Chapter Text
finney walked down the road with gwen, headed towards the usual corner shop. they didn’t feel the need to fill the air with small talk or unfunny jokes, they were fine with the sound of their breathing and leaves crushing beneath their feet. plus there really wasn’t much to talk about.
it was a cold day, seeing as early january was never really warm, and finney was shivering from the lack of jacket, having convinced gwen (who was up to her ears in warm clothing, beanie and all) that it wasnt that cold and he had gotten used to the cold (he hadn’t).
the grab n go was just a couple steps away, and finn could handle the cold.
as they walked into the store, gwen immediately beelined to the pinball machine, her and bruce watching attentively as vance tried to beat his high score. as long as she didn’t mess up his game, he wouldn’t cause a problem, and he was usually nice to her, seeing as she was with finneys, who was friends with bruce.
finney greeted the nice old lady behind the counter and made his way to the snack isle, grabbing a couple of chocolates and sweets, as well as two cans of cola and some crisps, a pout forming on his lips when he noticed there were no more of his favourite. he shrugged and made his way to the counter, paying for his things before joining gwen and bruce, watching vance.
“hey, finney. whats up?” vance didn’t look away from the machine as he spoke, but he gave him a curt nod, tongue poking from in between his lips.
“the sky?” finney smiled at bruce as he bursted out laughing, it was easy to make bruce laugh but it always brought a smile to everyone’s face. bruce was like the sun.
“finney, stay funny, my friend!” his tone was cheerful, and his hand had raised up to rest on finneys shoulder.
“FUCK YEAH!” vance let out, everyone in the store flinching, waiting for vance to start throwing punches or something, apart from bruce, he was used to it.
“well, im gonna go to susies, now, you staying here, finney?” gwen cleared her throat, putting her beanie and gloves back on.
“well, i guess im going home too, then. dont forget to call when you get there.” finney reminded as they both walked out the door, the taller holding the door open for her.
“i wont, dad! have fun!” she joyfully sprinted off, a warm smile forming on finneys face.
he debated going the short way to his house, seeing as he was freezing his butt off, but decided on taking the long way around, finally having some time alone to think.
and so, he crossed the road, getting ready for the half hour walk.
as he walked down the street, bag os snacks in hand, finney blake finally admitted to himself that it was cold, no, it was freezing. however he didn’t let himself turn around.
the crunch beneath his feet lulled him in, hypnotic and addicting, and he didn’t hesitate to slow his pace, wind like sharp knives against his blushed cheeks. if anyone saw him right now, they might think he’s absolutely insane, and maybe he was, but at least he was happy, or so he tried to convince himself.
he shivered as a car drove past, his heart skipping a beat or two as it started to reverse towards him.
“is that you, finney blake?”
“uh? oh! robin! hey, n-nice seeing you here?” he mentally face palmed when it came out like more of a question than a statement.
“finney i live here..” robin pointed to the house two doors away from the one they were in front of. finney knew that. not only had he stuttered in front of robin fucking arellano, but he had absolutely embarrassed himself in front of him.
“yeah… i know- i mean, yeah nice! ive seen you walk to school thats how i know that thats your house, im not a creep or anything! ive only been in this neighbourhood a couple of times actually, its a nice house, really, very nice! me and gwen always wanted a house like that! not in a creepy way tho- why would that be creepy in any way, oh my god what am i saying?” he groaned and visibly shrinked.
he was too cold for this.
“you’re cute, finn. cmon hop in, you look cold.” robin didn’t seem to mind his nervous rambling and unlocked the door to his toyota FJ60, a car he knew robins unce had gotten him for his 17th birthday.
finney got in the car, head hung low in embarrassment.
“look up, finney, i need you to tell me the way.”
“oh. ye-yeah sorry.” finney messed with his fingers, eyes focused in front of him. “its just- go straight.”
“right, so what are you doing in this weather dressed like that, wandering around with snacks alone?” robin eyed finney shortly.
“turn right here.” he pouted, embarrassed at his state. “i thought it would be better outside, gwenny did warn me tho. i came from the grab n go, was gonna watch some movies.” he bit his lip nervously. “take the next left and then its just straight, last house to the left, cant miss it.”
robin nodded, having been listening carefully.
“you need to take better care of yourself finney, i wouldnt want you to get a cold or anything. listen to gwen next time, yeah?”
and finney fucking blushed like a teenage girl who just got asked out by her crush. he felt like a teenage girl.
