#toml

Lost in thought, you didn't feel the loose clasp of your birthstone necklace give way.

"Ugh, then there are the auditions for drama, my first day down at Claire's." you thought as the soap slipped across your skin.

You'd taken no notice of the quiet figure whose teeth were clamped into her bottom lip, three showers down, as she watched the wall with extreme interest. She was moving like lightning to wash up.

"You released a labored sigh, and then you've got to avoid Andy all week, that'll be fun. At least Tina gave you that heads up." you thought.

Your necklace finally made its escape, with a delay, you scrambled after the runaway trinket. Your fingers frantically tried to catch the chain headed for the busted drain guard.

"No, no, no!" you called, knees hitting the tiles painfully.

A second pair of hands reached out and caught the chain, "I don't think I've ever moved that fast in my life." their owners sighed.

You looked up in surprise, you'd been sure you were alone. But you'd never been so glad not to have the showers to yourself.

"Um...here" She said, holding out your necklace.

You cupped your hands and gratefully accepted it, encasing it inside your palms.

"Thanks, I don't know when you got here, but. I'm glad you are here." you sighed. Struggling to offer a smile, "Buckley, right?" you asked.

Her eyes grew wide as the water continued to rain down on your heads, her hair plastered around her freckles.

Robin gave an absent nod, "yeah." she said, but her eyes said, "Did that just happen?"

It was the look you often got from students who deemed you one of the popular girls. As if talking with them should be a crime. It was hard to fight the urge to cringe. You hated that look.

Getting to your feet, carefully hold your necklace, "I own you one big time." you tell Robin.

She's still knelt on the floor, subtly covering her chest and struggling to keep eye contact.

"Ah, don't worry about it. It's pretty well known you love that necklace...you wear it every day and all." Robin uttered.

The bell rang loudly, and you could have sworn you'd heard Robin whistle in relief.

"Well, I did to be going. But thanks for the save, I still owe you one." You spoke quickly, heading for your towel and out of the showers.

Robin toppled onto the floor and backed up against the wall. Her heart beat violently in her chest as she exhaled every bit of air she could muster out of her lungs.

Her hands grabbed the top of her head and pulled at her soaked hair.

"Holy shit, what kind of fresh sweet hell did today just become?" She thought.

"I mean, how does spilling your milk carton on Carol Perkins and getting a spit wad shot into your trumpet turn into hitting the showers the same time as ____ _____ and - and totally saving her prized necklace?" Robin's mind ranted.

She gulped down a breath of air, "and you saw her as the world first met her." Robin chewed her tongue, the face suddenly feeling hot.

"And she's cute under her clothes too, this isn't fair." Robin glanced down at herself, "Oh god, she saw you too, you just saw each other in the most awkward boob-flopping scramble in the history of ever."

Though, it was enough to make her snort softly with laughter.

Was she mortified? Yes, but the humor of it all would not be lost on her. In fact, maybe it was a good thing. Nothing could be worse than what they each may or may not have seen of each other.

And more than anything, "She seems more human now." Robin murmured.

In the parking lot of the Star Court, you fixed your mascara in the review mirror. You liked working at Claire's it gave you more of a chance to break the weird barriers people at school seemed to force around you.

You loved helping people pick out jewelry and accessories. Sure, you weren't the be-all and end-all of fashion, but you'd learned a thing or two from the circle of friends you'd been shoved into.

It was nice helping others feel better about themselves, even if it was so little of a thing as helping them find those earrings that bring out their eyes.

Or a hair clip that went that shirt they have nothing to match with.

Then you weren't just that popular girl from school.

And if you were lucky, that person might just talk to you the next time they see you. Maybe even without approaching like a chicken into a fox den.

It was a better job than working at Radio Shack, and you were actually quite glad to exit your car and head off to your second week on the job.

Arriving early, you decide to stop into the gap to pick up the Blondie shirt you'd seen last week. Remembering how it was the perfect mix of cute but not too extremely girly. It seemed beachy casual.

And today, there was only one left on the rack.

It was clearly too big for you. But it was the only one left. "And who knows if they'll be getting more in." you thought. Luckily, as part of the drama club, you knew more than enough people who could take it in for you.

Grabbing the shirt from the wrack, you were met with resistance.

