THE BLACK PHONE IMAGINES/PREFERENCES

𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 | robin arellano

[BASED OFF THE SONG 'ABOUT YOU BY THE 1975]

It had been a year and a half since Robin Arellano went missing and was soon reported dead. There wasn't a day that passed when you didn't think about him and how he was doing in the afterlife. It seemed that everyone had moved on from the crimes of The Grabber, even Finney Blake, the only survivor. 

Before Robin disappeared, you were his girlfriend. You had only been dating him for eight months, but with him, it felt like you'd known him your whole life. Every moment with him made it feel like you two would last forever. Well, every good thing comes to an end. 

One day, Robin needed help with his math homework. So, he asked Finney for help. Finney invited you to join, so you agreed. Robin never arrived at Finney's house.  

You were watching TV with Finney and his younger sister when their father walked in disappointedly. He was holding the phone when he asked who Robin Arellano was, struggling to pronounce his last name.

According to Mr. Blake, Robin disappeared when he was purchasing snacks for them. You remembered how your nails dug into your skin stressfully, holding back your tears. He was gone. Would he ever return?

That was a question you thought about every night since he was kidnapped. There was a man. He was dubbed 'The Grabber.' You found out his name was Albert. He abducted other boys, too. Griffin Stagg, Billy Showalter, Vance Hopper, Bruce Yamada, Robin, and Finney was the last victim until Finney killed him. 

You were glad The Grabber was gone. The man who killed the person you loved most was rotting somewhere. Still, you missed him. You wondered if he missed you too.

He did. Well, that's what Finney claimed.

When Finney was in the basement, he said there was a phone that would ring. The Grabber's victims would answer and help him. Robin was one of the callers, and he asked Finney to tell you that he loved and missed you a lot.

You were unsure about Finney's beliefs. Maybe he had gone insane in the basement, and the callers were only hallucinations. However, you wanted to believe it more than anything. 

Sometimes you'd pretend Robin was still alive. He was on a trip, and he'd return soon, you'd tell yourself. You'd see him soon. Right?

Like most reveries, they were only daydreams. They weren't real. Robin was gone, and nothing would change that. And nothing would change the amount of love you still had for him.

You remembered the last thing you said to Robin before he died. See you after school. Love you! It wasn't much, but those six words hurt like a stab to the chest. You never saw him after school that day.

Being Robin's girlfriend and Finney's around that time drew lots of attention to you. They were both kidnapped in less than two days. People even spread rumors that you were the one that killed them.

You waited every night for a phone call from the police or a news segment about two or more teenage boys being found in a man's basement. 

Fortunately, there was one survivor. It wasn't Robin. It was Finney.

Don't get you wrong. You were over the moon about Finney's survival. Deep down, you wished Robin walked up those steps too. 

When you missed Robin, you'd visit the roof of an old abandoned building you and Robin discovered. You stayed there because you felt your memory of Robin was fading away slowly, and that place was where you collected your thoughts.

You sat there for hours, thinking of Robin, nobody else. You'd reminisce all the beautiful memories you experienced with him, memories you'd hopefully never forget. 

Today was one of those days. For some reason, Robin was the only person on your mind. 

You climbed on top of the concrete roof and placed a blanket on the floor before sitting down. You remembered how many stars you watched in the sky with Robin, how many stupid conversations you had with him, and when you felt like possibilities were endless with him. You kept all the gifts he offered on this roof, like the bandana he gave you for your birthday, so you took it everywhere. You held it tightly in your jacket pocket as you watched the night sky. 

It was undeniable. You missed Robin Arellano. You missed his face (which you'd probably have already forgotten if it weren't for the thousands of photos you had together), you missed his dumb jokes, you missed his hugs, and you missed your drive-in dates. You missed every part of your relationship with Robin, even when he'd get into ill-advised fights, and you had to patch him up. 

You knew young love doesn't typically last forever. But you and Robin were different. You and Robin could've stayed together forever. If only the universe hadn't decided against you.

-

A/N:
Hey! This is different from my usual writing since this imagine has no dialogue. I'll write cute imagines soon don't worry 😭 Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed it! Have a good day, and thank you for reading this! :)
—1/16/2023