You watched from the distance as the pilot simulator violently moved around reluctantly obeying the commands of the academy's most reckless pilot, Keith. You watched from a distance as Keith carelessly took sharp turns in and around arches, tunnels, and mountains.
You shook your head in annoyance as Keith took another lucky move around the bend. You scrunched your fingers around your crossed arms. Though you and Keith were pilots at the academy you were nothing alike. Keith was reckless and careless of his crew while you had a more careful and guaranteed approach to your flights and missions. It was a wonder how Keith managed to keep up with your grades with his reckless flying.
"Ugh," You groaned, walking away from your daily watch of Keith. You hated it when Keith made those turns. It made you nervous. You didn't know why exactly, but every time he took a risky move it scared you. You folded your arms and stormed down the corridor as you concentrated on your thoughts and theories.
Why did it scare you? When he took the move, why did it scare you? You weren't a part of his crew and you didn't care about Keith. So why did it scare you so much?
You stared at the floor as you walked, increasing your pace as you were dragged into your thoughts even more. "Ow!" You exclaimed as you bumped into something. You looked up and only to see a white blank wall staring back at you. You frowned and turned around and walked the other way.
"Are you okay?" A foreign, but familiar voice asked. You turned around trying to keep your hand from your head as best as you could.
"Ar-um... Yeah" You replied.
"Are you sure?" Keith asked.
"Yeah! Why wouldn't I be?" You quickly answered.
"You're stammering, restraining yourself to keep your hand away from your forehead while its red" Keith observed.
"How nice of you to take note of that" You answered, trying to say that as nicely and gently as possible. Inside you were angry, embarrassed and stuck in the worse situation of your life. "Can you just... Excuse me for a second... Please?" You asked.
"Sure," Keith answered casually.
"Thank you" You sighed, taking deep breaths in and out. You angrily stomped away, muttered and cursing yourself for embarrassing yourself in front of him!
...
"So what is it with you and Keith?" Danielle asked. Danielle was your ship's engineer. You and Danielle were close friends. On your first day here you didn't know anyone and everyone seemed to have their friend groups before then even came to the academy. Danielle was the first to approach you and by fate, you two were in the same crew together.
"What do you mean, 'what is it with you and Keith'?" You asked, rubbing your forehead (Finally).
"You two are so... So..." Danielle paused, struggling to find the right word in her small vocabulary.
"Not together" You snapped.
"That's! Not what I mean" Danielle sighed. She peeped her head down from the top bunk and peered to you.
"What?" You asked, quietly reading your book.
"(y/n) and Keith, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G" Danielle sang.
"Shut up!" You scowled, snapping your book shut smacking it in Danielle's face.
"Ow!" Danielle cried, retreating to the top bunk for safety.
"Thank you" You sighed, rolling your eyes.
"(Y/n) and Keith, sitting in a tree" Danielle sang. You immediately kicked your foot into the top mattress to make her shut up, but she kept on singing.
"Ugh!" You groaned, retreating under your pillow and covers for protection.
"Danielle I love you cause your my best friend but please shut up" You moaned as Danielle continued to sing.
...
You watched from the distance again as Keith piloted the simulator. Your eyes were glued to the screen. Keith's sudden sharp turns and swerves spun your stomach around, nausea gushing into your guts. One turn got you especially nervous and you gagged as your heart jumped.
"Ekk!" You squeaked. "I think I swallowed my heart" You gagged. You turned around and walked away as you tried to cough as silently as possible.
Again you were walking down the corridor like yesterday, only a little bit more cautious of the walls. "Hey (Y/n)!" A high-pitched voice screamed.
"Yow!" You grimaced, holding your ringing ear. "Danielle," You guessed.
"Me!" Danielle smiled, pointing to herself. You rolled your eyes and smiled. "Saw you taking a peek at Keith again" Danielle smirked, nudging you with her elbow.
"So?" You asked.
"So what?" She asked back. You frowned in reply.
"Okay stop (y/n)" Danielle ordered, moving in front of you making you stop. "Number 1, you watch him pretty much every day. Number two, you get scared every time he takes a dangerous move. Number three, you make the typical head-over-heels-girl reaction every time I sing that song!" Danielle listed.
"Yeah? So?" You asked walking past your friend.
"YOU LIK K-" You quickly clamped your hand over your friend's mouth before that last word escaped her mouth.
"Shush!" You hushed sharply.
"*Mmm mm mm," Danielle said.
"I don't like Keith" You replied.
"That's right" Danielle sighed. "YOU LOVE HIM!!!" Danielle teased
"The question is: Does she like me?" A voice wondered.
"Oh crap," You gasped, swerving around to see the worse person to see at the time. Keith. You bit your lip, finding yourself covered with cold sweat. "I don't know... Who is this she?" You asked, trying to avoid the question.
Keith smiled and slowly advanced towards you. "She's kind, smart, always caring about her crew mates. She's loyal, beautiful and hopefully likes someone who loves her" Keith answered.
"How does Keith know that loves her?" You asked.
"Because love isn't just an emotion. It's also the feeling someone has when they care about the person and wants to protect them" Keith answered. "So do you love me?" Keith asked.
You looked down and thought about the times you were scared when Keith took dangerous turns and that feeling you get when you were around him. You didn't feel tingly in your stomach. It was a tingly feeling in your chest. Like you were moved by him. It didn't feel like lust... Maybe... Just maybe...
"Yes," You answered.
*You like Keith