A Multifandom Collection of Short Stories

27: Candles-Robin Buckley

"Ok, so what's your favorite flavor?" Steve asks.
"The sherbet, Steve! Who's favorite flavor is just plain chocolate?"
"Mine is, y/n!"
"That's so basic! Robin, what's yours?"
"Huh?"
"What's your favorite ice cream flavor."
"...strawberry."
"Thank you!"
"At least it's less basic than chocolate."
"It's milk chocolate!"
"Whatever, Steve!"
It had been a long, busy day at Scoops Ahoy and you and Robin were restless to leave. Steve had to stay behind until closing.
"Anyway, dinguses, I have to run to Melvald's on the way home, do you want to come?" Robin asks, turning to you.
"Um, sure. What do you need at Melvald's that they don't have here?"
"It's the only place I can get my mom's prescription."
"Oh. Sure, I'll go with you."
...

"We're leaving Steve!" Robin calls out. She's changed out of her red, white, and blue uniform and has a tote bag slung over her shoulder. "Bye!"
"Bye Steve," you say. You and Robin leave the mall and start walking downtown toward the general store.
"Hey, girls," Joyce Byers says as you walk through the door.
"Hi, Mrs. Byers," Robin says, heading back toward the pharmacy.
"Hi, Joyce," you say.
"Robin, I'm gonna go grab some tampons," you say, walking to a different aisle. You located the much needed feminine product and pick up a box, tucking it under your arm. As you turn to go back to Robin, a colorful display catches your eye. You walk over to examine it, and discover candles.
Scented candles. You hadn't seen scented candles before. This was new and exciting. (Scented candles weren't popular until the mid 1980s)
"Robin! You gotta see this. You gotta smell this."
"I don't do perfume. This is my natural scent, baby," She says, walking up to you.
"Don't lie. Your 'natural scent' constantly smells like lavender and chamomile."
"Soap, jackass. And how do you know that?"
"Anyway, it's not perfume. They're candles."
"Candles?"
"You know? You light them with fire for romantic nights and, uh, private bubble baths." You wink at Robin.
"I know what a goddamn candle is, y/n."
"Clearly."
"What does that one smell like?" Robin points to a candle. The label says vanilla. You pick it up. Taking a huge whiff, you moan slightly with delight. You had never smelled something so delicious.
"Smell this," you say, shoving it at Robin, and picking up another candle. The two of you spend probably five minutes smelling candles. Robin is busy smelling a coconut candle when you pick up a light purple one. You read the label.
"Lavender and chamomile," you whisper to yourself. You tuck the candle under the other arm. "I'll be right back," you tell Robin.
"Okay," she says, absorbed in smelling the candles. You walk up to the counter.
"Hey Joyce."
"Find everything okay?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"You should come by the house sometime. Jonathan has been asking about you." You laugh.
"Yeah, I've been busy working. How about I come to dinner tonight? As a surprise. I have the evening off."
"That would be lovely. I'll make your favorite."
"Thank you, Joyce."
"That'll be $9.50." You hand her the money, and she gives the change.
"I'll see you tonight Joyce." You pick up your brown bag of things and walk back to Robin.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yeah."
You and Robin walk back toward your house. Thunder crashed and rain started to pour. You and Robin sprinted to your front door. Dripping wet, you and Robin stopped on your front porch. Trying to juggle your grocery bag and dig in your purse for your house keys at the same time, you almost drop the brown bag.
"Can you hold this Robin?" You ask handing her the bag and fishing your keys out of your purse. You slip the key in the lock, shivering. You unlock the door and turn to grab your bag when you see a stunned look on Robin's face.
"Robin?" She doesn't answer for a second, just continues to look inside the bag.
The candle, you remember, shit.
"What is this?"
"A candle," you say sheepishly.
"It's lavender and chamomile, y/n."
"I'm aware."
"Why did you buy this candle, specifically?"
"Because...it smells like you," you mumble quietly.
"Because why?"
"Because it's smells like you, Robin. Because...because I am in love with you, Robin Buckley." You break down into tears. Robin was the first person you had come out to. It felt scary, you were so terrified at how she would react.
But, instead of screaming or being angry, Robin hugs you.
"I'm so proud of you for telling me that."
"What?" You say, dumbfounded.
"And, I love you, too."
"What?" You say again. This was not what you expected.
"I've had a crush on you since like freshman year."
"I've had a crush on you since sophomore year."
"I thought you liked Steve."
"I thought you liked Steve."
"It's always been you." Robin grows quiet. She looks down at the ground. "Is it okay...if I...you know?"
"Know what?"
"Can I kiss you?"
"Why do you even have to ask?"
Robin grabs you by the collar of your Scoops Ahoy uniform and pull you into her, stopping inches from your face.
"God, I have been dreaming of this moment." She places her lips gently against yours. Sparks dance happily across your cheeks. You part your lips and delve deeper into the kiss. The rain softly pelts the roof above the porch.
And best of all, you can smell Robin.
"Lavender and chamomile," you mumble against her lips. All she does is pull you in harder.