may, six months later
Romelle picked up Pidge's laptop from the kitchen counter. "Where can I put this?"
"Aye, aye, careful." Pidge said, grabbing the laptop. " I'll take it, thanks. "
Romelle huffed. "Not my fault you leave your junk all over the place."
" This is my home too, leave me alone. " Pidge said, trudging off to her room.
"Yeah, well everyone's gonna be here soon, so can you help me clean?"
"Sure, just lemme do this thing real quick-" Pidge said, before closing the door to her bedroom.
Romelle smiled after her, laughing to herself. Pidge had started senior year, and decided to move in with Romelle, who was looking for a roommate to feel less lonely. They split rent, but Romelle sometimes felt like she was raising a child.
She sighed, placing her hands on her hips as her nose twitched.
"..what's that smell?" She found herself trailing the burning smell, to the oven.
The oven! "My cookies!" She exclaimed, rushing and throwing open the oven to see the burnt splotches on the foil.
She sighed. "Well. We can't all be Hunk."
With that, her phone rang. It was Allura and Lotor.
"Hey, we're on our way. We're bringing Allura's low calorie popcorn cause she won't eat anything else. That alright?" Lotor said.
" As long as it's tasty, sure! " Romelle said, as she leaned down to rub BaeBae's stomach.
"It's not trust me." Lotor said. Romelle could practically hear Allura on the other end glaring at him.
"Heh, I'm sure someone will eat it." Romelle said. "I'll see you guys soon. "
She hung up as the doorbell rang. She quickly closed the oven, rushing over to the door.
"Coran!" She exclaimed, embracing him.
" Helloooo. " He said, toting a worn briefcase. "I brought my liquors!"
" I-" Romelle frowned. "It's a sleepover, Coran. Did you bring clothes?"
"Eh, where there's a will, there's a way!" He pushed past her, chuckling to himself.
" I swear... " Romelle said, closing the door.
"Wait-wait." A hand stuck between the door with a yelp of pain.
" Oop! Sorry, sorry. " Romelle said, opening the door to see Matt holding his red hand, a girl with a strawberry blonde bun asking if he was alright.
"Matt, you made it!" Romelle smiled. " Lena! Nice to meet you, finally. " She said, embracing the girl. "Matt has talked so much about you."
Lena chuckled nervously. " Aww. "
Matt stuck his tongue out at Romelle, before pulling Lena into the apartment.
"Shiro and Adam are outside." Matt said, as he went searching for Pidge.
Coran was already at the counter setting up his liquors, and Lena stuck her and Matt's bags in a corner as Rover padded behind her cheerfully.
"Oh good," Romelle said. Her phone buzzed. " Rachel is here too! "
Just then, the doorbell rang, and she opened it to let in Rachel.
"Rachel!"
" Melles! " Rachel said with a chuckle. Her hair had grown back out, in a loose braid down her back as she slid her bag inside. "It's so good to see you! Hi everyone." She waved.
"How are the kids?" Romelle asked.
" Good, " Rachel said. "Babysitter's got them again. Now that I'm closer to home, I'm not as worried."
" That's wonderful. " Romelle smiled.
Lance, Keith, and Allura had pitched in with their funds from the last runway event to pay off Rachel's debts and give her enough to buy a new home in Fairfield. Now, she was always around.
" Left the door unlocked. "
Romelle turned to see Adam and Shiro walking in, with matching bags.
"Oh, hi!!" Romelle chuckled , embracing them. "My bad."
" Nah, it's fine. " Shiro said. "Thanks for having us over."
" Yeah of course. Just sit your bags wherever, we'll set up sleeping spots once everyone arrives. "
Pidge came out her room finally, carrying a stack of sheets and pillows taller than her. "Help, please?"
Matt rushed over to help her as everyone started talking and setting up their bags. Romelle called Lance.
"Hello?" She asked, as yelling overrode the phone.
" Bro, we've been over it. I paid for her repairs, she's fine. " That was Lance...
"Her radio still sucks, cut it off. Kosmo's ears are bleeding probably."
A bark of agreement.
"Oh shush you." Lance said. " At least the air conditioning works, now. "
"Yeah, yeah. Talk to Romelle."
