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" You know, you've gotta' stand up for yourself one of these days. " Robin exhaled, lifting up his hand to inspect the bruises littered on them. They were like trophies, he could recall each bruise and the story behind it. Most people would probably call him weird for that, but Robin thinks it's amazing, cool even.
" I know, I know, " Finney grinned. ".. thanks anyway, for defending me. Ever since Vance Hopper left town last spring, everyone's been so fucking terrified of you. " Finney grabbed some tissue paper, rolling it into a ball and throwing it into one of the bins in the stalls.
" Yeah. " Robin slowly nodded. " Hey, you wanna go to a drive-in with me and my uncle? We're seeing Texas Chainsaw Massacre, " He focused his gaze on Finney. " It's the best. " Robin added, smiling like an idiot.
" Yeah sure. Afterschool? " Finney asked, nearly at the exit already.
" Yeah! " Robin wasn't so sure why he was so excited about this, maybe the fact that they're showing TCM on a big screen, and not those stupid little TV's he has back at home. Finney should be excited too, that's the bit Robin's looking forward to.
A loud crash, followed by children chanting suddenly jolted Robin from his thinking. He rushed outside, his eyes meeting Finney who was on the ground, pinned down by Matty.
" What did I fucking tell you dipshits. You fuck with Finn, you fuck with me. " Robin balled his fists, ready to throw a punch.
" Well if it isn't Finney The Fag's boyfriend.. " He let go of Finney's shirt, getting up. Clearly, Matty had grown some balls since the last time Robin had beat him up, and that was a week ago.
The crowd was filled with those annoying oo's.
Robin was starting to loose his temper, but he held back. " Fight me, " Robin announced, " If you're so confident. " He stood his ground, grinning, earning shouts and whoops here and there from girls.
" Take this you scrawny little idiot! " Matty tried to hit him, which resulted in an air punch, as Robin ducked down, pushing him over and then socking him right in the jaw.
Matty was out cold, blood bleeding from his stupid face as his friends dragged him into the crowd.
Robin approached Finney, out stretching his other, none bloody hand, " That hijo de puta, " Robin scoffed, helping Finney up as the crowd dispersed. " He won't bother you for a week or so. " Robin smirked. He loved how Finney admired him, as if he were a saint or something. It boosted his ego.. well, kind of.
" Meet me at my house at 6? " Finney asked, he looked .. ecstatic, like a kid getting his weekly allowance to buy cheap candy.
" Uh-huh. " Robin grinned.
_____________________
Gwen answered the door, a warm smile painted on her face, " Hey Robin! " She exclaimed.
Robin had always taken a liking to Finney's sister, she was badass, he'd admit.
" Is Finney here? " Robin tried to peek through the gap above her head. " Yup! " She beamed, opening the door wider to let him in.
" He's been looking into a mirror like.. for about an hour now, " She checked her imaginary watch on her wrist, " Yeah, definitely an hour. "
Wait.. this isn't dress to impress? Why would Finney want to impress Robin?
Robin smirked, " Pfft.. he really cares about his looks, his ego must be shit. " He blurted, begging those thoughts to go away, he hates it. He also thinks that he maybe cares too much for his friend.. more than just a friend should. No, there's no such thing!
" Hey Robin. " Finney appeared infront of a star struck Robin and an over the moon Gwen.
" Hey Finney.. uh, what's happening? " Robin grinned stupidly.
" Keeping on, keeping on. " Finney replied. His answer to what Robin had said had always stayed the same, ' Keeping On '. But Robin didn't mind it, as long as Finney was happy, he should be too. But right now, right at this moment, he wasn't.
" Cool, cool. Let's go, my uncle's waiting for us. You know that he isn't a very patient man. " Robin exhaled, waving goodbye to Gwen before walking to the door, Finney close behind him.
They got into the car, Robin's uncle had put on some trashy pop song that blared from the speakers, Finney noticed him tapping the wheel to the rhythm, honestly, Finney doesn't know how people can willingly listen to this.
The trio made it to the spot, eating some snacks from Robin's Uncle's car that he was sure had been sitting there for a month.. it's okay, as long as it wasn't expired!
The movie started, for the first few minutes, Robin had happily watched the screen, but he got kind of.. distracted. Finney could feel Robin boaring fucking holes into the back of his head, but he ignored it, shoving taffy into his mouth.
Why was Robin so interested in Finneys hair? Is it the way it flowed down to his neck, nearly touching his shoulders? How he styled it, even though people called him a fag for it? Or the way it would feel to smooth it out in Robin's hand-
What. the. fuck.
