Starlight

XII: I'm an Ordinary Man

A pensive man am I
Of philosophic joys
Who likes to meditate, contemplate
Far from humanity's mad inhuman noise

A quiet, living man

- 'I'm an Ordinary Man', My Fair Lady

xx.xx

"What are you waiting for? Ring the number!"

Finn stared at Robbie, wide-eyed, restless and fidgeting in his chair. The romance movie continued to play in the background, but everyone in the room was far too distracted by the real-life romance playing out in front of them to pay it any attention.

"What would I even say?" She read the email for the fourteenth time that minute.

Danny, ever logical and precise, chimed in: "He didn't give you any reason? Just the number?"

"Yep. He didn't even write a subject line. No context, no explanation."

Dan shrugged. "Surely that's a reason in itself. Just ring it and ask him why he sent it to you."

"Do it!" Finn bounced up and down in his seat. "Do it do it do it!"

"Chill out, Emperor Palpatine," Danny laughed, giving his boyfriend a playful shove. "But honestly Robs, you should! He sent you the number after all. Just call."

Robbie nodded, full of purpose. "You're right."

Finn sunk down into the couch, squealing.

"...But I think I'll go upstairs to do it."

She shut the bathroom door behind her, hoping that Finn wouldn't be able to hear her. As much as she loved him, she could really do without him calling out stuff that Hidgens might be able to hear.

Hidgens.

Hidgens sent me his number.

She giggled. Now alone, she knew that her laughter was the result of genuine joy, rather than an attempt to please or fit in with others: something that had been rare for the past few months.

Finn was right. there was nothing wrong with indulging her crush just a little, right? She'd been having a tough time and she deserved to flirt with abandon; to spend time with somebody that made her feel worthwhile, somebody that made her laugh.

"Hello?"

"...Robin?" His voice was apprehensive, but unmistakable as ever.

"Yeah. It's me."

A sweet, comfortable silence. Nothing had to be said; for Robbie the quietness held a thousand possibilities. Was it the same for him, she wondered?

After a few moments, he began to explain himself. "I'm sorry I didn't give you any more information in my email. I- I didn't really know how to say..."

"Hey," Robbie spoke low and softly, the tone he had taken with her when she had broken down in front of him. "There's no need to apologize. Is everything okay?"

"Yes." He said the word as if it was a realization. "Yes, everything's fine. Its just that... if we're friends now..."

"It's nicer to call, to actually hear each other."

She could practically hear him grin down the phone.

"Yes. Exactly. There's something about hearing another voice. And the university email service feels too formal."

"Is that okay though?" For the first time, Robbie considered how appropriate this was. She didn't want to get him into trouble, after all; that was the last thing she wanted - she didn't want to be the cause of any career-ending rumors. "Like... Is it appropriate?"