"Ms. Holt, or um Katie, right? Are you cold, do you want my sweater?"
Pidge internally groaned but outwardly gave no indication that she heard the officer. Or so she desperately hoped. This guy was seriously calling her Ms. Holt? After working on a project with her for six freaking months? Ugh.
THIS! This is why she didn't do after work project drinks. She didn't do well with small talk or faking interest. Everyone else was laughing and well onto their way of getting shit faced. And here she was sitting at the end of the bar counting down the minutes till she felt she could sneak out.
Bill was starting to take his sweater off so she sighed and replied, "No! No, thanks Bill but I'm good." Not knowing what else to say she just kept quiet hoping he'd leave her alone. Just leave already. She pulled out her data pad and jotted a few notes for her next project and saw a message from Lance bailing on her tonight. Damn. She hoped he was okay. While she hated get togethers Lance used to thrive on crowds, drinks and laughter. She was hoping he'd come out and have a little fun even if it sucked for her.
With him not coming, Pidge's internal countdown just sped up. A cough interrupts her thoughts and she looks to see Bill is now seated at her side, but he moved the bar stool so the was literally right next to her. What the literal hell?? Pidge puts down her data pad and looks into his eyes, which are way too close.
Leaning back she tries to find Veronica or Ina who are also at the bar. Damn, those girls were supposed to be her buffer! With no incoming help, Pidge decided to stand. "So hey, I'm just going to, um, go to the bathroom! So yeah, see ya Bill." She scrambled to the back of the bar where there was a short hall and the two restrooms. Rushing over she made sure to avoid other people. Closing the door and locking the single room Pidge looks in the mirror.
A young woman stared back, who if Pidge was honest, still was a bit of a shock whenever she caught her own reflection. She looked more like her mom than ever. While her hair was only slightly longer it was styled and cut in a what that looked like it was on purpose and not an accident. She also had some make up on, nothing like Romelle wanted but she thought her eyes looked nice and she stopped needing the disguise of the glasses so there was that. Romelle couldn't come but she helped her pick out her outfit so she had a cute top with tight jeans on, with her favorite converse.
Ugh, maybe just maybe, Bill really liked her. Maybe some of the other guys over the years really liked her. But she still felt like the insecure girl who didn't get asked to dance and to be completely honest, she just never felt that spark. Or lust. Or passion. So she never really pursued a relationship. She figured she'd know it if it was true.
None of the guys made her feel, well anything nice. So here she was 21 and single. Which isn't a bad place to be but she really just wanted someone to talk to. Someone to eat a pizza with. Or watch some documentary with and fall asleep on. Instead, she had Matt, her parents, Romelle when she wasn't on a date or work. She was tired, of being alone...even when she was with a group. Damn, maybe she should just go home now. She was seriously depressing herself.
And she had vowed to never just settle. If she wasn't going to just hook up she needed to get out before she did something stupid.
Taking a minute to actually use the facilities, she decides, 10 minutes, she can stay 10 more minutes. Then she was out. Stepping out of the bathroom and walking, she decided to look at the jukebox. As she stood looking at her options, she heard some girl talking about some insanely hot guy. Ignoring them she continues to scroll through the music, deciding upon some Bob Marley just to switch things up. As she was punching in some numbers when she heard a familiar sounding "Hey."
Looking up, she sees Keith smiling. She returns the smile only to see the girls who were talking leap into action. Pidge falters, just for a second, maybe he wasn't talking to her. These girls were gorgeous. Tall, curvy and had some amazing hair! Maybe he...except Pidge's mind quickly recognized that Keith just bypassed the girls and bumped her shoulder.
"I didn't know you would be here! Acxa wanted to stop in", lowering his voice-he whispered, "I think she likes Veronica. She always knows where she is!"
I can't help but smile and laugh, "Well, that's good news. Because Veronica is always asking about Acxa!"
Keith nods. "Great. So what are you doing here? I didn't think this was your scene?"
"Yeah, we just finished a project...so." She ends with a shrug.
Keith nods, "Us too. Well not a project but our job was done, and well Acxa needed a ride so here I am."
I offer, "Lance was supposed to come but he bailed. I'm kinda worried about him. Have you talked to him?"
"Uh, no not recently. I talked to Shiro, I thought he was doing better?"
