Chapter Text
I’m not sure right when it started, but the shift was definitely there. October, I wasn't sure who to tell or if I should tell anyone. I'd never seen Robin so distant before. I mean I knew her, I knew how she was when she was sad, when she had a crush, but this…this was so different it was scary. like she was a switch that got flipped off.
I pushed the stack of movies across the counter and counted the cash as the customer walked out the door. Robin was putting away movies, eyes completely focused on Night of the Living Dead and refusing to meet mine.
“Hey idiot, what's up with you?” i say jokingly like normal, putting the cash into the register
“Im fine” she says, turning away from me and walking down the isle
I stood up from the counter I was leaning on, head filled with worry of what could be wrong. She was never like this. I was forcefully snapped out of my worry from the door opening and another customer coming in.
“Welcome to family video, I'm Steve, that's Robin. Let us know if we can help with anything" I say in the same monotone voice I use every time I have to repeat that intro. At least it's better than “ahoy” I guess.
“Steve?” I hear a soft voice from behind me. I know it's robin, but her voice is never like that.
“Yeah?” I say turning just my head while still leaning on the counter. Attempting to keep a little bit of normal.
“I’m gonna go on my break.”
“Oh. ok…”
I let myself think again, what is wrong with her? She's never been like this. Ever. I'm so confused. Robin doesn't really have any other close friends. I could ask if they knew what was happening, so I was alone. Was she getting bored of me? Does she think I still have a crush on her? “Fuck” i murmur under my breath. What if she did think that? I cannot lose robin. She's literally the only friend I have that's my age. I was planning to tell her about my feelings about Eddie and asking her if it was a desire to be his friend or–
Slam
I jumped, snapping out of my trance as the customer that came in earlier and placed down the movie he chose.
“Uh sorry, how long is the rent?”
“Just one night”
“Got it. 4 dollars”
The customer hands me the cash and they take the movie.
I look at the time and see it's been 10 minutes. Robin's break is over. I walk into the break room and find her just sitting there with her knees to her chest, and her sleeves rolled up.
“Robin?” I say, peering around the corner.
She jumps and pulls her sleeves down quickly before I even see her arms. It was a very warm fall, I was sweating in just my shirt and stupid vest.
“Uh your break is over”
“I KNOW Steve, I'm coming ok? Back off. Just go away…”
I recoil at her outburst, robin is definitely different. she just looks back at the ground with a sickening grimace on her face, so i walk away with a barely audible “ok…”
I somehow make it through the rest of my shift not talking to robin besides a few ‘ok’s’ and maybe a couple “could you please put these away?”
I grab my bag and my keys.
“Robin? Im uh im heading out, do you need a ride?”
“No it's fine” she responds immediately, not turning her head away from her bag, still refusing eye contact.
“Mhm”
The bell rings as I open the door. I see the sun setting and wish I could talk to robin about how some cheesy rom com couple would absolutely love this and debate what they would be eating at their picnic on top of a hill. I reluctantly get into the front seat of my car and take a breath. I slip the keys in and turn I drive home, head full of unanswered questions about robin.