"Right." Lance laughed. " Heyyy. "
"Heyy." Romelle said back. "You guys almost here?"
Crash. Romelle turned her head to see one of Coran's glasses on the floor, a look of bewilderment on his face.
"Oh, get it up before the dogs go over there!" Romelle said.
Lena quickly picked up Rover, the dog giving her a kiss on the nose of appreciation.
Adam grabbed a broom, heading for the glass as Coran slunk away into the dark hallway.
"Everything okay over there?" Keith asked on the other end.
" Yeahhh, fine. " Romelle said through gritted teeth. "You guys almost here?"
" Mhm. Five minutes." Lance said.
"We're still on the highway." Keith said.
" Same thing. " Lance said. "If you picked up speed."
"I'm not used to driving this thing, okay? Relax. "
"It's just like a motorcycle."
" How? "
"Two wheels, urm, engine?"
" Two wheels? "
"I mean-"
"You're a hot mess."
" You love me. "
"I do."
Romelle laughed. "Alright, see you guys soon." She hung up with a chuckle.
The doorbell rang, and she opened it to see Lotor and Allura, with a suitcase, and a big bag of popcorn.
"Wow, that's a meal practically." Romelle said, taking the bag.
" Just a little something. " Allura smiled. "Hi everyone!"
Romelle laughed as everyone embraced, and began putting down sheets and blankets.
"I love the short hair, Allura." Rachel said. "You look great."
Allura smiled, having cut her hair ear length for the summer. "Thank you! It was definitely scary, since I've always been attached to my hair. But I think I look great like this."
" You do! " Rachel smiled.
"Omg, can we make a pillow fort-" Matt asked quickly, hand on a comforter.
"One big enough for everyone?" Lena asked.
Pidge and Matt locked eyes. " Yes. "
There was another knock on the door, this time Hunk and Shay.
"Hey, guys!" Romelle said.
" Heyy. " Hunk said. Then his eyes squinted as he sniffed the room. "You burned the cookies didn't you?"
Romelle blushed. "...yeah."
" Don't worry. " He smiled. "I'll make them." He passed her, going into the kitchen.
Romelle closed the door. "Thank god. Is it obvious I can't cook?"
Shay nodded. "But it's fine, you're great at other things."
Romelle laughed. "Thanks. Speaking of cooking, how's the restaurant?"
"Good! Busy as always." She chuckled.
Aiga had hired Shay since their burst in business. The profits from catering the runway event had given them enough to remodel the entire restaurant and advertise properly. Not only that, but the event had already made them well known. Now, they were the most popular restaurant in Fairfield, even on holidays.
"Well, at least you put flour in them this time." Hunk said, checking the cookies, as Shay went to help with the pillow fort.
" Hey, Romelle-" Rachel peaked from the bathroom door with her hair down. "Can I use your toothpaste? I think Ari snatched mine before I left."
Romelle laughed. "Yeah of course."
The doorbell rang again, with chattering on the other side of the door. Romelle opened it.
"-nah our line is better for sure. We have you."
" I don't define the line? Plus, the spring line has much more variety. "
" You do define the line, thank you."
" ...hey guys? " Romelle said.
Keith and Lance turned.
"Oh, hey." They said, pushing past her, continuing their argument.
Allura and Lotor had been cast into the Spring clothing line, while Lance and Keith had been assigned Altea's first male line, because of Lance's breakthrough as a male model last season.
They were coming to the end of this season though, which meant another runway event, international ones like Madrid, making them hopeful.
"That's everyone." Romelle said, closing the door, and counting. " Yep. " She laughed, locking the door again.
"Let's get this party started!" She said.
The fort was done, taking up the entire living room, the entrance on the side off the flatscreen. Pillows and blankets laid across the span of the interior.
"Wow." Keith said, as Kosmo cuddled inside. " This is huge. "
"Yeahhh." Lance said, cuddling up next to Kosmo. " Roomy. "
Lotor and Allura got in with their popcorn, as Pidge, Matt and Lena went in with Rover. BaeBae took her seat at the door like every night.
"While the cookies bake, I have brownies!" Hunk smiled, as he and Shay joined everyone. Rachel popped in.
"Ooh, it's been a minute since I've had a good one of these." She said, plopping next to Lance and taking a brownie.
