Chapter Text
Keith checked his phone one last time making sure he got the room number right. All he needed was to walk into the wrong classroom on the first day and end up late and embarrassed.
He slid his phone into his back pocket and opened the door. He blinked eyes watery at the classroom’s brighter than necessary lights.
The projector was already on and the professor was already setting up for class. A few of the students had already sat down in both the back left and front right rows.
Keith opted for the left middle row at the very end, as it was in front of the teacher’s desk, and closest to the centre of the room. It was also a spot that did not stand out too much or directly stigmatise him as a loner or anything else. There was plenty of time in the semester for that later.
Keith sat his messenger bag beside him (he’d move it if he had to) and arranged his notebook and pencil case where he could easily access them. He liked to be able to quickly grab what he needed. Then, he leant back and watched the other students filter in.
They were mostly female which wasn’t surprising for this major. Many of them appeared his age, but some of them appeared older. The last two that showed up seemed to know each other and seemed to be the only other guys.
One was skinny with well balanced facial features and wore casual clothing, while the other was larger with wide shoulders, a rounder face, and wore a dress shirt and slacks. Although they came together and seemed to be friends the skinny one sat in front of Keith and the other in the middle of the right side.
As Keith continued to make himself busy by organising his supplies the skinny one spun to hug the back of his chair. He pointed towards Keith leaning forward. Keith looked behind himself, but the skinny man frowned and shook his head.
“Hey, yes you, Nice Nasa shirt.”
Keith looked down and looked back up scrunching his eyebrows slightly. He didn’t care to talk to people really, but it was nice to be acknowledged by someone.
“Thanks? Nasa is doing amazing things.”
Keith naturally quells a spiel of facts like on how without Nasa zippers wouldn't exist.
“You got that right! In another life, I'd be an astronaut, but then math has to ruin it. I'm decent, but it's not something I'd want to do full time. Love the stars and space, though. The name is Lance by the way. You?”
Keith places a hand underneath his chin and smirks.
“I take it you're not going for math teacher then? Mines Keith.”
Keith supposes that Lance has claimed him as his third group member. The one you call over when you need more than two partners.
He’s seen this pattern before and sure enough, Lance turns around and stops talking to him. Keith returns to frowning at his supplies.
The professor changed modes for the projector revealing a collage of pictures of them. Then, five bullet points about their interests and experience. They then start passing out strips of paper telling the class to write five of the most exciting things that they have ever experienced.
Keith plays with the idea to write “Lance’s eyes” but that would make for an awkward 3 hours every Tuesday for a whole semester.
He’d like to at least make it through the syllabus and their first project before that.
Leave it him for this to be happening now of all times.