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“It's already four o’clock, where the hell are they?” Keith pulled out his phone from his jean pocket for the hundredth time since they arrived. With his leather bag slung over his left shoulder, he shifted his weight against the chair and looked over at Pidge. She reached for her textbooks and laptop from her bag. “Let's just get started; they'll just join us sooner or later.” Keith groaned out of frustration, and pulled out the chair in front of him.
For most of the evening, they worked on their own studies; highlighting their own notes and looking through the endless texts. While studying, Pidge's head bobbed to the music in her green earbuds, and Keith listened to the soft noise from his friend. His eyes wandered from his book and surveyed her study habits; watched her frames graze slightly across the dusty papers as she scavenged for more information, the intensity in her eyes poured out with dedication and ambition. And most notably, Pidge itching her ribbon covered forearm that hid her Mark; the one that revealed the name of her soulmate.
“Why do you even cover your forearm?” Lance asked once during lunch and attempted to peek at Pidge's Mark. She reactively swatted his arm away and pulled her own closer.
“Not your arm, so none of your business.” she scowled at him and tried to tighten the tie herself.
“Everyone shows their Mark loud and proud.” Lance continued to press further and clutched onto Pidge’s forearm. “What are you trying to hide?”
Keith stepped in and pulled Lance back slightly. “Dude, that’s enough.”
“But–”
“But nothing. She doesn’t want to reveal who she has, and that’s on her own terms.”
“Whatever! I just find it weird that all of us,” he gestured around the table and then pointed back at Pidge. “okay? All of us don’t even have her name as our Mark, yet she wants to be all secretive about it.” Leo got up suddenly and stormed out of the diner. He wasn’t entirely wrong; Hunk and Keith both were Marked by a “Shay” and a “Katie” respectively. Luckily for Hunk, his “Shay” was his girlfriend. For Keith on the other hand, he’s yet to meet his Marked “Katie”, but that didn’t bother him.
Keith glanced over to the seat in front of him, and watched his study buddy flip through page by page almost endlessly. He placed his hand on the page Pidge was reading. Her head whipped up and shot him a dirty look. She scrunched up her nose, causing the little creases to appear, which Keith adored in secret.
“What is it?” she hissed, which the librarians responded with a harsh “shh!”. Keith gave them an apologetic look before turning to Pidge, her short light auburn hair was tousled, creating a lion mane.
“Pidge, I think it's time to go.” Pidge's amber eyes darted across her laptop, textbook and loose pages; trying to comprehend what Keith was saying.
“Go? Now? But it's only...” she picked up her phone and glanced around the library only to see the campus janitor sweep the floors. “Oh, hah…” She gave Keith a small smile and scratched the back of her head.
“Yes, and I'm hungry. I think it's a given Lance and Hunk aren't going to join us anytime soon.” Keith packed up his texts and ratty notebooks. “Let's bolt.” He slung his messenger bag over his left shoulder and got up from the wooden chair. With a pout, Pidge collected her things sadly and zipped up her backpack.
“See ya later, Keith.” Pidge itched her forearm and hiked up her black and orange backpack before heading off to the southside of campus.
“Wait, where you goin’?” his voice came out frantic, which surprised himself.
Pidge turned around to look at Keith. He pointed to the other way. “Don't we usually end the study sessions with a trip to the 24-hour diner?”
“Yeah, but that's when Hunk has his van. The diner is too far on foot.” Keith smiled and pulled his keys from the back pocket of his jeans.
“My bike is sitting in the campus garage.” he watched Pidge’s small smile form across her face. “Let's say, I'll meet you in the courtyard in an hour?”
“Make it thirty minutes. I need my sleep.”
“Alright, see you in thirty.” Keith smiled back.
“You better bring your wallet, 'cause I'm not paying for you!” Pidge called out before running off to her dorm. He shoved his hands into his pockets, as he watched her disappear into the south building before leaving the library premises.
The hour passed, and Keith waited with his bike in the courtyard. Distractedly, he rubbed his Mark gently with his thumb, thinking about the possibilities of how he could meet his soulmate. In Keith’s opinion, it didn’t make sense. All his other friends who were Marked, had names of people they’ve already known. Hunk with Shay, his girlfriend even before his twentieth; and Lance with Allura, an employee from the diner they all frequently visit.
Katie. Has Keith even encountered a “Katie” in his twenty years of life?
“Hey! Earth to Keith?” Pidge’s voice broke into his train of thought, and started waving her hands in front of his face. “Are you ready for some grub?”
Keith chuckled as she pumped her tiny fists into the air. “Let’s go.”
To Pidge’s surprise, the drive there was smoother and shorter than in Hunk’s rickety soccer parent van. Keith drove into the diner driveway and parked in a spot, getting off first to help Katie get down from his bike.
“Gimme your arm, I’ll help you down.” Keith grabbed her forearm and felt her ribbon come undone. He froze at the sight of her Mark, and almost let go of her arm.
She pulled her hoodie sleeve further down, awkwardly laughed and itched her forearm.
“Stupid ribbon. Always coming undone. Hah..”
“Your name is… ” Keith didn’t know where to start.
“Can we just eat first?” she blurted out, made her way to the front door of the diner and heaved the door open. Keith trailed behind silently, and kept his thoughts to a minimum.
The two looked at their menus in silence, basking in the emptiness of the diner past midnight. Silence continued after they ordered, ate, and waited for the bill.
“Look, I didn’t mean to pull your ribbon undone, I just wanted to–”
“Alright kiddos, what’s it gonna be? Together or split bills?” The waitress looked at Pidge and Keith with a card machine in hand. Keith reached for his wallet from his pocket and pulled out his credit card.
“No!” Pidge’s hand reached over and slammed down onto his arm. From the angle, Keith could see her Marked name, a little clearer this time, and turned back to the waitress.
“Together, please.” He successfully handed his card to the waitress and waited for her to make the transaction. They both left the diner in silence, and rode back to the campus.
“I’m not leaving this spot until we talk.” He got off his bike and leaned against it with his arms crossed in front. “Can we talk?” They both stood in the courtyard, only to hear Pidge’s shaky breath in the air.
“I hid my Mark, because I was scared.” She softly stated and tugged her sleeve. “Scared of the fact that our friendship could change within a day. But I didn’t want that. I wanted to preserve our genuine friendship and I didn’t want this stupid Mark to ruin that.” She rolled her sleeve up and revealed Keith’s name. “But I guess it did. I’m sorry, I’m going to bed.”
“No, it didn’t.” Keith caught Pidge’s arm and gently pulled her close. “Sorry I didn’t realize sooner that you ribboned your arm after my twentieth. And sorry for a shit friend for not knowing your real name. That’s 100% on me.” He pulled his sleeve up to compare their names against each forearm. The two traced their own names on their counterpart’s arms and held their breath.
“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is: Pidge.. Or Katie… or whatever you want to be called. We’re in this mess together and that’s all that matters to me.” Pidge smiled and nodded slightly while Keith planted a small kiss on her head.