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Author's Note : thank you to all 1 of you that reviewed

Not My Place

Chapter 2 - The Disappointment

"Hey Robin!" a meek little voice sounded as they came out of the administration offices.

"Hey there Luke," Robin replied with an easy smile, "How did the science competition go?"

"First place!" the little freshman squeaked before noticing Marian and blushing bright red and practically running away. Robin just shook his head still grinning as the short boy ran off.

"Stop glaring or you'll scare everyone off Marian," Robin teased smirking at her. Marian's glare immediately intensified as she said, "I have a feeling that it's a natural reaction to your presence." Robin laughed and said, "But you're so much prettier when you smile," Marian tried to keep the scowl on her face, but it slid into a grin as Robin charmed her.

"Rob! Yo dude!" a loud booming voice called out to them. A big burly guy came tumbling towards them; his mop of curly blonde locks bouncing, "Did ya hear man? We're in the championships. We play the Loyola next week, you better help us practice this week those plays you drew up for us were un-fricken-believable!"

"It was all you guys," Robin said shaking his head modestly, "But I'll definitely be at the game Emmet." The guy, Emmet apparently, clapped Robin on the shoulder and gave Marian an appreciative look before continuing on.

"So Marian, where to first?" Robin asked. "Ummm my locker maybe?" she asked, and handed him the piece of paper with the building on it. "Alright," and they started walking towards a large brick building. Robin was still examining the paper Marian had given him and she took that time to take in the campus. It truly was beautiful. There were trees everywhere; it looked more like a dense forest than it did a school. Marian could tell that unless you knew the school it would be very easy to get lost; she groaned. "What?" Robin asked. "It's just, look at this campus Robin! I'm going to get so lost!"

"That's why you have me," Robin said charmingly, she just rolled her eyes, which again caused him to laugh. She just couldn't understand him at all. Every time she was rude he just laughed, as if he found her entertaining and had never seen someone roll their eyes at him before. Plus there was the uncomforting fact that the headmaster had been right, practically every person they had passed had smiled or waved or said hi to Robin; in Seattle people normally avoiding the popular kids like the plague they didn't flock to them. It was all very backwards.

They'd reached the large brick building and Robin pulled the door open for her, his hand immediately went to the small of her back to guide her in. Marian nearly gasped. The moment his hand touched her back through the thin material of her shirt she felt like she was suddenly a thousand different places all at once. She felt like she had been in that same position, his hand caressing, dare she say it, lovingly, the small of her back a thousand different times, like it was a causal gesture that they had done since forever. Warmth spread through her whole body like liquid honey that gave off electrical sparks.

She quickly walked through the door and out of his reach before he could notice her strange behaviour, because that couldn't be normal could it? "Take the stairs on your left," Robin said and Marian nodded and began to climb, but out of the corner of her eye she saw the hand Robin had touched her with tightly balled up into a fist, so tightly that the knuckles were white. Her mind was filling with questions, but she tried to act as normal as possible, which for her meant snarky sarcastic comments, luckily he seemed to be almost better at bantering than she was.

Robin had shown her to all of the rooms her classes were in; apparently they shared over ½ of them together. She knew he was purposefully extending the tour, but she didn't know if it was to get out of class or because he genuinely liked her.

In the few hours since they'd met Marian felt as if she and Robin were the best of friends already, there was just something about him that put her completely at ease, but then she would wonder if he was that way with everyone and the ease was gone.

"So, now to show you something truly helpful," Robin said leading her away from the school walkways and into the dense grouping of trees that surrounded the school on all sides. "Robin are we even allowed to go in there?" Marian asked.

"Of course not, this is highly against the rules," Robin replied, "That's why its important to not get caught," Marian was about to protest, but then Robin said, "Unless your to scared to go? Because then we just stay on the trail and I can show you library again?" he offered a mischievous sparkle in his eye. He knew she wouldn't turn down such a thinly veiled challenge. "Lead the way," was Marian's reply.

~ 20 minutes later ~ Deep in the Heart of the Forest

Marian sighed contentedly as she and Robin made their way under the canopy of leaves that whispered in the breeze. "Bored?" Robin asked leaning against a tree, his arms crossed over his broad chest and his hair falling into his eyes slightly, his lips were shaped in their customary grin, but she could tell it was fake.

