When Friendship Becomes Forever

Chapter 12

Robin

Work.

That's where I was supposed to be on the Tuesday morning after Nancy broke up with me.

But, in true Robin Buckley style, I ended up doing the almost exact opposite thing than I what I was supposed to.

And in this case that meant hiding in the bundle of trees that could barely be called a forest with Max Mayfield.

"It's not my fault I have red hair!" Max hissed and I rolled my eyes.

"No, blame it on the deities," I snapped back, though neither of us was really angry.

"Deities?"

"Like a god,"

"Right."

"This is so insanely stupid and you know it," I whispered and she sighed.

"Well fine! If you want to waltz on in there and go make up with her you can. But I'm not going anywhere,"

We were squatted under the shade of a broad branched tree spying on Nancy, Steve and the Hopper-Byers'.

They were finally beginning to move into the new house and even though Max and I had agreed to help, the furthest we had gotten was this so called forest.

Keep in mind we agreed a week ago.

"Okay you know what? I'm going. See you on the other side," I said suddenly, giving Max a salute.

She rolled her eyes and I grinned back.

Somehow, we had become extremely close overnight, and I was kind of enjoying it. Even if I did think she needed to loosen up a little.

Nancy and Jonathan were carrying either side of a large box, Steve was carrying in wooden chair after wooden chair, Will and El were each holding boxes of their own belongings piled so high they couldn't see and Joyce and Hop were bringing in a large mattress.

"Hi," I said, breathless as I approached the house and driveway that was loaded with cars.

"Hi Robin!" Joyce called, breathless also as she attempted to direct Hopper into the house.

"Jim! Wrong way! Hop!" she cried as he backed her into the wooden step that led up to the front porch.

Hopper dropped the mattress to check on Joyce who shooed him away with a flick of her hand.

"I'm fine. Would've been more fine if you hadn't walked me into the steps," she muttered, but her voice was teasing.

"I'll help," I offered, walking over to where the couple stood.

"Thanks," Hopper said with a grin and I helped the two of them pick up the mattress, that was surprisingly heavy, once again.

We eventually managed to manoeuvre the large piece of furniture through the narrow hallway and the three of us laughed as we finally slid it onto the bed frame.

"Thanks," Joyce said and I shrugged back.

"I'm here to help,"

"Hey! Nance! I'll help!" Steve called as he rushed past down the hallway nearly bowling me over as I left the bedroom.

Nancy.

She stood at the other end of the hallway, opposite to where I was, her elegant dark hair falling in neat waves.

She wore a light blue skirt and a purple t-shirt, an almost direct contrast to that of my own outfit; a black singlet and old ripped jeans.

Though I suppose we always had been opposites.

Opposites that attracted.

But none of that mattered anymore.

She wasn't interested in me, and I was sure that in time, I could gaslight myself into believing that I wasn't interested in her either.

It was just sad that I had to.

Steve, Nancy and Jonathan were all working together; unpacking box after box into the end room.

I should have been there, should have been laughing about whatever they were, helping to set up the dusty old bedroom.

But I couldn't be.

And Max was still nowhere to be seen.

Sighing, I walked out of the house and into the extremely large front yard.

Surprise, surprise; she wasn't there.

As I stepped through the trees into the sad excuse for a forest, I found her.

"Why are you still here? You have to come and at least say hi. I hate to admit it but you're in the wrong here too Max,"

Max slowly turned around and I saw that her cheeks were stained with black; clearly from the light coat of mascara that she wore.

The mascara that had mixed with her tears.

"I know," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I know it's my fault. I know she's pissed at me, and I know that I shouldn't be the one who's mad at her. But for some...stupid, insane, deeply twisted reason it's not. Or at least not for me. I'm so angry at her for something I did. It doesn't make sense," she sobbed.

I stared back at her, understanding slowly creeping its way around me.

I had nothing to say; no words would form when I opened my mouth.

And knowing me, that was scary.

Max sighed and threw her hands that had been balled into tight fists down beside her body in what appeared to be utter exhaustion.

"Do you...still like Lucas?" I asked her quietly.

She sighed again, this time more aggressively.

"I don't know. But I do know that I love her. And that I don't know if she loves me anymore,"

Now it was my turn to sigh.

"Max,"

"Robin look. It's my problem, it's my life. You aren't going to be any help to me because you have no idea what it's like. And don't pretend like you do because you don't. People have been telling me that my entire life. If I didn't believe it then, I'm not going to believe it now. Just leave me alone. And don't bother coming back here."

(A/N: Heyyyy guys! This is my first time updating on my phone so if it looks weird that's why 😭 I hope you guys like this chapter though I know it's sad...kind of lol. Stay safe and totally tubular and I'll see you in the next one xx)