And Just A Touch of Death

Part IV

2:05 pm

Winter had just walked over the threshold into the cafeteria when the bell rang to signal the beginning of last period. She gazed over the sea of students, looking for a place to sit.

There, on the end of one of the tables, sat Robin, who's gaze was fixed on his laptop screen. Winter made her way over and plopped down on the space next to him.

"Hey." She greeted, already beginning to take out her own laptop.

"Hey." Robin chimed back, tearing his eyes away from the screen to look over at her.

Winter's eyes wondered over to Robin's laptop screen. "What movie are you watching?"

Robin shrugged. "Pride and Prejudice."

Winter raised an eyebrow. "Did you finish the book already?"

Robin merely nodded, turning his attention back to the screen.

Winter eyed him curiously. For the millionth time that day, Winter wondered what it was that was suppose to end Robin's life. She knew it couldn't be something that was a spur of the moment kind of act, like a mugging or a car running a red light. No, this has to be either a planned death, like his step-mother plotting to murder him when he gets home or something, or an inevitable death, like having a terminal illness.

Winter needed to know if Robin was any closer to death than he was before. Maybe what was suppose to kill him had already happened, and the planets and stars had alined and in some way, Robin had survived. It was possible. It had never happened, but it was totally and completely possible.

It had to be. Because Winter was not going to let her friend die.

She had to see if the closeness of his death was still there. Only one way to find out.

"It's freezing in here, isn't it? Here, feel my hands." She grabbed Robin's hand with her own.

The pull in her gut was fierce. The burning chill in her veins made her entire body cringe. Robin's death was getting even closer.

How long did he have? Until tomorrow? Until tonight? It was close, that much Winter knew. And she was still completely in the dark about how he would die.

"Yeah." Robin said, pulling his hand away gently. "It is cold."

Winter gazed over at the clock on the wall. It seemed as though that whatever was going to kill Robin would happen after school or tonight. She started to panic. She couldn't protect him or watch over him then. What would she do? Follow him around and wait for...what exactly?

"We should hang tonight." Winter said suddenly. Robin raised his eyebrows.

"What?"

"We haven't hung out since New Years." Winter said, scratching the back of her neck self consciously as she watches Robin debate with himself. "It'll be fun."

Robin stares at her, and she can see a game of tug-of-war going on behind his eyes.

A thought struck Winter. "Unless you've got lacrosse practice, which you totally do, sorry. We can maybe do it some other time. How about-"

"No, yeah, let's do it." Robin said. He's got an easy smile on his face.

Winter gave him a bewildered look. "Really? What about lacrosse practice?"

Robin shrugged his shoulders. "I was going to skip anyway."

Her brow furrowed. "Oh. Well, cool then."

Robin simply nodded, put his earbuds in, and unpaused the movie. Winter returned back to her laptop and began her homework. She was halfway through constructing the Powerpoint for her Honors U.S. History class when she realized something.

She tapped Robin on the shoulder. He looked over at her, paused the movie, and took an earbud out.

"Yeah?"

"Why aren't you doing your homework?" Winter asked. It probably wasn't her place to criticize Robin's time management skills, but every time she sat next to him during study hall, he was always neck deep in homework. Robin had the reputation of doing the assignment the day it was assigned. He'd never had a single late assignment and he'd most definitely never miss one either.

Robin bit his bottom lip. "I'll uh...I'll do it later."

Winter raised an eyebrow and began to mock scold him. "Skipping practice? Procrastinating doing your homework? Who are you and what have you done with Robin Sterling?"

Robin gave her a small smile. "Yeah, I'd like to know that too."

"What?"

Honey eyes met her blue ones. He gave her a reassuring smile. "Nothing."

And with that, they both returned back towards what had previously been occupying them.