"Rachel!" Lance said, pulling her into a hug.
" Hey, bro. " She hugged back.
Romelle laid next to Adam and Shiro as she began scrolling through her Netflix.
"This popcorn actually isn't terrible." Adam said, licking his fingers. " Could use some butter, though. "
"The point is to not have butter, ya know? Healthier." Allura said. Adam nodded.
" Nastier. " Lotor murmured under his breath. Allura playfully punched him in the arm. He chuckled.
"I'm backkk." Coran said, taking a seat next to Romelle, on a pillow. "Anyone want drinks?"
" Ooh, me. " Lance said.
"Yes, me too." Lotor said, as drinks were passed around.
"Also, everyone. This is Lena. My girlfriend." Matt said. " Lena, my friends. "
"Hi, everyone." Lena waved, with a smile. " Nice to meet you. "
Everyone greeted her with fist bumps and smiles, as Pidge scooched up next to her.
"HP glasses. Are you a fan or just...?" She asked.
Lena nodded. "Huge."
Pidge smiled. "I like you already."
" Alright, what are we watching, everyone? " Romelle asked. "Romance, comedy, coming of age..? "
"Isn't that kinda both?" Keith asked.
" Oh, before we choose. Shiro and I have something to announce. " Adam said.
"Right," Shiro grinned, turning to them all and raising his hand.
" Adam proposed! "
Adam smiled, as everyone congratulated them and Shiro gushed about the diamond.
"Dammmmn, that's a fat one. " Lance said. "Musta cost a lot."
" Would you buy me one that expensive? " Keith asked.
Lance smiled. "Of course."
Lotor turned to Allura, blushing. "Would you buy me one?"
" If you keep dissing my popcorn, no. "
Lotor nodded. "Got it."
" That's so pretty, I'm so happy for you two! " Romelle squealed.
"Ah, this means Adam will be Keith's brother in law correct?" Coran said.
"I'm fine with that." Keith smiled.
" We've always been like brothers. " Adam smiled back.
"Cute." Pidge said. "The fiancés should choose the movie, I think. "
"Good idea." Adam said. " What do you have in mind, Shiro? "
"Urm.." Shiro racked his brain. "I'm fine with whatever?"
" Wrong answer. " Pidge said. "Adam?"
Adam blinked. "Oh, same."
"Useless gays." She turned to Lena and Rachel. "You guys are the newest to the group. Anything you wanna watch? "
Lena laughed. "I don't really watch a lot. I'm a reader. So I don't know, heh."
Rachel smiled. "It's stupid but Puss in Boots? Please. It's Olly's favorite and I dunno, kinda miss him."
" Stupid? " Lance chuckled, grabbing the remote. "I absolutely love that move." He searched for it.
"I don't think I've seen it." Keith said.
" Oh you'll love it. " Lance said, stopping on the movie. "Everyone ready?"
Everyone nodded.
"Everyone scooch in, I wanna cuddle." Hunk said.
With smiles, they all did. Once warm and cozy, Lance laughed.
"No one has to pee right?"
No answer.
"Alrighty." Lance started the movie, cuddling into the crook of Keith's neck.
Five minutes later.
"Oh shit." Lance laughed under his breathe.
"Wha-" Keith asked. Lance paused the movie and everyone turned to him.
"I gotta pee." He said, full of guilt.
" I-"
"Lanceee."
" Wow, bud. "
"I was so comfortable-"
" Crazy to me. "
"You're the worst I swear-"
Everyone began moving for him.
Lance smiled. "Oh you all love me, shush. "
They laughed at that. "We do, yeah."
Finally, he returned and the movie started for good. Keith laid his head on Lance's chest.
"Hey, Lance." He whispered.
Lance glanced down at him. "Mm?"
" The Madrid runway event is coming up, you think we'll get chosen? " He asked.
Lance looked at him, saw the uncertainty in his eyes. He smiled.
"You think we'll get where Adam and Shiro are someday? "
Keith glanced between Lance and the fiancés.
"Over there?" He pointed to where they sat.
" What? No, engaged. " Lance shook his head.
"Oh." Keith blushed.
" If it was my choice, yes. "
Lance kissed him. "Then yes, we'll get chosen."
Keith smiled at that.
And, they did.
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