Keith P.O.V.
I’d managed to avoid Lance for two weeks. Until Wednesday, when Coach Delon decided on a dodgeball game.
I think I’d made it pretty clear I wasn’t interested in Lance. Unfortunately, he hadn’t taken the hint. Coach split us into teams, and Lance, on the opposing side, decided I’d be his primary target.
I tried to ignore him, I really did. He yells across the gym, chucking a dodgeball my way. I sidestepped it easily, moving away, hoping to disappear into the chaos.
“Hey KEITH!”
“Scared you can’t get me, mullet?”
He. Did. Not.
He hadn’t just insulted my hair; he’d crossed a line.
I spun on my heels, grabbing a ball from the floor. “IT’S NOT A MULLET.” I hurled it at him, and he dodged.
The rules were simple: two teams, hit by the opposing team and you sit. Last one standing wins.
He threw, I dodged. I threw, he dodged. People started to sit as our little competition intensified. Somewhere between throws, I grinned. I was actually having fun.
Nobody interfered as we circled each other, the gym emptying around us. Suddenly, it was just Lance and me. We grabbed balls simultaneously, met each other’s eyes, and threw.
The world went black.
Lance’s P.O.V.
I sat up groggily, confused. Where was I? What happened?
Right. Keith and I had a little dodgeball competition. Damn, he could throw hard.
I looked around and realized I was in the nurse’s room, lying on a bed. A bed beside mine held Keith, also lying down. I sat up and walked over to him, leaning in to see his face.
Keith looked peaceful asleep. His usual frown was gone, replaced by a relaxed expression. His hair was slightly over his eyes. I watched him, struck by how beautiful he looked.
Suddenly, his left eye popped open.
“Did you need something?”
I nearly jumped out of my skin. I stumbled to my feet as Keith burst into laughter, his face red.
“YOU’RE FACE WAS SO FUNNY.” He laughed, then wiped tears from his eyes.
I blushed, crossing my arms. “You shouldn’t scare people like that! You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
He snorted. “You shouldn’t be watching people sleep.”
“You weren’t really sleeping…”
“Yea, yea, whatever.” Keith swung his legs off the bed and stood up. “Are we allowed to leave?”
I didn’t answer. I was too busy admiring his eyes.
Purple eyes? I didn't know that was a thing. They sparkled in the sunlight, and when he smiled…
“Lance?” His voice snapped me back to reality.
“I-uh, yeah?” Smart Lance, real smart.
A gentle nurse walked in. “Ah, I see you’re both awake. Quite the game of dodgeball you two were playing.” She laughed brightly. “But don’t worry, you both seem fine. You can head back to your dorms now.”
We both nodded, thanking her, and left silently.
I walked behind Keith, watching him stride confidently, hands in his pockets. He turned suddenly, facing me.
“For the record, I don’t have a mullet.” He said flatly.
I snorted. But he looked great with one.
“Believe what you will, but that’s not true.” He started walking again, then stopped. “Also, I don’t know the way to our room since I’m still new here, so you can please lead?”
I pretended to consider this. “Well… You said please, so I guess so.”
I amazed myself. I’d met this guy only two weeks ago…
And I already had a crush on him.