"Not at all," the grin became real, "Just sort of…happy and homesick all at once," Marian explained. When he cocked an eyebrow she felt the need to elaborate. "Seattle is a big city, but it's surrounded by huge forests on account of all the rain. It's practically a sea of green. I lived in the city, but I had horses near the forests and spent a lot of my time there, I've always loved them, the forests."

Robin smiled as he watched her ice blue eyes take on a glassy dreamy look as she told him about her home. He found himself irrationally pleased that they shared a love of the forest, he found himself irrationally glad that she seemed to be enjoying herself, and in fact he found himself irrationally happy the entire time he'd been around her.

"Well these forests are not only pretty, but they are quickest way anywhere, if you know their secrets," Robin told her.

"But I don't know their secrets," Marian pointed out unnecessarily.

"Well why did you think I brought you out here?" he asked laughing.

"So that you could murder me and not have to worry about cleaning up the mess?" she suggested, when in actuality she hadn't even questioned him, it just seemed sort of weirdly natural to follow him and know she would be in no danger. He laughed and said, "You'll fit in perfectly with the gang."

"Bloods or crypts?" she asked sarcastically.

"Well look who brushed up on her L.A. stereotypes before moving," he teased laughing when she stuck her tongue out at him, "But seriously they'll love you."

"Ahh but will I love them," she questioned philosophically.

"You wont be able to resist their charms," Robin said confidently.

"You simply must tell me more then," she requested sitting down on a large tree root, and Robin sat by the tree across from her, the soles of their feet pressed up against each other.

"Well there's Much, he's been my friend since before I was even born, his family works with mine, so it was kind of inevitable, he knows me better than anyone," Marian watched as Robin's face adopted a gentleness to it when he spoke about Much, like he was talking about a younger brother, someone who needed to be protected, "And then there's Allan. God I cant even begin to describe Allan! He's such an asshole, but really, really deep down, past all the snarky and sarcastic comments is a good guy. He'll charm you over in a minute," Marian scoffed, but Robin just laughed and told her of Allan's status as a player in the school, "And Will too, you'll like him, everyone likes him. He's got the quiet artist type down, except minus the annoying brooding and cutter habits," Marian laughed, "He's actually refreshingly chivalrous, which the group need. He and Allan balance each other out; they were good friends before they joined our gang. And then there's Eve, she's a sweetheart, and she's got a major jones for Much. She can be a little flaky, but she's nice. Last but not least there's Djaq."

"Oooh are you going to try and set me up with Jack too, you know if it doesn't work out with Allan or Will," Marian teased.

Robin laughed and said, "Sorry Djaq's already taken."

"Aww shucks," Marian said sarcastically.

"…By me," Robin finished.

Marian froze. Had she heard him right?

"What?"

"Yea, we've been dating for almost 7 months now, oh and its D-J-A-Q, as in djaq, a girl. She's been my girlfriend for almost 7 months," Robin was grinning. Marian gave a forced chuckle, but on the inside she felt as if she'd been electrocuted. He was taken!?!?!! She mentally scolded herself for developing such a crush so quickly, but she couldn't help it. She felt like she was supposed to be with him.

Marian shook her head and cleared all thoughts from it. He had been flirting with her; that much she was sure of, and there was definitely chemistry between them, but she steadfastly refused to help any guy cheat on his girlfriend. She glanced up at Robin who was animatedly explaining about how fan-fucking-tastic Djaq was, but damn all she could focus on was how adorably cute he looked.

She shook her head again and pinched the inside of her elbow. Clearly she could not rely on her self-control to keep her from trying to break them up, which is where her first instinct had gone. If she was being totally honest with herself when he had said "by me" her first thought had been "well not for long" she didn't deserve such a nice guy, she knew that. She didn't quite trust herself around him, and she vowed she would stay away from him.

"Sorry Robin," she cut him off suddenly, "Not that they don't all sound really great, but I'd like a chance to make my own friends." She was being rude, she knew that, but Robin seemed oblivious of that fact, or he was tactfully choosing to ignore it.

"Of course! I don't mean to pressure you into anything, but if you find yourself needed a table to sit at, feel free to come and join us." He didn't even seem remotely disappointed, only abashed for assuming she'd jump at the chance to join their gang, which of course sent her off into a frenzy wondering how much of his 'flirting' she had misinterpreted, maybe he was only trying to be nice. She pinched the inside of her elbow.