropped his head into the mattress. Red jumped off his shoulder and nudged his head with hers. He placed his hand on her head and stayed like that for a while.

"Hey"

"Mm. You sound out of breath"

"Well I was looking everywhere for you, and I think I got lost a couple times."

"I hate this school."

"You.. Didn't read the note right?"

"I didn't even know it was a note. You obviously did though"

"Yeah it. It unravelled a bit after you pushed it on the floor."

"What did it say?"

"Oh I don't really - You shouldn't - don't worry about it"

He frowned and dropped his head back into the bed.

"It sounds like something to worry about"

"Just forget about it"

"Oh that's fine. I can probably guess what it said"

"You.."

"Freak."

"No"

"Loser"

"Quit it"

"Fag."

He sucked in a breath and Keith chuckled.

"Hah. I knew it."

"No, do people really call you that? That's horrible"

He shrugged

"It's normal"

"It's not, they're just dicks. You shouldn't be used to that."

"Oh watch out. If you hang out with me you might catch the disease."

"That's not true. What about James and Matt?"

He scoffed

"You think they're straight?"

".. I was bi before I met you"

He went silent and stilled.

"Hey"

Lance sat next to him

"You don't really believe all that, do you?"

"I don't. But it's repeated so many times it's hard to even think of anything else."

"Did you work hard to get into the top 5?"

"Of course I did! But you think I wanted to? Everything I did just for people to still think I'm worthless."

"You're not worthless"

"No one else seems to think so"

"Have you talked to Shiro about this?"

"Why should I. He's gotten to a point where comments like these don't effect him"

...

"You mean he's..."

"You didn't know? Man."

"I don't know how to help you"

"Normally my release is drumming"

"Then let's go find an empty studio"

"No there's probably a class right now"

"Then we go to your place, you've got a set there don't you?"

He tilted his head on the side and rested his cheek on his arms.

"What about school"

"What about it"

"You want to skip."

"Hey, you need this. It's better than sitting in a classroom doing nothing"

He sighed and played with his lip piercing

"Okay. But we should probably tell Shiro"

"Do you have his number?"

"Yeah"

"Just text him on the way"

"But it's just easier to.."

"All the teachers are in classes right now. There probably won't be one on duty. This is our best chance"

"I can't think of anything to say.."

"Here, just give it to me"

He held his phone out and Lance grabbed it.

"Me and Lance are going to my place for the drums.' How's that? He'll get it, right"

"Yeah, I guess"

"So how far to your place?"

"Not that far, like 10-30 minutes"

"That's a long gap"

"Yeah I don't know how long it is exactly."

"Ooh its so cool!"

"It's actually pretty small and cluttered. My parents built it like 20? Years ago. We have to keep doing small repairs but we take pretty good care of it."

"I want a tour"

He laughed

"I told you, there isn't much to see. Just everyone's rooms, the kitchen, lounge and the drum room"

"You have a whole room for drums"

"Yeah, everyone's got their own pair of earmuffs for it. Mum says it because of my dad's drumming"

"Is that good or bad"

"Oh bad absolutely, he sucks at it but he does it in a way that is so clearly him"

Lance nudged his arm with his elbow.

"You sound fond of them"

He smiled and moved forward into the driveway, motioning for Lance to follow.

"Come on"

He stopped in his room to grab a pair of earmuffs and spun down the hallway laughing. He grabbed the drumsticks and earmuffs off of the seat and moved back into the empty space of the room.

"Here"

He pushed his earmuffs into Lance's hands

"Put these on"

"I want to hear you"

Keith laughed again and shook his head

"You will. This is just so you don't go deaf"

Lance frowned and took them from him while Keith put a pair on himself.

He sat on the seat and fidgeted with everything then gave a small chuckle.

"This is weird"

"You okay?"

"I just haven't really had an audience other than Axca"

"You said everyone can hear it"

"Yeah, I know, I know. Usually forget they're all there when I get into it"

"Then just get into it"

He huffed and scratched the back of his neck

"Ah, normally she records it, so I can listen to it later, but Um.."

"Oh, I can record it"

"I don't want to be a bother"

"Hey, its okay. No sweat."

He smiled and nodded.

"Okay"

He set up a quick rhythm and shut his eyes. He continued adding beats for 10 minutes until he was happy with it and repeated the song for another half an hour. His eyes snapped open and he gasped.

"Fuck.."

He grinned

"How was that?"

"I really want to kiss you right now.."

"Oh yeah, this turning you on?"

He drummed a beat and smirked. The rhythm came to him again and he smiled. His face was turned by Lance's hand. His hands halted in the air. He leaned down and barely grazed Keith's lips.

"Don't. Tease me"

He hummed

"It's fun though"

He reached up and pulled the earmuffs off Lance's head. Keith stood up and placed the drumsticks on the seat. "Come on"

"Where are we going?"

"My room, its more comfortable there"

Lance's breath hitched and Keith laughed.

He plopped down on a beanbag and rested his head on his fist.

"What are you doing"

Keith smirked

"You wanted to kiss me"

Lance's hands twitched. Keith was making his stomach swirm.

"I wasn't expecting you to accept"

"Mm. So you don't want to?"

"I never realised how flirty you are"

"You love it"

"I do, it's just not expected"

A smirk played on his lips again

"You never expected me to be flirty"

"Oh I'm in way over my head"

He crossed the room quickly and pulled Keith up with his collar and met him half way. Keith pulled him even closer by draping an arm across his neck. He bumped his piercing and his head spun. His breath hitched and he jolted away.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Fine."

His voice strained when he tried to speak.

"Mm"

"Are you not affected by anything?"

"Well, you'll just have to find out, won't you"

"Fuck"

He could feel Keith smirking beneath him. His face was so warm, Keith must feel it too. He heard a door close and he pulled away, but Keith chased his mouth.

"It's fine"

Lance shivered. The way he breathed the words into his mouth.

"Hey.. Gah! Again! Keith. Learn to lock your door!"

"Learn to knock"

The door clicked shut.

"Again?"

"Other than asking him, how do you think I know James likes curry?"

His face burned and Keith chuckled.

"We're not dating anymore if that's what you're wondering"

He rubbed his thumb across Lance's check

"You are so flustered"

A soft smile spread across his lips while Lance still choked on his words.