"I dunno. I"
Suddenly Bill was back at my side...again too close. I can feel myself stiffen up. Does he not understand personal space?!? I instinctively step back but that puts me solidly in Keith's space. Oh well, if I had to choose.
"So uh, do you want to dance?"
"What?" I stare stupidly at Bill, trying to figure out if he has shown any interest in me before. I don't think so but I'm really bad at reading between the lines so I'm not one hundred percent sure. I mean he walked me home but I thought all the guys just did that after late nights.
Suddenly, I feel Keith's arms envelope me. He pulls me closer to his body, his arms wrapped tightly around my middle and suddenly I'm leaning into him, allowing him to support my weight. He feels so much more solid than a few years ago and I just feel myself relaxing. I mean it's Keith.
Bill looks disturbed. I hope he just drops it and walks away before it gets even weirder. Of course, fate likes to fuck with me so nope.
He questions, "So who is this? Another friend?"
I can feel myself tense and open my mouth to reply when suddenly Keith interjects, "Nope. Not another friend. Try boyfriend. And who the hell are you?"
I freeze, I want to look up at Keith but I also don't want to look like this is news to me. So I essentially do nothing.
Bill retorts, "I never heard of no 'boyfriend'. Where have you been? I've been working with Katie for six months now."
Keith growls, "I've been on a top secret mission to help a planet essentially move all it's population to a planet that wasn't going to blow up. Sorry if you didn't know-you don't have the clearance.' He then wraps his hand around the scarf I'm wearing, pulling it into Bill's line of vision.
"See this? It's my scarf that she's wearing." He then shows the Blade insignia on the tag that matches his shirt. His eyes look hard and he holding me tighter than before. I can feel every muscle against my back and look up at Bill. He looks like he's going to argue when Acxa and Veronica move over.
"Hey Keith, glad you could make it!" Veronica looks at me, eyebrow arched, silently asking if things were okay.
I nod, hoping they don't out us. I may not be with Keith but I definitely don't want to dance with Bill. And honestly, there is zero chance that I won't back up Keith.
Acxa follows up Veronica's statement with, "Hey Pidge, what time is the family dinner tomorrow? Keith's mom forgot already."
I reply absently, "Oh, it's four. My parents hate to eat late and we planned a Monopoly night afterward."
"Great, Keith, I'll text Krolia. Oh, yeah, I'm going home with Veronica so I assume you and Pidge are good?"
"Of course."
They leave and then the 3 of us are just standing awkwardly there. Keith then lets go and grabs hold of my hand. "C'mere."
I follow and suddenly we are dancing, really close. But the funny thing is...I don't mind. It feels natural and I just let my eyes close and lean my head on Keith's shoulder. There is literally no space between us and I don't feel uncomfortable. After a few songs, Keith pulls me to the bar and gets us both a beer.
After a few, I kinda realize that I'm all in his space and he is letting me. I'm literally leaning against him in between his legs as he sits on the stool. I absently think I should move but, I'm too comfortable and relaxed. This is the most relaxed I've been all night. At some point, Ina gets me on the dance floor again and I'm realize, I'm having fun. I can see Keith with his smirk, I see other Blades and Garrison officers but I can't help enjoying myself. Finally Keith comes up to me and growls in my ear, "I think you've had enough, let's get home."
I nod, not really recognizing the words he used.
The next day, after lunch but before monopoly, Keith and I are alone. I finally work up the nerve to ask what happened since we weren't really dating. Keith freezes for one instant, then replies. "You know that scarf you are wearing?"
Fingering it, I reply, "Yeah, you sent it to me. Right? I love it, it's so soft and just makes me happy. Plus it's super warm!"
"Um yeah, so it's sort of a courtship scarf, something that was done a long, long time ago. So, the way it works, is...you give it to someone who you want to court. And um, if they like you, they accept the scarf. But it works like on a different level too, subconsciously, so even if you don't know you like me, if you did then you'd keep it. But if you didn't feel the same, you would, um not. So when I saw you with it on, I knew you liked me on some level."
Silence.
"I think, um, do you? I mean, there was that Bill guy. I just reacted so should I apologize?"
I looked at Keith, who looked nervous. This is the guy who would fight anyone and would have offered his life for us without hesitating. I pause, realizing I do. I smile and lean forward kissing him on the mouth, 'Yeah I do. But just so you know, you are never getting this scarf back! It's officially mine...just like you."