"Oh, sorry," Robin said, snapping her hand away from the shirt.

Your eyes wandered to the cute design, and you inwardly groaned.

"You do owe her." you thought.

Reluctantly, you held out the shirt, "no, here it's too big for me anyway." you offered quickly. Stealing a glance over, Robin in her blue and white sailor uniform.

Your eyes took in the details of softly toned legs, and you tried your best not to let them linger there. Tilting your head slightly, you couldn't help but notice, that the shirt wouldn't have fit her, either.

"But maybe she can sew or knows a good seamstress." you thought.

"It wasn't going to fit, I was going to cut the picture off as a patch for a quilt" Robin explained with a shrug.

"You make quilts?" You asked, She didn't look like she would. But a quilt out of band and pop culture bits and pieces...you could see her doing that.

This was in fact the girl that came to school every day in dark nail polish, fairly well-maintained makeup, and always seemed tumbled between punk and something fresh out of Europe. Or at least what you imaged of Europe.

You held the shirt out further, "that actually sounds pretty rad. If you show me what you make with it. You can have the shirt." You state with a smile.

Robin's cheeks flushed subtly, "You...want to see a quilt?" she asked, arching a brow.

You laughed, "It's scandalous, isn't it?" You teased.

"A little, yeah, It's just...surprising. But, yeah - sure, deal," said Robin.

"We're even now," Robin added.

You shook your head, "Hardly. I would be lost without this," you murmured, gingerly touching your fingertips to the dainty necklace.

Robin's gaze fell to your neckline.

"You don't even know." you whispered.

"Where'd you get that neckla-"

Robin's words slipped back into her vocal cords as two hands took your arms.

"There you are!" Tina chimed happily.

"We've been looking all over for you, that hunk who works in the jazzercise classes is stretching," Heather added.

You shuddered inwardly, looking into the distance with a dull gaze.

Robin covered her mouth to hold in a chuckle at your lack of enthusiasm.

At that moment, your eyes met hers, and she flashed you an apologetic smile.

She wished she could help you, however, her shift was about to start.

Your eyes still screamed for help as your two friends hauled you away. Robin getting further away as they did so, seeming at a loss in deep conflict about what to do.

Robin groaned as she slung a scoop of ice cream into a sugar cone and passed it off to the customer.

"I should have done something." she thought.

"But I did have to get to work," Robin answered herself once the customer walked away.

It was a slow day at work, and it was leaving her with plenty of time to regret what had happened.

"Though that guy they hauled her off to looks...unnatural, and now she's probably been traumatized for weeks," Robin muttered to herself.

"You know, they say talking to yourself is a bad sign." someone snarked.

Robin's eyes fell down to the little girl with her hand hovering over the service bell. Her dark brown eyes were impatient.

"Don't you know it's rude to eavesdrop?" Robin asked her.

"Don't you know it's against your job description to ignore a customer? I've been hitting this bell for three minutes." the little girl shot back.

Robins lifted her brows high and tossed an unimpressed glance.

"What can I do for you, small child?" she asked dryly.

"I'd like a sample of the new fudge cookie crumble, please."

Robin rolled her eyes, "sure." she muttered, taking up her ice cream scooper from her belt.

"You can make it up to ____ by letting her get an ice cream on you. That should work. You can't burn this new shiny bridge before it even gets built. She knows Tammy, this might be your biggest chance ever. Don't blow it, Robin." Robin's thoughts wandered away as she brought the child her ice cream.

"That took forever," she complained.

Robin's eyes narrowed, "I was spitting in your ice cream." she whispered.

"Ew!" The little girl scowled.

A boy who held a face similar to hers stopped next to her.

"Here, Lucas. Try this one," she said quickly, shoving the ice cream to him and leaving to a pack of girls her age.

The boy, Lucas, seemed confused but shrugged and started to eat it. "This flavor's excellent." he mused. "I'd like to order a double scoop of this."

W A R N I N G S - and stuff.

Fluff. Probably a bit of angst. Mentions of Homophobia. Coming out struggle. Miscommunication. Cheesy tropes. Slice of Life. No Real Plot. Written on the fly. Cutesy. Protective Robin. Sporty Robin. Snarky Robin. Hurt/comfort.