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Robin has spent ages planning this. She’s going to confess to Vickie because it is weird, not saying anything to the person she’s crushing on even though Robin’s been crushing on her far longer than they’ve been hanging out but hell, Steve confessed when he was coming off of Russian drugs and had spent the summer with Robin giving him shit for being bad at flirting so.
Whatever. Vickie is a good person and Robin’s friend and she’d like to think that it might be a little awkward when Vickie rejects her, but Vickie won’t go running to tell everyone. She’s good and nice and the rest of her friends haven't said a bad word about her and they would say something.
She had planned for it to happen after they’d eaten. They’d grabbed some burgers and taken a walk outside, finding a picnic bench that was pretty empty. Robin was going to eat, partake in whatever conversation Vickie started and then once they were done, she was going to say it and let Vickie walk away to think but instead it goes like this.
They sit down, Vickie takes a bite of her burger, narrowing her eyes at Robin and then asks,
“Robin, what’s wrong? You’ve been quiet and twitchy in a way that isn’t you.”
And that triggers Robin’s brain to think of all of the things she doesn’t want to say but does and it’s kind of a mess but her mouth is moving faster than her brain so she answers.
"So I like you? I have for like a while and I know you have a boyfriend but it feels bad? Not telling you? We're good friends and I like spending time with you but I feel guilty because, I guess, you don't know but I didn't want you to know and-" She stops to take a breath.
“I know everyone thinks I'm dating Steve but I'm not. Like he’s my best friend and I love him but it's totally Platonic. Capital P, I promise and I told him I liked you and he keeps asking if these are dates and I said I didn’t know and he said I should ask because he’s wildly optimistic and thinks maybe I have a chance but you're not saying anything, which is fine, I swear I can be normal about this, I will get over you but - "
"If I kiss you, will you shut up?" Vickie smiles, a hand under her chin.
"What? Robin stares, eyes wide and jaw dropping. Out of everything, that is not the response she expected. Not even in her wildest imagination. It’s something Steve would think though.
"I was hoping you'd run out of steam sooner than you did so I could actually respond." Now that Robin looks at her closely instead of looking at her own hands she can see that Vickie’s turned a soft shade of pink. The hand on her chin is tapping a nonsensical pattern and her leg is bouncing, jostling the table just slightly. Or maybe that bit is down to both of them, Robin’s leg hasn't stopped bouncing once throughout their hangout.
"Oh," Robin nods and shoves a handful of fries into her mouth to stay silent.
"I don't have a boyfriend anymore actually. Haven't in a while, really. He was dead set on me joining him at college which would've been nice but actually, he's several states away and with everything that's happened I'd rather be close to my parents you know?" Vickie shrugs, both hands folding on the table as she sits up a bit. Robin nods along, unable to do anything but stare and bite back questions.
"I've enjoyed hanging out with you. A lot. Like way more than with any of the other guys from band and way more than my ex? And I don't know. You're really pretty Robin," Vickie ducks her head and takes a long drink of her soda.
Vickie takes a while and just as Robin is about to open her mouth and ask one of the many, many questions bubbling right beneath the surface, Vickie continues.
"I figured I liked you pretty quickly after that. But I did think you were with Steve, you know. Like. You two are really, really always together? It’s cute but I am really glad you're friends? Like I was a little jealous of him actually? He hangs off you without a problem and you steal each other’s clothes and I'm really glad you're just friends. Because I like you. And I'm glad you like me too. As long as you, don't want to get over me?"
Vickies face is so, so pink and Robin kind of wants to touch her to see how warm her face is but she also kind of wants to squeeze her hands but there's salt and grease from the fries so that would be gross actually.
"Oh! You were asking, no, I don't want to get over you? Unless you don't want to date me?"
"No I want to!" Vickie’s hands latch onto Robin’s and she doesn't seem to care about the grossness and she squeezes, then relaxes. "I don't know how it works but, I figure it can't be too difficult?"
Vickie looks at her, eyes wide and hoping for some sign and Robin winces and bites her lip.
"I've never actually dated? Like anyone? I mean, there was Jamie but it was when I was 5 and I broke up with him because he took the last chocolate chip cookie so. . . I don't think it counts somehow?"
Vickie laughs and covers her mouth, snorting as her shoulders shake.
"I don't think it counts, Robin." She says eventually, once she's stopped laughing
"Then technically, you have more experience than me." Robin shrugs and hopes she manages to cover up how anxious she actually is about this. There are so many things to factor into dating. They're girls so it will look normal for them to be quite touchy with each other but. That doesn't mean it'll be easy. Robin’s friends will be chill. Nancy will be pleased, the party will probably try and pull Vickie into some comic argument she's sure. Steve will…
"Shit." Robin buries her head into her hands.
"What?" Vickie frowns, hand stretching across the table to take her wrist.
"Steve's going to be absolutely insufferable about being correct about you being into women."
"You talked about me to Steve?" At Vickie's tone, Robin pulls her hands from her face.
"He's my best friend and he figured me out in like, two seconds. It was really annoying actually."
Vickie snorts and takes Robin’s hand again.
"But he doesn't have a girlfriend. And you do." She freezes and the blush turns a more vibrant red. "Or I mean, you could? If you want?"
Robin raises an eyebrow at her, "you were so confident earlier, what happened?"
"I just wanted you to stop rambling so I could speak!" Vickie whines and pouts at her in response.
Robin just laughs and squeezes her hand, "I wouldn't mind. Just for future references."
"Noted." Vickie pouts for a little longer and then smiles, stealing the last of Robin’s fries.