This Year is My Year

Robin the Party Oracle

"Robin, we just need you to talk to them for fifteen minutes."

I raised an eyebrow at Dustin, annoyed that he and Eddie had cornered me after school, making me stay longer on a Friday than I ever wanted to. I crossed my arms, sighing.

"You guys don't need me to talk to them – they will be fine tomorrow night," I gestured, waving them off. I looked at Eddie and Dustin's matching t-shirts, wondering why Eddie always matched fourteen-year-olds.

"Buckley, I have successfully convinced Hellfire that we don't go to parties because parties are lame – not that they are the lame ones," Eddie said this lowly, not wanting to be overheard.

"Munson, it will be fine – you guys never had any freak hangouts?"

"Of course we have, but not with other people! Robin, I am the coolest person in that group, only because I sold drugs."

Eddie said this like it should have convinced me – it didn't. He could tell.

"Dustin is the second coolest person in the group, only because he's Y/N's little brother."

This made me pause. My eyes narrowed.

"Jeff and Gareth are in your band, and being in a band is inherently cool, even if metal music sucks."

"Jeff asked me if you had Settlers of Catan, or if he should bring his own tomorrow night."

I paused, twisting my face. I really didn't want to go talk to the Hellfire Club on how to behave at parties – the fact that I was to be the source of knowledge for these outcasts made me nervous, as I was not the coolest person to teach them how to navigate a social environment outside of Demons and Dwarves.

"Munson, you've been to parties—"

"Robin, he only knows how to act because he follows my sister around the entire time! She's the cool one in that relationship!" Dustin was desperate, trying to convince me. "Do you really want Jeff to ask Cristina to play Settlers of Catan tomorrow night?"

This was the winning argument. I sighed, rolling my eyes, and pushing past them. I heard them high-five behind me, following me to the strange dungeon where they played their fantasy game.

~~~

Robin burst through the doors, surprising the boys. They looked at her, confused by her presence at Hellfire Club. I smiled nervously and stepped in front of her.

"Intrepid adventurers – while I recognize Friday evenings are typically reserved for our campaigns, I thought that we could repurpose our meeting tonight."

"And that involves Robin? We don't have to add her to the group, right? She doesn't even know the name of the game," Mike was whining – he disliked change when it came to our D&D sessions. I sighed, sensing that this could easily devolve.

"No Dungeon and Dragons tonight, little one."

The group groaned, upset that I was pausing the campaign for the night. I raised my hands to quiet them.

"No Dungeon and Dragons tonight – tonight, Robin will be walking us through the details for tomorrow night." I gestured to her, trying to force my voice to be upbeat and convincing. The boys' faces lit up, excited about the prospect of the party.

I was dreading tomorrow night – I wanted the boys to have fun, but I also didn't want anyone to bother them or ruin their night. It didn't help with how excited the boys were, questioning each other on what kind of alcohol they were going to drink, or which board games they should bring.