𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫,𝐲𝐨𝐮//𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓪𝓻 𝓲𝓷 𝓜𝔂 𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓭

It was a little after seven when Robin was standing outside in the winter, waiting for her friends. No one told her directly what the plan was, only that it was a birthday surprise.
She hadn't spoken to Nancy since the morning Nancy left her house. She planned to call her, but never did.

Robin was hopping from foot to foot; it was gradually getting dark outside, but there were no girls or boys anywhere.

"Robin?" said a familiar voice after a while. Robin turned around; she really didn't need to see this person right now.

"Heyy Vickie," she said, stepping closer to the small redhead with rosy cheeks.

"Did you come to the party? The redhead smiled.

"I'm waiting for my friends, but... it looks like they'll probably be a little late."

"Come inside; it's cold outside; let's have some warm tea or coffee. You can wait for your friends there."

Robin really liked Vickie. When she came to high school and tried to forget about Nancy, her eyes fell on a nice and chatty girl with whom she shared classes.Although Robin knew in the corner of her soul that her heart was still pulling her towards someone else, She still wanted to try it with Vickie.

With a nod, she entered the house. The day had a pleasant atmosphere. There was warmth, colorful decorations, and music playing in the background. So this is where Nancy planned to take her.

"Do you like it here?" Vickie asked as she took off her jacket.

"Umm, all these people are...?"

"Some of them, yes, some of them are just friends who support each other."

"How come I didn't know about this place before?"

"See that guy by the kitchen counter?" Robin nodded and looked at the older, tall gentleman with black hair and glasses.

"This is Victor; he is the founder of this club of ours. For several years now, he has been trying to find a peaceful place in this city where we can all meet without anyone harming us." Vickie swallowed and looked at the ground.

"The last time we thought we were finally safe, Some kids beat up Tomy," she said, nodding her head at the young boy, who was definitely no older than fifteen years old.
Robin's stomach flipped.

She looked at Vickie, whose sad expression suddenly gave way to a wide smile. "But away from sad thoughts. Now that we're all happy and more or less fine, let's have some tea."
Vickie said as she grabbed Robin's hand and pulled her into the crowd of nice-looking people.

Now Robin is sitting on the couch, talking to some random people. Her eyes fall on a redhead walking towards her with a cup of tea.

"I see you've made friends with Clare; it's not easy to see," she said, smiling at the dark-haired girl with a black line around her eyes.

"I'll deal with you later, Vickie; now I'm going to see my girlfriend. I'm glad to meet you, Robin," Clare said, and she left with a smile for the girl that Robin swore she'd seen somewhere before.

"Isn't it? Abigail?" The girl who, according to everyone, slept with half the boys from their school.

"Yup," Vickie said, and she sat next to Robin. Robin jaw dropped.

"There is no way that she is dating a girl."

"Well, she is in a closet...like many people in this room.Robin brought the hot tea to her mouth just to keep something embarrassing from coming out of her mouth again.

"So...you and Wheeler?" Robin was glad that right then she had the mug of tea already on her thighs and not near her mouth; otherwise, she would have choked on it.

"Yes," she said quickly and clearly, not looking into the redhead's eyes.

"I'm happy for you, Robin."

"Really? You're not angry or sad?"

"No, it was clear to me from the beginning that there was someone else here, and that's how it was supposed to be, Robin. She deserves you more than me."

God, how much Robin loved Vickie! Platonic. With a capital P, of course.

"Thanks, Vickie. Well, um, what about you? Do you have anyone now?" Vickie shook her head.

"No, I'm trying to fully focus on school and this community right now. But if there's a nice girl or boy, I'll let you know," she said, winking at Robin.

"I think your friends just arrived."

Robin turned around, and when she saw Barbara, she immediately jumped out of her seat.

"Um, Vickie, thanks for the tea and the chat. I hope to see you again sometime."

"Sure, Robin, anytime. Good luck with Nancy. Robin gave her a small smile before making her way straight to her friends.

"Robin, hey, happ-" Steve started with open arms, but Jonathan immediately cut him off.

"Have you heard anything about Nancy?"

"Wha-? Well, I-wait, guys, let's go out." Robin took her jacket, and all four went out.

"Is something wrong with Nance?"

"Well, she was supposed to let us know when she would get here, but she didn't," says Barb.

"And we were also at her house, but no one opened the door for us," added Jonathan.

"Okay, maybe; I don't know."

"Have you spoken to her since that morning?" Barb said it with a stern look on her face.

That morning.
So Nancy told her.

"I did not, but Barbara, listen, I don't know where Nancy is, okay? And sure, I'm worried about her, but maybe she just went to a store somewhere."

"So you just want to wait here and do nothing?"

"And what on earth are you going to do if we don't know where she is and she didn't let anyone know?"

"We're going to find her," she said, pointing her finger at the boys standing next to her.

"You can go back to your red-haired friend and enjoy your birthday, she added, and she went to leave.

"What? Guys. What the fuck?"

"You know what Nancy is like. You should have called her," Jonathan said, following Barbara into the car without saying another word.

Steve stayed with Robin and glared at her.

"Steve please"

"Look, they're just worried about her, okay?"

"And you think I'm not worried about her?"

"I'm not saying that. We just thought you'd help us look for her."

"Steve...Nancy's seventeen; she can take care of herself. I don't want her to feel like some kid you have to watch out for.What do you all expect from me? Do I have to go to the police? Or should I call all her family members just because she's not at home and won't answer the phone?"

Steve shook his head and rubbed a hand over his eyes.

"No, but maybe she hurt herself somehow; that's the problem."

"Stop emotionally blackmailing me and telling me it's my fault. Nancy is hurting herself."

Steve stepped closer. Jonathan honked behind the wheel of the car. A cold wind blew in my face.

"Did she try to kill herself in my bathroom because of you, or was it because of someone else?"

It was here.

That feeling when my heart stopped beating. The feeling I had when my mother told me a few months ago that my father was seriously ill. That feeling when I felt like I was completely useless.

I stood there. I can't breathe. I watched as Steve got into the car, which was immediately gone.

The feeling when my body fell into cold snow and my heart froze.