Keith Kogane wasn’t a bad teenager. He was smart, top of his class, could’ve gone to Galra prep on a full ride if he wanted to. (he didn’t. He thought they were stuck up rich kids.)

But Keith had a short temper, and a hatred for one of his teachers, Ms. G. The math teacher. It wasn’t his fault she marked his tests wrong when he was right all the time.

So what if he snapped one day? It wasn’t his fault he got expelled. He couldn’t care less anyway, he already had a good job. Working at Shiro, his older ‘brothers’ tattoo studio. (He wasn’t really his brother, but he was the only ‘family’ Keith had and he’d punch anyone who said otherwise.)

On the opposite end was Lance McClain. Latino boy from a big family that was good in school but was never great. He got A’s and B’s because he knew he had to. No way his mami came all the way to the USA just so Lance could slack in school. Despite being a goofball with his friends Hunk and Pidge, deep down Lance was smart and a good student, even if he played off being the ‘funny one’ or the ‘class clown’ often.

Pidge was the special one in the group I. Lance’s opinion. They had skipped a few grades, and while Lance, Hunk, (and Keith), were all turning 18 or 19 this year, Pidge would only just be turning 16 at the time of their graduation.

She was a genius and one of the ‘prodigy’s’ of Voltron high.

Hunk was next, not the best in most subjects. A solid C or B+ student in anything that wasn’t cooking or mechanics. (He was a A+ student in Home Ec. And Metal shop class.)

Hunk was a popular guy around school in the way everyone liked him. He was positive and kind and like a ray of sunshine. Funny, sweet, just a good guy.

Lance, Hunk, and Pidge knew of the infamous Keith Kogane. (how couldn’t they? Everyone heard of the school suspension.) But they didn’t interact. They weren’t friends.

The closest they had gotten was Lance and Keith constantly butting heads in classes, Lance trying to out do Keith in gym, and somehow always ending up in group projects. Lance called him his ‘rival’.

(If you asked Keith who Lance was he’d ask who you were talking about. If you said ‘the loud Latino boy’ he’d just roll his eyes and shrug. He knew of him, but never understood why he was always trying to beat Keith for some reason.)

Hunk and Pidge found it funny.

—-

Today was supposed to be like any other. Lance, Pidge and Hunk minding their own business in free period, but then the gossip caught up to them.

Not only was Keith Kogane back. (Shiro having strings pulled with help from his longtime friend Allura who had ties to everything in this small town and thankfully convinced the principal to give Keith one more chance.) but there was also a new student.

—

“Do you think they’re cute? Is it a boy or a girl?” Lance asked playfully, raising an eyebrow. Despite what he ‘said’ about him being a ‘ladies man’ (or man’s man. He didn’t discriminate) he had shit luck when it came to any type of romance.

Hunk sighed lightly, rolling his eyes amused. “Maybe you shouldn’t hit on the new student-” He started to say in a kind tone before Pidge interrupted with a snort.

“No let him. It’s funny how often he gets rejected.” She said, clearly amused. Lance just gave her the finger lazily, feigning annoyance.

“Look just because-” Lance started, only for the words to die on his tongue when he saw Keith walk into class alongside the (clearly) new student. “wait he’s back? Didn’t he get suspended again?” Lance whispered, raising a brow as his eyes followed Keith and the new student.

Hunk shrugged alongside Pidge. “Apparently someone pulled strings and got him one more chance.” Pidge replied back with a shrug. “That’s the rumour anyway.”

Hunk frowned lightly. “We shouldn’t spread gossip- I think it’s good he’s back.. right?”

Lance just scoffed, half annoyed half.. not. “Why does he get to show the new girl around..” He muttered annoyed, earning a flick on the head from Pidge.