Wrong Number

Two Perspectives

Lance sighed into his cotton candy frappe. He didn't deserve this.
He still hadn't told his parents about Mr. Hamey, he figured they didn't need to know. He told Tatiana and Mariela though. They weren't exactly thrilled.

Frankly, Lance needed this relaxation.
His blatant hatred for Starbucks and their garbage coffee instead brought him to his local café; Pride Pastries.

It was the first ever, that he had heard of anyway, LGBT+ café. It was made for LGBT+ kids and teens, it provided a safe space, even though practically everyone hung out here. It contributed to the normalization of LGBT+ people in their community, and Lance was very grateful for it.

As Hunk and Tatiana sat down beside him, he munched on his Coming Out Cookies.
"You get the same thing every time." Tatiana made a face.
"I like them." Lance responded, sticking his tongue out at her.

The bell rung signaling that someone had come in, and Lance lazily moved his glare to the door.
Oh.
His heart skipped a beat.
It was him. The boy™.
Lance inhaled sharply and nudged Hunk. "That's him!"

"What's the big deal? Just give him your number!" Hunk whisper-yelled.
"Yeah, but what if he's straight?!" Lance whisper-yelled back.

"Then he'll say that? We're at a gay café for God's sake. Just do it! You've been doing googly-eyes at him for a week!" Hunk pushed him.
"Yeah, stop being a puss, Lance." Tatiana rolled her eyes.
"Okay, okay, I'm going!"

Lance puffed out his chest and put on an air of confidence.
He was finally going to talk to him.
The boy looked up from his phone, and inside Lance panicked.
Definitely straight.
He slid into the booth across from him anyway.

"Uh, so hi. I know this girl that likes you, but she's too shy and she asked me to get your number."
The boy's eyebrow quirked in interest like it did, and Lance died a little inside. He was so cute.

"Um, sure?" He gave a little laugh. "Why not."
God. Lance was going to die.
The boy hunched over the counter, fishing for a pen out of his pocket.
"I'm Lance by the way."
"I know. English class." The boy said, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.
The boy™ knew his name!! The boy™ knew his name!!
"In case you always space out during roll call, I'm Keith."

"Nice to meet you, Keith."
"I'm sure it's the same." Keith stood, handing him the little slip of paper. "What was her name again?"
Lance froze. He hadn't thought about that.
He looked back and Tatiana gave a wave.

"Ana." Lance grinned. "Her name is Tatiana."
"Cool. I'll text her then."
"Great."
Lance paused, engrossed in the way Keith scrolled nonchalantly on his phone.
He looked up at Lance eyebrow quirking up again in question. "Are you just going to stay here or..?"

"Oh! Yeah!" Lance jumped slightly, "uh, bye!" And with that he turned and returned back to his group.
Hunk winked an unnecessary amount of times, nudging him in the side.
"Look at you, hotshot!"

Lance's face burned in embarrassment as he handed the slip of paper to Tatiana. Keith looked over his shoulder to Lance's table, a little smirk hinting at his lips.
She raised her eyebrow in question, but Lance urged slightly, whisper-yelling "Take it!"

Hunk's shoulders dropped, taking on a disappointed tone. "Ohhhh, you didn't, did you?"
"Man, he was so hetero my gaydar turned off."
"Lance! Dude! You shoulda just went for it!"

Lance shifted on his feet awkwardly. "I may or may not have said that you had a thing for him but you were too shy."

Tatiana sighed heavily. "Lance. I am in my freshman year of college. You are juniors in high school."