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“C’mon Rob, go for it.”
It was the middle of October and the ‘fruity four’ as Steve had called them, were out on their weekly dinner and arcade night. Steve and Robin were walking behind Nancy and Eddie on their way home, wrapped up in coats, hats and scarves, apart from Nancy.
“Look she’s got to be cold it’s freezing out, just offer her your jumper to start, I’m telling you she likes you back.”
“It’s not that easy Steve. I know you dated her but she won’t ever like me of all people back and she isn’t like us, just leave it okay?”
He didn’t reply, instead, he walked up to Eddie grabbed his hand and said:
“I think I left my wallet at the diner, I’m going to go get it, Eddie can keep me company.” Eddie’s face flushed red at the mention of his name, nodding as he turned around, hand still laced with Steve’s. He gave Robin a wink, then started walking back down the pavement, leaving the two girls alone.
They stood facing each other for a minute before Nancy cleared her throat.
“Typical Steve.”
“Yeah. I’m surprised he realised,” Robin said, trying to sound convincing, twisting the ring on her thumb.
“So do you want to head back? As the boys aren’t going back yet, we could stay out longer.”
“Uh yeah sure. I know this coffee place close to us and they make the best hot chocolates in the world. They’re like if Jesus was a drink. “
“Well if they’re that good, I guess I have to try one,” Nancy said, playfully punching her shoulder. Robin took a step forward, crunching a leaf, Steve’s words circling in her head.
“You’reshiveringdoyouwantmyjumper?” she blurted out, staring at the floor.
“Sorry, what was that?”
“You look cold,” she paused “Would you like my jumper?”
Nancy began to reply but Robin cut her off, her eyes still directed at the pavement.
“Of course, you don’t need to. I’m sure you’re not wearing a jumper because you’re not cold and don’t want one and I’m just interfering with what you already planned and I’m getting in the way of it like I always do. I’m sorry and I-”
“Rob, look at me.”
She kept her head down.
“Robin,” Nancy reached up to her chin and pulled it up slightly, making eye contact with the taller girl.
“Don’t talk like that about yourself, you don’t deserve that. You’re the best person I know Rob.”
“Sure,” Robin said, rolling her eyes.
“Hey, I’m serious and I’ll take you up on the jumper offer.”
She took it off, the knitted picture of a cat turning inside out and handed it to Nancy.
“Help me?” a smile formed on Robin’s face as she pulled it over her head and through her arms, trying to look anywhere but her eyes. The jumper was very worn and ridiculously oversized; Robin wore baggy jumpers anyway, but she loved it nonetheless. She linked their arms, “Thanks Rob, it’s comfy, lead the way.”
The pair walked arm in arm down the street, Robin talking about the underappreciation of rats and how she wants to adopt all of them. Nancy loved it when she rambled, blissfully unaware, her brain focusing on a random topic that she’d always been so passionate about. She almost envied Robin for being decisive about who she was and what she stood for once she opened up to a person.
Robin stopped suddenly in her tracks.
“Oh shit, we just passed it. Sorry, I got lost in my rambling,” her heartbeat quickened, anticipating an annoyed reaction from the girl she’d been annoying all night.
“No worries, I get to listen to you some more,” Nancy blushed as soon as she finished talking, she rubbed the back of her neck not knowing what to say.
After a moment, she lifted her eyes, meeting Robins's teary ones, somehow even more mesmerizing bathed in the warm light of the streetlamp above them. Nancy moved her hand to cup her cheek, instantly warming her hand. She ran her thumb over the many freckles scattered across the taller girl’s face.
“Nance,” Robin whispered and melted into her touch. “No one has ever said that to me before, usually I just irritate people then they leave or tell me to.”
Nancy got closer; she could now feel Robin’s breath against her cheek.
“Those people are stupid. I love it when you ramble, you have passion and that’s what makes you so very special.”
Robin was now crying so pulled Nancy into an impossibly tight hug, placing a kiss on the top of her head, nuzzling into her hair.
