danger likes me.

allie could almost not believe she’d done it. maybe just because of today’s circumstances, or maybe because it was harry, or maybe… maybe because she thought she was someone else. who would need a relationship to lose her virginity.

but she wasn’t. she rolled her eyes at robbie’s accusations. “i’m crazy? what about all your exploits?” allie would definitely call falling for lucas kiernsey crazy. but… to each their own. “you’re so weird. that’s kind of gross, you know.”

robbie grinned wide at her friend, her first genuine smile of the hour, but allie well deserved it. robbie knew her best friend like the back of her hand, but even this had shocked her beyond belief. maybe her influence on the girl was a bit on the darker side, but this had brought a smile to allie’s face and that’s all that mattered. 

“ hey, my exploits were duly noted and not a secret. “ she chuckled, gentle nudging her friend. robbie knew her reputation. she didn’t quite care. “ ok, rule one about having sex --- sex talks are the best talks. whether it’s in the bed or after during gossip, it’s amazing. all the gruesome details make it worth the while. “

“Go for it,” Elle replied, handing over the bottle. Might as well share. Wasn’t like she’d drink the whole thing and live to tell the tale. She didn’t know much about Robbie. One memory stood out, but that wasn’t worth talking about. Elle didn’t know her life.

Elle had never been good at small talk, and it definitely came easier when she kind of knew the person. Still, this was better than being alone. Drinking alone in the middle of the day was a bit pathetic.

“Whaddaya think? It’s supposed to be on the fancier side, but I swear sometimes it all tastes the same.”

robbie was left unaware of the girl’s connection to her mother. if she had known, this entire situation would have been out of mind and gone with the wind. but that wasn’t the case, and here she was, gladly grasping the bottle of alcohol in her hand, tilting back and taking a nice, big swig.

it burned her throat, but robbie had learned to ignore the sizzling situation, her years of practice gaining her a bit of immunity. 

there was nothing lopsided about robbie and will’s relationship. willow knew that perfectly well, but she felt like robbie always had to be convinced. well, as much as you could convince a person you cared for them. willow just tried to show her in little ways, every day. “i’m just the right amount of good to you,” she corrected, getting out the leftovers from earlier.

robbie was still left astounded that the two of them were friends, even after all these few years. there differences stuck out like sharp and deadly thorns, but willow was always there to saw them down, making a path to safety for their friendship. robbie fought for them as well, she just wished she knew what made willow love her. she’d be forever grateful, nonetheless. “ that’s what you always say. “ she chuckled lightly, plopping down on the couch with an exhausted sigh and a sore-ridden moan. 

allie was surprising herself a lot lately. hanging out with harry, more than hanging out with harry, and now somehow feeling normal while waiting for her sister to wake up after a car accident. things were strange. maybe this was the new normal.

she shushed robbie at her fast response and blushed fiercely. “yeah…!” she admitted, shaking her head. “crazy, right?”

her mouth fell open in shock and wry laughter and she nudged her friend’s shoulder. “i didn’t like him. or i didn’t know i liked him, i guess.”

some form of happiness washed over robbie’s face, her lips curling upwards in a small smile as she saw her friend relax for a moment. the stress that had been weighing above them for the last several hours was exhausting, and it was doing no good towards their situation, so to forget it for a moment was a somewhat miracle. 

allie shushed her and robbie merely responded with a laugh and a vigorous shaking of her head. “ dude, you really are crazy. “ she chuckled. “ but i’m happy for you ! god, i’ve been waiting for this sex talk forever. “

willow could tell—almost always—when robbie had rampant thoughts running around in her head, but she had never been able to convince her to share them. now, when she noticed that look, she offered distraction instead. “don’t apologize!” she protested, laying a hand on her arm. “i’ll make you a bowl. sauce or butter?”

robbie could never thank will enough for everything she had done for her. while she had been a bit of a bad influence on the girl, she couldn’t believe the size of the girl’s heart, that she had enough room to fit a lost cause like her in. as she protested, robbie gave her a small, 1,000 word smile as she returned the grip. “ sauce, please... you’re too good to me, will. “

“You don’t.” As insensitive as his reply was, the soft tone in which was spoken could be confused with a more empathetic opinion. If he was being honest, he didn’t think it was worth Robin’s concern, not if it drained her as much as she said it did. What was the point? The damage was already done, anyway. “Maybe you should get some rest. Come home with me, things will be more settled in a few hours.” Honestly, Robin was the only reason he was there; he couldn’t give less of a shit about Cassandra. Pulling his girlfriend (where they dating? He wasn’t sure, Lucas had lost track of it) closer in his lap, his eyes lowered to Robin’s lips, before raising back to her eyes. “When was the last time you rested?”

