Christmas has always been a magical time for Robin, but this year, things are different. With mounting debts at her beloved small-town bookstore and the added stress of paying for her father's medical bills, the holiday season doesn't hold the same...
Her words ran through my mind 'You know what you did' but the honest truth was that I didn't, I had no idea what I had done to offend her so deeply.
I followed her through the maze of bookcases and shelving displays "Look..."I spun her gently to face me, my hands hovering over each arm to stop her from turning away. "I don't even know what 'IT' is, but if it's going to cause that much of an issue it's not too late for me to turn up alone and say my date got held up at the office.."
She stared at me, her sparkling blue eyes that used to shine were now dull and cold. I couldn't decide if she wanted to hurt me or hug me. She scratched her temple before rubbing her face and sighing softly "You...", another deep breath "You really don't know?" she asked quietly
"No" I shook my head softly
She began to walk away from me, I let my hands drop sure she wouldn't finish the conversation. She leant back against the large desk "Do you remember the first time you met Noah?"
"Of course!" I smiled at the memory
"Do you remember Senior Prom?"
"You wore blue right?" I asked, already knowing she wore blue, she was so beautiful that night.
I could see the hint of a smile but with one firm nod it was gone"...I did. But that's not the relevant point"
"What is the relevant point?" I asked as I crossed my arms over my chest
"Fletcher Finn was supposed to take me as his date, he caught Mono two days before and my dumb ass decided to ask you to fill in for him" She gestured to herself
"and...I said yes," I argued softly. I didn't see the issue.
At that moment something changed, she stood up from the desk she had been leaning against. Her cornflower blue eyes grew dark, and her jaw stiffened. I glanced towards her hands, balled into fists, I watched as she took a large step towards me, her finger now poking deep into my chest. " And a day later you had your mama slum it all the way over to my front door in the trailer park to pay me not to go with you..." Her voice was hostile but worse her words stung. She poked my chest again "And what's worse..." another prod into my chest "What really gets me is you had her trying to pay my brother to leave you alone, to quit your friendship over what? a pair of sneakers?" She prodded my chest one more time before pulling back, crossing her arms over her chest
I couldn't see myself but I was sure one of two things was happening I was losing all colour or I was turning a nauseous shade of green. I pulled a hand through my short hair, the fuzzy texture of my buzzcut doing nothing to soothe the scope of emotions that were washing over me. I stroke my neck before pulling my eyes shut. Taking a few deep breaths as I swayed uneasily for a moment before the unfamiliar feeling of a hand on the nape of my neck. I pushed my eyes open to see Robin and her cornflower blues staring back at me.
Her eyes drop to the floor for a moment before looking back at me, she chews on the inside of her cheek for a moment "You didn't- ask- her..." her voice cracking as she speaks, her hand moving to cover her mouth.
I don't speak. I shake my head, her hand still on my neck. I take her hand and pull it towards my mouth, kissing it softly.
She leans her forehead against my chin.
I kiss her forehead before moving to lean my forehead against hers. I close my eyes and simply breathe her in for a moment.
"I'm so sorry..." it comes out of her in a whisper so pained I hurt for her.
I shake my head before kissing her forehead once more. I clear my throat as I lean back and readjust my posture. "You're not the one who owes me an apology" I announce needing to shake off the heaviness of Robins revelation.
She shuffles for a moment, playing with the hem of her Christmas sweater before scratching her temple again "I kind of do though..."
"What makes you think that?" I chuckle as I take a moment to check the time. Time was running out and I still had to change my clothes.
"Because I wasn't your date to Senior Prom"
I looked at her, frozen with the weight of her words for the second time in the last hour, "...You...took the money" I watched as she nodded softly; he shoulders slumped as her hand moved to cover her face.
"For College..." is all she could say before the lights in the small store flickered.
I took a deep breath and checked my watch once more, my mother hated tardiness "Can we have this conversation later? I don't want to sound rude but I'm aware of the time and I need to change my clothes before I take you over to my Parents"
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