𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬? - 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐘

i missed you

After class, I headed straight to the old oak tree where Robin and I used to spend our time years ago. The path seemed longer today, each step weighed down by memories of laughter and shared secrets. It took a lot of courage to come back to this spot because it reminds me of the days I wasted when I was with Robin. Days filled with dreams we never realized.

I shrugged off those thoughts and opened my book, sitting down on the spiky green grass. The ground felt rough, but I welcomed the discomfort—it kept my mind from drifting too far into the past. Before finishing the first stanza, boredom began to crawl up my soul. I shut the book and rested my head against the tree, closing my eyes as the wind brushed against my skin, tangling my hair.

It’s so calming; I wish Robin were here to feel this with me. Everywhere I go, I wish you could be here with me. If he were here, he’d probably tell me how beautiful I look just sitting here. He always did that, even when I was at my worst. I never understood how or why.

Why does Robin hate me so much? If I hadn’t left him that night, would he still hate me? Would everything be different today? What if I had stayed?

I sighed and opened my eyes, only to see Vance standing in front of me. I raised an eyebrow and gave him a look.

"What the hell are you doing here, prick?" he demanded, rage evident in his voice.

"Reading," I answered sarcastically, raising my book.

Finney stood up, facing Vance, who was clearly about to throw a punch. The tension between them was palpable, a silent war of wills. Finney knew that standing his ground was risky, but he couldn't let Vance intimidate him anymore.

"Leave," Vance stated coldly. Finney shook his head.

"We're gonna smoke. You want to inhale smoke?" Vance raised both eyebrows, tilting his head. Finney felt intimidated but didn't let it show. He firmed himself up and mustered his courage before saying, "Smoke somewhere else."

Vance scoffed, furious at Finney's defiance. No one dared talk back to him, and he wouldn’t let anyone crush his ego.

"You wanna get jumped?" he laughed, looking Finney dead in the eye.

"Just find somewhere else, Vance."

Finney's hand trembled, and he gripped it, hoping Vance wouldn’t notice. It would only make things worse.

Vance didn't like his reply. He raised his fist and threw a punch or two. Pain exploded in Finney's face, blood covering him. He tasted copper and felt a dull throb spreading through his skull.

"Now, try to talk to me," Vance scoffed, looking down at Finney, who lay on the ground.

Finney gripped the grass, his hand loosening as he saw someone approaching in the distance. His heart pounded, unsure whether it was help or more trouble.

Relief and regret washed over him when he saw it was Robin. Out of all people, it had to be Robin. His heart ached at the sight of his former friend, the person he had left behind.

Robin ran and pushed Vance aside. "What the hell, Vance?" he shouted, his voice a mix of anger and disbelief.

Vance's heart dropped at Robin's words. It was a harsh blow.

Vance met Robin's eyes, seeing his anger. He darted his eyes to Finney, who lay on the ground, full of loathing.

"Fuck," Robin mumbled, crouching down beside Finney. He touched Finney's bleeding forehead, causing him to hiss. "Sorry," Robin blurted out, his voice softer now.

Finney felt different. Robin's touch hurt, but it also made him happy. Robin was touching him again. Finney could pretend everything was alright between them, that it was just another time Robin was saving him, like the old days.

Vance stood there in agony, watching Robin take Finney to his house. The way he carried him made Vance feel something he couldn’t comprehend but knew he didn’t like. He kicked a rock out of frustration before walking away, his footsteps echoing his confusion.

Finney sat on the bathroom stool where Robin had placed him. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the room, mingling with the tension between them. Robin worked quickly, his hands steady but his eyes betraying his concern.

"I'm sorry he did that," Robin apologized as if it were his fault, his hands moving deftly over Finney's wounds. He seemed unsure, as if he wanted to say more but didn't know how to start.

Finney didn’t speak, letting Robin tend to his wounds like a nurse. Yes, he missed him, but he was hesitant to talk because he was mad. Mad at Robin, mad at himself, mad at the situation they found themselves in.

"Done," Robin said with a smile, putting away the things he used. His smile was bittersweet, a reminder of better times. The room felt heavy with unspoken words, the silence stretching between them.

Finney took a deep breath, his heart pounding before he spoke. "Thank you, Robin."

Robin's heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed hearing his name come from Finney's mouth. He missed hearing his voice.

He turned around and faced Finney. He couldn't help but miss Finney more. He missed him so much that he couldn’t stop his thoughts. His heart ached; he needed Finney again. The longing in his eyes was undeniable.

He crouched down in front of Finney, skeptical of what to do, and pulled him into a hug. Even he was surprised by his sudden action. He wasn't supposed to hug him but couldn’t help himself.

He buried his head in Finney’s neck, feeling his breathing and heartbeat, hoping they could stay like this forever. He didn't want to pull away, scared of what Finney might say.

"I missed you, Finn," he said, his voice muffled.

He felt his soul lift when Finney’s arm wrapped around his back. Finney’s embrace was tentative but warm, a small step towards healing the rift between them. For a moment, everything felt right again.