Chapter Text
Lance gripped the steering wheel tight as he drove toward the Inn. He knew it was dumb to trust a total stranger with something like his card, but how disrespectful could someone be to use someone else's funds without asking permission first? Maybe it was how he was raised, but he couldn't contain his anger at the audacity. It felt like today wasn't going well for Lance at all, and this was the final straw and so much more. Nyma showing up, sure. It's happened before. Someone else in my preferred class seat, fine. But having someone use your money without permission, and knowing that you are a broke college kid is ridiculous. He tried to stay under the speed limit, but all he could think about was giving Keith a piece of his mind.
When he finally arrived at the Inn, he quickly parked his Honda in the parking lot and entered. The room was under his name, after all, so he walked up to the front desk and requested a new card. The receptionist asked for his ID and credit card, gave him his room key, and Lance was on his way. Room 113. He stomped up to the room and scanned the card on the doorknob, giving him access.
He swung the door open to see Keith with his face stuffed with food, phone in one hand and fork in the other, with multiple plates surrounding him on the bed. This only ignited his rage even more. He slammed the door behind him and stomped up to Keith.
"What the fuck dude?? You used the little amount of money I had on THIS?? What kind of an asshole uses another person's money like this??" Lance yelled at Keith as he hurriedly swallowed his food to defend himself, but Lance wasn't thinking straight and cut off any attempt he had to try to explain.
"You think just because you're rich that everyone else is too?? Newsflash man, I'm not!! That was months worth of savings that you just spent in an instant! I'm barely making it by as it is!! And you should know better, what kind of a person uses a broke college kid's money like this?? Have you no decency?? Who raised you??"
Lance continued to jab an angry finger at him and got closer and angrier with each word. He wasn't going to let some random person he just met disrespect him like this. On the other hand, Keith was getting visibly more and more upset at each anger-filled word thrown his way, paired with a finger jabbing at his chest and space, and each stinging comment looked as if it were to send him over the edge. He didn't know that the charges would be taken out of Lance's account so quickly, but he didn't think he deserved this.
"Well?? Are you just going to say nothing??" Lance exclaimed angrily, inches away from Keith's face. During his angry fit, he seemed to position himself at the edge of the bed, right in front of Keith, who was sitting right at the edge, but backed up a bit due to the pointing and yelling. He took that question as a chance to finally respond, but not before taking a deep breath.
"First of all, don't you dare mention anything about who raised me. How dare YOU?" Keith said, jabbing Lance's chest back, causing Lance to back up in shock as Keith stood up in defense. "Secondly, check your damn phone, you absolute asshole."
Keith threw his hands on his hips and looked at Lance, waiting. Lance couldn't stand the audacity. "How dare ME??? You're the on—"
"Check. Your. Phone." Keith said firmly, standing with his hands still on his hips, waiting.
Still angry and taken aback by the sheer audacity, Lance pulled out his phone and saw a notification that must have gone off right when he opened the room door. Keith had sent him five hundred on Venmo, and Lance looked up at Keith in shock, just for it to be met with a smug but firm face.
"I- uh-..." Lance stuttered. "I still think you should've asked first! It's impolite!"
"I know and I'm sorry, I was going to explain over text after I sent the money, but I didn't deserve whatever this was." Keith retorted.
Lance crossed his arms and retorted back, "I think you did. You still didn't ask first and I'm broke as hell. It's just plain disrespectful."
Keith looked up at Lance, completely irritated by his behavior. I mean, he apologized, right? He even threw in extra money, he should be forgiven by now, not given attitude and a lecture. Lance, however, was happy for the extra cash and felt a little silly for nearly busting down the door and yelling, but he was still upset with the principal of the situation. It's still rude for someone, let alone a near stranger, to use your money without asking first. How could he not know that?
The boys stood in front of each other and had a mental standoff, one too stubborn to apologize to the other more than they already had. But this intense eye contact, Keith couldn't handle it. Especially with the stunning pools of blue Lance had for eyes, it was as if he were burrowing holes into Keith's head. Like they saw right through him, and while being intimidating, he couldn't help but notice how beautiful they were. Like the first time they met, the longer he stared, the more in awe he became. He snapped himself out of this trance by shaking his head.
"Look," Keith said, breaking eye contact and looking down, "I genuinely didn't mean any disrespect toward you. I'm new to this whole thing and totally forgot that the room wasn't under my card. I was used to my regular travel routine I guess, it's kinda my routine to get a lotta food the morning after checking in. I'm real sorry man."
Lance attempted to stay angry, but instead let out a big sigh and dropped his hands. "I see, I get that. Sorry for blowing up on you, lots been happening today and the last thing I needed was all my money drained from my account because of a dude I just met, y'know?"
"I get that. We good?" Keith said, sheepishly holding out a hand.
Lance sighed once more. "We're good." He clasped Keith's hand and patted the back of it with his other. Just then, Lance's ringtone rang out, and he reached into his back pocket to see who was calling him. When he realized it was Hunk, he showed Keith the phone screen, then stepped away a bit to take the call, while Keith stood by confused.
"Hey man, what's up? Oh yeah, that, it's been resolved. Yeah, Chief Keith charged that to my card. Uh-huh, way too much going on today. Yeah, yeah he paid me back, don't worry. I appreciate you, buddy. I'll be back soon. Thanks, man. Buh bye."
Lance hung up the phone and turned back to Keith. "Hey, so rough start to today, but you wanted to stop by, do you still wanna...? Or..."
"Oh, uh yeah, if you'll have me. I don't wanna step on any toes..."
"Nah you're good. I drove here, you can come with me I guess."
Lance waited for Keith to grab his things—including his mullet wig which Lance slightly snickered at—and they awkwardly headed to the car. Once out of the entrance, Lance jogged up ahead a bit and opened the passenger door, which caught Keith off guard. Even after that, he's this polite? He thanked Lance and sat down in the seat. Lance closed the car door gently before looping around the front to get into the driver's seat. Once inside, Lance put on his seat belt and gestured for Keith to do the same, and Keith obliged. They pulled out of the driveway and started their commute back to the college.
Keith remained puzzled, however, at Lance's chivalry. "Why did you do those things for me?"
Lance continued to look ahead but looked confused while he drove. "Did what?"
"The doors and luggage and things. You don't have to do that, you know."
A small gentle smile appeared on Lance's face, like he was proud of being acknowledged for his chivalrous acts. "My mama taught me to treat my guests well. Blame her if you got a problem with it."
A bit stunned by the response but also amused, Keith nodded in understanding and sunk comfortably in his seat for the rest of the drive back to the university.
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shes BACCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK expect more soon mwah