TITLE: Friend In Me
AUTHOR: Drifter (Werewolf Phoenix)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own 'em, nor am I making money from 'em.
INFO: Ignore the lame title-there was a distinct lack of inspiration there. Pairing: Robbie/Kim (eventually!) So if ya don't like slash, read this with your eyes closed. I will write more if people want me to.
"Hey Tash!"
The words came from behind us, spoken in the now familiar yet annoyingly grating voice of Duncan Stewart.
Kim, Tasha and I glanced at each other and without having to speak decided to ignore him. However, this turned out hard to do. I mean, have you ever tried to ignore the most persistent and irritating guy ever to turn up in Summer Bay?
He sped up and moved ahead of us, forcing us to stop. "What do you want?" Kim asked in a tone which clearly told Duncan he didn't really care.
Duncan ignored Kim and took a step closer to Tasha. I glared and tried to look angry and threatening, but even though it was how I felt, I had never been able to pull off angry and threatening looks.
"Why don't you ditch these two girls and come hang with me?" Duncan asked Tasha in that affected tone of his.
"I don't think so, Duncan," Tasha replied. "I wouldn't hang with you if you were the only person left in Summer Bay."
"Yeah, you'd rather go and live with the snakes and bugs in the bush than stick around real people," Duncan said, losing his false friendly tone as he was shunned and unnecessarily referring to Tasha's past.
"Hey, that's way outta line," I said, not quite achieving the scary tone I was aiming for.
Duncan smirked and all but laughed in my face. "Shut up Roberta," he spat. "I don't know what a great girl like Tash sees in you, Four-eyes. She should be with a real man."
Although I didn't respond his words hurt, bringing back painful memories of bullies and my father...
"Like you, you mean?" Kim was saying, eyebrow raised, a look of amusement on his face. "Why don't you get lost and go find your fellow cockies to hang around with. You'll have more in common with them."
Tasha laughed at Kim's allusion to Duncan's insectoid ancestry. I grinned too, the look on Duncan's face was priceless. I wished I had a camera.
"Fine," Duncan hissed. "Stay here with the Geek-Girl and the Show Pony. I have better things to do with my time." He turned on his heel and marched off toward the Diner.
Tasha was giggling. "I would rather be friends with cockroaches than with him," she said with a smile.
"Forget him," Kim said. "He's nothing." He glanced at me and I realized he had picked up on my feelings when Duncan had insulted me. Damn, I thought I hadn't shown that. I'd become pretty good at hiding my feelings when around Dad. But then, Kim had always been obsevent and sensitive.
Kim gave me an encouraging smile, then looked away and addressed both me and Tash. "Let's go get a shake."
We headed off toward the Surf Club. I took Tasha's had but kept my gaze on the ground as we walked. I wished Kim hadn't picked up on my discomfort before but he always had a way of making the situation better. Making me feel better.