Since when was Robin so mesmerised by his best friend? Sure it's one thing to admire a friends beauty. But Robin wanted to do more than just that.
No! He shouldn't, he can't. Robin Arellano cannot think those thoughts. His mother had always told him about those gays who live next door, how they always kiss or hold hands, ' Desagradable. Hijo mío, nunca seas como ellos. '
These words had lingered in his head for a long time, it had changed his mindset. He avoided them, everytime he passed by the couples house he would frown in disgust!
Robin let out a loud groan, earning a look from Finney.
" What's wrong? I thought you liked this movie..? " Finney eyed the figure slouching on the leather seat.
" Yeah. I do. I'm just thinking, " He muttered, loud enough so Finney could hear before exiting the vehicle, " Tío, voy a dar un paseo, volveré. " Robin shouted, his uncle just grunted, still focused on the movie.
" Wait! Come on- let's talk! " Finney practically jumped out the car, chasing after his friend into the woods.
Finney finally caught up with Robin, annoyingly standing in front of him, trying to prevent him from going any further.
" Are you- " Finney was interrupted.
" No! I'm definitely not okay. Really not okay. " Robin said sharply, a stern look planted on his face.
" Is it because you probably think that I know you've been staring at me for half an hour? Yeah. I've noticed, but I'm not upset about it, Robin. I zone out a lot in class, if that makes you feel any better. "
" What? " Robin raised an eyebrow, slightly tilting his head.
" Nevermind, that's not important, I just want to know what's wrong. " Finney's face looked worried.
No.. no. Robin can't tell Finney what's wrong! He'll be disgusted. Knowing that his best friend has been all oogly eyed for him like a fag. He won't, but Finney's persistent, if he wants an answer, he gets it, and on Robins end, he is completely and utterly screwed.
" Finney, what do you think about, y'know.. gays? " Robin asks. It's not like he is gay, he's just interested in his opinion.
" Well.. they're okay. I don't mind them. " Finney blurted, looking to the side.
A smile creeps its way up the side of Robin's mouth, but he turns around before Finney notices it.
" Hey, tell my uncle that I'm going home. I'll see you tomorrow, Finn. " Robin announces, heading off, leaving Finney confused as ever.
" Oh- okay..? " Finney shrugs, going back to the car.
_____________________
The next morning, Robin awoke to the smell of his mother's cooking, she almost always overcooked, then she'd ask Robin to give some food away to every neighbour in the block. Well.. except the gay couple.
Robin suddenly remembered the events of yesterday, that stupid question he asked. Now Finney probably thinks he's one of them too.
" Idiot.. " He buried his face into his pillow, his mother suddenly barging in.
" Hijo mío, sé que no estás durmiendo, ven a ayudar con las tareas. " She said whilst collecting random plates Robin had left on his desk.
" Bien, mamá. " Robin got up, walking to the kitchen. He looked outside, it was the fucking crack of dawn, luckily he didn't have school that day. But he'd have to see Finney in the halls face to face.
No way.. that would totally rip his reputation to shreds. Now that Robin had thought about it, Finney could be lying about what he said. What if he tells Donna, then Donna tells her friends?
Robin Arellano has never been scared of anything, really. In fact, he was the one to take spiders out of his sister's room. But this time.. this time, he is scared, deathly scared.
And what does he do? He goes to Finney's house just to make it completely worse.
_______________
The rain made it 10x colder, it was spitting, but Robin knew it would get heavy in a few minutes. He rounded the corner, knocking on the door.
To his surprise, Finney's father answered the door.
" Hey.. Mr. Blake! " Robin gave a warm smile, although, he had never liked him. Everybody in town knew that he beat his kids and overdosed. Finney even told him that sometimes he used to dissappear one night and come back the next.
" What the fuck are you doing here kid? " He slurred, obviously drunk.
" You better not be trying to turn my son gay.. " Mr Blake muttered.
Owch, that really hurt Robin, because the next thing you know he's gripping the sides of the door frame, staring up into Mr Blake's soulless eyes.
" Just let me fucking see Finn, got it? " Robin says, backing up. This usually got him what he wanted, he just had to wait for the magic to happen.
But surprisingly, Finney's father plunged at him, swinging a fist into his left cheek. Mr Blake's hands are all jittery as he grabs the vodka bottle, holding it close to his face. " You talk to my kid again.. this bottle goes straight through your skull. " The older man eyes him, before drunkly getting up and slamming the door infront of Robin.
Robin's eyes are as wide as saucers as he takes in whatever the fuck happened to him just then.
" Bastard. " He winces in pain as he touches his sore cheek. It hurts to talk so he's in silence the whole walk home.
