Chapter Text
It was a normal Tuesday afternoon. Starcourt Mall wasn’t booming with people but still had kids screaming in the arcade. Women walked around with their huge shopping bags and few people were sipping smoothies from the nearby smoothie shop. The mall was playing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper.
Scoops Ahoy had a few people eating ice cream inside. Steve was busy in the front flirting with a pretty girl. Robin nudged his shoulder and he immediately gave the girl an ice cream and bid her goodbye.
‘You got to stop flirting with girls in the middle of work’, Robin said with a frustrated expression.
‘Technically, the girls buy ice cream here because of me’, Steve said while ruffling his hair.
Robin rolled her eyes and proceeded to take the next customer’s order. It was a little boy with a navy blue striped shirt and white shorts.
“What would you like to have?”
The boy put his hands inside his pocket and looked at Robin with a frown.
“I don’t have money. But, I really wanted to eat chocolate ice cream. I heard it is really good”
Poor boy. Robin gave him a small smile and scooped up chocolate ice cream.
“Here you go, little guy. It’s on the house.”
The boy looked at her with glowy eyes. He thanked her and walked away licking the ice cream.
“Robin, are you kidding me? No way that kid didn’t have any money on him.”, Steve growled.
“I didn’t have a problem. Besides it is my money”, Robin retaliated.
“You are going to get into trouble soon”, Steve said while crossing his arms.
While the two continued bickering, a sudden cough interrupted them. Both of them turned their heads and saw Nancy and two other girls on either side of her.
Nancy. Nancy Wheeler. The prettiest girl in Hawkins High. She had blue eyes like the ocean. Robin could stare at them all day. It was like the world slowed down. Her baby pink lipstick gave a soft glow to her face. Robin felt her cheeks getting warm.
“Hey Nance! What can I get you?”
Steve's voice broke Robin out of her trance and she quickly looked down. Shit. She stared at her for too long. `
“I will have the vanilla ice cream”, Nancy said.
The other girls ordered the same. While Steve was busy scooping ice cream, Nancy looked at Robin. They locked eyes. Robin got tense and gave a nervous smile.
“Here you go, Nance. I hope you enjoy it", Steve smiled.
The two girls proceeded to gush over Steve's endearment towards Nancy. Nancy stared daggers at them and left the parlor.
“Same old Nancy Wheeler”, Steve sighed while ruffling his hair.
Did Steve still like her? But, they broke up and she was with Jonathan now. Also, why is she with him? He isn’t even that popular. What do these men have that Robin doesn’t? Of course she knew why Nancy liked them more than her. She is straight. She likes boys. Like everyone else. Robin was the odd one out.
“Hello, Earth to Robin?”
Steve once again succeeded in interrupting her from her thoughts.
“Sorry. Got distracted. I need to go to the bathroom. Be right back”, Robin quickly replied and rushed outside the parlor. She scurried through the hallways looking for the bathroom sign.
She needed to stop crushing on Nancy. Unrequited love is a pain in the ass. But it is better to live with that than be the next clown of Hawkins High.
She swung open the bathroom door and her eyes widened. Nancy Wheeler. This was not the best day for Robin.
She gave half-wave to her and Nancy ignored her. Robin went to the wash basin and washed her hands. She glanced at Nancy reapplying her lipstick. Then, she took her pink eyeshadow and brush. She dabbed the brush on the eye shadow and started painting her eyes. It suits her blue eyes.
Nancy suddenly stopped and caught Robin staring at her.
“What are you looking at?”, Nancy demanded with a scowl.
Robin’s face went pale. This was bad. She probably thought she was weirdo looking at girls doing makeup.
“Nothing. You are just very pret- I mean I like your eyeshadow”, Robin babbled. Way to mess up Robin Buckely. Prepare for your already damaged reputation to go even low.
Nancy’s mouth twitched. She stepped closer to her. Robin slowly stepped back.
“What is your deal?”,Nancy demanded, crossing her arms.
Robin was stunned. She didn’t know what to say. What did Nancy mean by that? Is she mad at her?
“Nancy, I didn’t mean to stare at you”, Robin murmured
“I didn’t mean that, dummy. I was asking you about Steve. Do you like him?”, Nancy growled
“Steve? Why would I like him?”
“Oh! I don’t know probably because you spend a lot of time with him”, Nancy burst out.
Robin finally understood why Nancy was upset. Of course she liked Steve ‘the hair’ Harrington. Just like every other girl in school. But, isn’t she with Jonathan?
“I don’t like him like that, Nancy. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m not going to steal him”, Robin said sadly.
“I don’t like him. I like you”, Nancy shouted and covered her mouth.
No way. Nancy Wheeler likes the weirdo Robin Buckely. She probably heard her wrong. But, she felt like she was flying and her heart wouldn’t stop beating. Robin looked at her with glowy eyes and Nancy had a pale face.
Nancy sprinted to the door and ran out. Robin followed her and screamed her name. But, the brown haired woman was nowhere in sight.
Robin frowned and went back to the parlor.
“Wow, you look like shit.”, Steve stated.
“Shut up Steve. Let us get back to work”, Robin said, taking the next customer.
It was painful falling for a straight girl. It is even more painful to fall for a straight girl who tells you she likes you. Robin is never falling in love with straight girls again.