“y-yeah…”
“so what movie are we watching?”
“well i was planning on watching back to the future, maybe jaws and- wait, we?” finney whipped his head around, eyes almost comically popping out of their sockets.
“yeah, finn, aint no way im gonna leave you to watch movies alone, wouldn’t wanna miss it.” robin arellano smiled at him, and finney thought that if he died right there he wouldve died a happy man. finney just looked at him.
no, he stared at robin arellano.
“finney, we’re here.”
that startled finney, as he jumped out of the car and went to open the door, fumbling with the keys. he heard robin chuckle behind him as he dropped the keys.
if there was a killer after him, he would definitely be dead.
“calm down, finn, whats the rush?” robin walked over to the door, carrying his bag of snacks.
“oh my god, im sorry i left you to take that, im sorry.”
“hey, finn, calm down.” finney flushed embarrassingly and nodded, finally getting the door opened. he went in and motioned for robin to follow him.
“i would show you around but… i wasn’t expecting company and everything’s a mess… sorry.” finney went over to pick the movies, but hesitated. “what… what do you wanna watch?” he looked back at robin, who head made himself comfortable on the couch, man spreading with an arm behind the couch. it made finney blush.
“do you have texas chainsaw massacre? or the shining, or jaws? anything horror.”
“i think i have… the shining.”
“nice, i never pegged you for a horror fan.” robin chuckled, and looked around.
finney had never been more flustered.
there he was, kneeling in front of the tv while his crush, robin arellano, was on his couch, waiting for him.
when he was done putting the move on finney crawled to the couch and sat as far away from him as possible, not wanting to embarrass himself, or worse, weird robin out.
“im not, i hate horror movies, these are gwennys.” finney curled up on himself, knees pressing into his chest.
“why are you so far away, flaco, cmon, i dont bite.” his voice went slightly deeper when he spoke in spanish and it made finneys stomach twist and turn, butterflies spreading over his gut.
“s-sorry.” he scooted closer to robin, the arm that was behind the couch could easily wrap around his shoulders, and the thought made finney giggle.
“whats so funny, uh?” robin looked over at finney, eyebrow raised.
“no-nothing!”
“okay…” robin smiled softly and directed his attention back to the movie.
the rest of the movie was spent in silence, finney somehow ending up almost on top of robin, legs thrown over his lap and head resting on his shoulders, robins arm had dropped over his shoulders, holding him tightly.
finney had noticed that robin smelled good. like cologne and deodorant, a hint of cigarettes and sweat. it made finney flush, and he was glad that night had set and they hadn’t turned on the lights.
when the movie finished, finney stretched and rubbed his eyes. he had fallen asleep for the last twenty minutes of the movie and was only awakened my robin reaching over to place his soda on the coffee table.
“slept well, finney blake?” his voice was deep, deeper than usual and finney didn’t know if it was because he was still kinda out of it, but he surely wasn’t complaining.
“yeah, the best i’ve slept in months.”
“always here to help, corazón.”
oh god, finney was sure he would pass out any minute now.
he stood up and went to put the remaining snacks away, seeing as robin had drank the extra soda he bought for himself, so there really wasnt any drinks to put away.
“well, i should get going. my uncle is expecting me for dinner.”
“i’ll walk you out!” finney rushed over to robin, hand wrapping around the olders wrist.
robin had gotten a cigarette out of his pocket and was now holding it between his lips, ligher in hand.
“hm.” it was silent for a minute before raising his hand towards finney, offering him a cigarette. “i hope to see you again, finney blake. for another date.” finney just stared at the stick on robins hand, mouth wide open as he processed the boys words.
this was a date. he was on a date with robin arellano.
“y-yeah…” he absentmindedly took the cigarette, he didn’t even smoke.
“call me!” robin ran over to his car, as it had started to rain, but it was not too heavy yet.
“i- i dont-!” before he could finish, robin had already gotten into his car and driven off. “have your number…”
finney sighed and looked down at the cigarette, going back into his house.
“stupid, stupid!” finney pulled at his hair, sitting back down on the couch, the couch where he and robin had basically cuddled on.
“of course he was just being nice! didn’t even give me his number. i dont even smoke, why did i- oh.” he cut himself off as he inspected the object. on the side of the cigarette were a couple of numbers scribbled messily.
his jaw was again, on the floor, and his cheeks were red and burning.
robin arellano had given him his number.