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" Finney. Why was the Arellano kid at our fucking door? " He's sort of swaying, then he staggers into his bedroom more.
" I know you're not sleeping, and I know you heard damn well what happened. " He uses his wardrobe as a support, glancing at Finney.
" ANSWER ME. " The manchild booms, finally earning a sentence from Finney.
" I don't know. " Finney just wants to disappear at this moment, he wants his dad to go back to sleep or whatever he was doing before Robin knocked at his door.
" You don't know? YOU DON'T KNOW? Well I've got some news for you Finney Blake. He's trying to corrupt your innocent mind into liking boys. " His voice breaks.
" But, a sissy like you, I wouldn't be surprised if you turned out like them. " He adds, grinning like a maniac.
Finney bites his lip, fighting back from all out bawling right there and then. He hides under the covers, praying that his father leaves, and he does. Retreating back to the door, he turns the light off, going back to his chair to drink more cheap wine.
Finney exhales, throwing the blanket unto the floor, he gets a toy he stole from a girl in 2nd grade, placing it in the middle of the bed, then throwing the duvet over it.
He gently opens the window, clambering out, and breaking into a sprint the moment he touches the ground. Breathing in the crisp air, he makes his way to Robin's house.
He goes to the door, knocking twice, and Robin opens the door, his left arm occupied on holding ice to his cheek, while his other was holding a towel. Finney is startled as Robin waves his hand infront of him.
" Hey, dumbass, are you forgetting that you're at my door when it's 6 in the morning. " He laughs when Finney jumps, startled by Robin's voice.
" What happened to your face? " Finney reaches his arm to try and touch it.
" Hey, hey, hey, no touching! " Robin backs away, a red tint painting his cheeks. He looks to the ground, sighing.
" Your dad beat me up, he's got hella' strong fists is all I can say. He said I'm not allowed to talk to you, afraid I might spread the homo onto you. " Robin admits, rubbing the back of his neck.
" Wait! Don't take this the wrong way though, I'm not gay, that's stupid. "
Robin swore he saw Finney frown a bit on the last part of his little speech. Now he was really starting to question if Finney Blake was a homo.
" Yeah. Mind if I stay at your place for a bit? I just really need something to eat and you know what's happening at home... " Finney voice trails off as Robin moves to the side, letting him in.
" Make yourself at home, my mom made too much soup.. so I'm gonna' give some to the neighbours. You can have some too. " Robin pours some of it into a bowl, passing it to Finney. He scrambled to eat it, practically inhaling the dish.
" Man, how long have you not eaten for? " Robin realises he may have brushed up on a topic Finney isn't willing to discuss, so he shakes his head, " Nevermind.. "
The two both sat in silence, Finney watching the road intensively, like he was worried his dad would show up. Eventually, the paperboy showed up, throwing a newspaper into the front-yard. Robin had known him for a while; Billy Showalter was his name. They only knew each other because Robin's mother liked to have small talk with Billy's mother whenever they would meet at the grocery store.
" Sorry. " Finney stared at the ground blankly, tears threatening to fall at any moment.
" For what? " Robin looked at him, very confused.
" For what my dad did to you. " Finney voice broke.
" It's not your fault. I never liked that dickhead anyway! " Robin assured him, and was satisfied to see Finney laughing.
Finney's laugh was contagious, if Finney laughed, Robin would too.
" Thanks for the food, " Finney places the spoon into the bowl, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. " Your mother's cooking is really nice! " Finney smiles, Robin's heart nearly jumps out of his chest.
Finney opens the door, walking out. Robin watches him from the kitchen window as he turns the corner, out of his sight. Robin exhales, he needed a much needed walk to clear his mind.
Putting on his shoes, he walks into town, passing by a grocery store, he catches a glimpse of Mr and.. Mr White, the two gay guys from his neighbourhood.
He stares at them for a while, actually, a part of him shoved deep down admires it, how they're so confident and proud, and they seem like they don't give a shit what people think.
Then he realises.
Who gives a fuck about who he dates? Sure, the girls in his school will probably be annoyed, but they'll forget about it in a few days, just like the dozens of boys that they've dated in the past month.
Robin breaks into a sprint to Finney's house, it's pouring now, but he doesn't care.
He knocks on Finney's window, brushing stray strands away from his face. Finney pushes the curtain away, opening the window, " Hey- " Robin kisses him.
He actually kisses him, and not even on the cheek too, a full on mouth to mouth kiss.
Finney is stunned when Robin pulls away. Robin smiles stupidly, scratching the back of his head.
" Finn, I kind of.. like you? " Robin chuckles. But Finney pulls him into another kiss.
" I like you too. "