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Robby's skateboard clattered against the pavement, riding by Cristina fast enough for her hair to sway in rhythm to the gust of wind he left in his trail. She tucked her feet in under her, sketchbook resting in her lap as she watched Robby perform trick after trick successfully. She almost laughed, comparing his undeniable skills to Declan, who couldn't seem to keep both feet on the board even if they were glued to it.
Coming to rest beside her, his hair stuck to his damp forehead, Robby quirked an eyebrow, wondering what she found so amusing. He watched the pen in her hand move swiftly across the paper, creating an image pulled from the depths of her mind. With furrowed brows and pursed lips, she drew the daffodils from her mother's backyard, the very same ones she'd been grounded for plucking once when she was little.
Recently, it seemed memories of her past haunted her mind, plaguing her as the very same pain she'd endured under her mother's roof surged through her heart at every little reminder. She kept her emotions concealed. Or so she thought. Robby could see it in her eyes. The way they would flicker with sadness or anger, even when she was laughing at the thought of Declan tumbling from his skateboard and hitting his ass against the hard ground.
"What's so funny?" Robby asked, starting off with the easy bit of the conversation he knew would turn emotional soon enough.
Cristina grinned, lips curving upward as she squinted at him, hand raised in front of her face to cover her eyes from the sun's blinding light. Her hand stilled, the tip of her pen resting lazily against the paper and moving ever so slightly as she talked. The soft, barely noticeable lines that she drew subconsciously would be erased the moment Robby set off on his skateboard again.
"Declan falling on his ass," she replied through a snort, tucking her hair behind her ears when stray strands stuck in her eyelashes.
Chuckling, Robby plopped down on the ground beside her, his legs dangling down the side of the ramp as he peered at her through the corner of his eye. Almost as though she could sense his obvious stare, she turned her head, dark eyes locking with his greenish ones. For the first time, she noticed flecks of yellow, or perhaps brown, lingering around his pupils.
"What?" Cristina asked humorously, the whites of her teeth poking out from between her lips.
Robby's expression was serious, and a pit of nervousness settled in her stomach.
"Are you okay?" he asked, being urged to explain further when she raised her eyebrows. "You seem... sad."
Cristina's lips parted just enough for a breath of air to pass them by, chest falling as she exhaled and leaned back against the palms of her hands. The sun-kissed her skin, goosebumps visible on her bare arms and legs. Robby stared, waiting for her to speak. He could see the eyes move hastily behind her eyelids.
"It's just... everything's been so awkward lately. Between me and Hawk, I mean." she began, hesitant to speak her mind.
Robby was the only one she could talk with about this. Everyone else was Hawk's friends too, and the last thing she wanted was to create unnecessary drama. She didn't want to accidentally force them to pick sides. Especially since she was perfectly fine with acting as though everything was okay.