“ well, i had to try today and i’m declaring a war on emotions. they’re terrible. “ she joked, but the life in her voice had dulled. if robbie was ever going to be honest with herself, she’d say she’s running on fumes, but allie needed her and she needed to keep that to herself. but it was different with lucas--- the boy was so cold to the world, but somehow, some way, she could see a change in him when they were together. cold stares turned to warm gazes and she could feel herself falling for it all over again. lucas was the first to get her to feel again, and for that, he’d always have a hold over her. always. 

he talks about going home, and her heart nearly jumps out of her chest, but her head was fighting her. part of her wanted to say no, that allie needed her here, but another part was aching for a few hours of sleep, wrapped in lucas’ arms. “ i don’t know... “ her eyes cast down the hallway, getting a mere glimpse of cassandra’s room where she knew allie would be, but soon her eyes were drawn back as he pulled her closer. her muscles were aching and her stomach was growling, but nothing was a better medicine than lucas kiersney himself. “ i got a few hours last night... “ a bit of an over exaggerating, considering they had both stayed up late with their activities, and she couldn’t remember when she had gotten the text, just that the sun still wasn’t out when she ran to the hospital. “ i’ll be fine, lucs... just need to sit a second. “

willow perked up when robbie walked through the door, not really expecting to see her. at this point, she’d almost expected her to spend the night with allie. “hey. you okay? need dinner?” she asked with a tender smile. “i made pasta.”

allie always knew robbie was watching out for her. she had her back. she always knew if something was up. if she believed in that kind of thing, she’d say they were soulmates. but the more crazy crap life threw at her, the less-inclined she was to give the powers that be any trust.

robbie, though, had her trust forever. she smiled a little bit, but it was wrapped in nerves from the whole situation. maybe she would never not be nervous again.

but she took a deep breath and blurted out, “i had sex last night.” and then she started giggling like a lunatic. “with harry bingham.”

just hearing allie laugh was music to her ears--- she feared she’d never hear a real laugh fall from her lips again, that while cassandra was in a coma, allie would be in a box. it gave a bit of relief to robbie, and for the time being, she could breathe easy.

but just as the realization of her words came to sight, robbie’s eyes went wide and she turned to her best friend. “ harry bingham ? “ she exclaimed, a hand swatting out to slap her arm, gently. 

“ you little bitch ! “ she laughed, head tilting back. “ girl, you should’ve told me you liked him before ! he hangs around lucas’ place like a puppy, i could’ve gotten you in months ago. “

“yeah, yeah, i’d like to see you try,” he teased. he went over and grabbed what she came for,  tossing it to her. “you’re good this time. now get outta here before i change my mind.” he stuck his tongue out at her and gestured like he was shooing her out. 

robbie rolled her eyes, but her smile was hard to hide. there were few people that teased robbie and lived, and devon just so happened to be on the short list. “ yeah, yeah, i’m going. hey, you’re doing the work of the devil ! keep it up ! “ she called out with a soft laugh before making her way back to the hospital.

allie and robbie had always been truly devoted to each other. maybe it was just a result of all that time they’d spent together as kids, but allie liked to think it was the universe looking out for them. then again, the universe had pulled some pretty fucked up shit lately.

but whether their bond was chance or fate, allie would never be more glad for a companion than when robbie was at her side. she brought out the best in her: the reckless, the joyful, the bold. qualities allie had trained out of herself throughout the years. the medical problems in the pressman family didn’t always allow for careless abandon like that.

“mm, that feels good,” allie sighed contentedly. what was it about somebody playing with your hair? harry had done it just last night. how far away that seemed. but speaking of…

“i… have something to tell you. it’s not mushy, so don’t panic.” it seemed wrong to be divulging the loss of her v-card in front of her comatose sister. but at the same time, maybe cass could hear them. still weird.

robbie wasn’t sure if they were all awake, living in this alternate whatever the fuck this was, she was half convinced it was all a terrible, terrible dream. but the other half was aching at her sides--- that it really was only them. that they were stranded with nowhere to go. it was a scary thought, even for her.

as the girl complemented her handywork, she chuckled. “ knew you’d love it. “ she smirked, continuing to work her fingers. she was tempted to make a dirty comment, but she kept it under wraps. 

but then allie started talking and she became a bit more alert to her words. “ not mushy ? don’t panic ? it better be important. “ she teased her friend.