“Your hair smells like coconut, I like it,” she said, slightly muffled.
Nancy smiled, “Thanks.”
They stayed like that for a while, before Robin suggested they should get to the coffee shop before it closed.
It was nearly empty, a few people here and there studying with their friends. Orange and cream fairy lights were draped around the walls and fake pumpkins and cobwebs on each table. Robin walked up to the counter, Nancy following behind her.
“Hey, could I get two oat milk hot chocolates please?”
“Sure thing, that’ll be $2.50,” Robin went to get the cash out of her pocket until Nancy pushed her hand away, giving the guy the money first. They moved over to the collect side of the counter.
Before Robin could protest, Nancy spoke, “Hey, it’s my treat, think of it as a thank you for the jumper, which I may just have to steal.”
Robin gasped dramatically, “How dare you take my beloved jumper, I can’t be apart from Mrs Wiskers.”
“Mrs Wiskers?” Nancy teased.
“Yeah, the cat looks like my old one who died a few years back, so it’s my favourite.”
“That might just be the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m still going to have to take it though.”
Robin started tickling the side of her stomach.
“Stop it. Rob stop,” Nancy managed to get out whilst cackling, “Pe-people are staring.”
“Say you’ll give me my jumper back then.”
Nancy was about to give in, when the barista cut in, smiling “Two oat milk hot chocolates.”
Robin took her hands off her and took the drinks muttering a thanks. “You got lucky Wheeler,” she said, walking to a table in the corner, with two sofas facing opposite each other.
They sat down, Robin putting her foot up on the chair and resting her arm on her knee. “They have oat milk in them, which I’ve not had anywhere else and it’s heaven,” she said, handing the drink to her. “Nancy Wheeler, are you ready to experience the best drink of your life?”
“I think so.”
“Okay. 3,2,1 drink!”
They both took a sip, Robin waiting for a reaction.
“That was brilliant,” Nancy said, going in for another sip.
“See? I know all of the best coffee shops.”
“Yeah, you really do.”
Full of Robins ramblings, the pair finished up their hot chocolates and stayed there talking until the shop was about to close. “Oh my God, it’s 11:30 already!” Robin realised, halfway through a conversation about how cats are obviously better than dogs.
“Oh yeah, I guess we better get going,” Nancy said, as they both walked out of the shop.
“So, I’ll see you soon Rob.”
“Wait, you can’t walk at this time of night, let me give you a lift.”
“Don’t worry, I’d be getting in your way.”
“No it’s okay, really, I don’t want you to walk.”
The warmth of the hot chocolate suddenly hit Nancy, along with a wave of tiredness, leaving her too tired to argue.
“Okay, you win. Thank you, Rob.”
The ride back was laced in comfortable silence and a half-asleep Nancy Wheeler curled up in the passenger seat of Robin’s dying Jeep pickup truck.
Robin insisted that she say goodbye at the door to make sure she’d get in safely, so both of them clambered out of the car, approaching the front of the house.
“Tonight was really fun, thanks for suggesting the hot chocolate.”
“No problem, I did say that they’re the best.”
Nancy chuckled, “Maybe we could explore more of your magical coffee places?”
Momentarily, Robin paused, attempting to form a slightly coherent answer.
“Uh, yeah. That would be really nice,” she was glad it was dark out so Nancy couldn’t see the otherwise noticeable blush, flooding her face.
Nancy knew that she should just go in but she couldn’t help herself. Before she knew it, her lips were on Robins. She briefly stiffened but kissed her back, grabbing her waist to pull her closer, her other hand landing in her hair.
Nancy pulled back first, her breath heavy, cheeks flushed, and an unfamiliar smile spread across her face. She cleared her throat, “I’ll see you soon then Rob,” she squeezed Robin’s hand, opened the door, then stepped into the house, the door closing behind her.
Dumbfounded, Robin stood there for a while, before walking back to her car. Her way home consisted of confused thoughts but a satisfying feeling of comfort rooted deep in her chest.