Chapter Two: As the World Falls Down

Immediate grief was etched onto Steve's face as he looked at Billy and Emily together. His brows furrowed and his lips quivered ever so slightly. The cold burned his warm cheeks as it kissed them. He wanted to keep moving but his feet fell as though they were glued to the light snow. Other students clambered past him, bumping him as they passed, rushing towards the school's entrance. "Sorry, Steve," some of them murmured, while others simply glared at him. Robin, loyal as ever, just stared at him for a few minutes inquisitively. This was a reaction from him that she had never witnessed. Typically, Steve was cool, calm, collected, and funny.

"Earth to Steve!" She waved her hand in front of his face after allowing him to stand there for about twenty seconds. "Anyone in there?"

As if previously stuck in a trance, he blinked his eyes quickly and shook his head. He was doing his best to push the hurt away. Letting anyone bear witness to his emotions would do nothing for him. If anything, it would cause people to gossip. Concerned with appearances, he knew it was imperative that he quickly compacted any feelings that were evident to those near him. He glanced one final time at the pair who had stopped him in his tracks before allowing his gaze to fall to Robin.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm fine. Do you want me to carry your trumpet in?" Steve held his hand out to receive the carrying case.

Without hesitation, she shoved the heavy case containing her brass instrument into his hand. Any opportunity to relieve herself of that burden was one she would welcome. Lugging that thing through the hallways was nothing to scoff at. Using the case as his grounding source, Steve tightened his grip on the handle and forced himself through the crowd of students. As he passed through Billy and his degenerate friends, Steve resisted the urge to peek over his shoulder. That initial resounding blow was enough for him for one day.

Once through the initial crowd and in a less congested area of the school, Robin gave Steve a small shove. "Are you going to tell me what the hell that was? You just stopped like you had seen a ghost."

Aware of appearances, despite the fact he hadn't been moments ago, he quickly glanced around to make sure no one was paying much attention to them. "Sorry, I was just surprised that's all."

"Okay, by what? School isn't exactly new for you. Nor is snow. Or winter. Or the cold. Or people. So what was it that you just had to stop dead in your tracks?"

Steve ran his fingers through his long locks, disappointed in himself for having such a terrible reaction. He was usually good at masking his emotions.

"I just saw something that I wish I didn't."

"Will you stop with the charade? Just tell me what is going on, Steve!"

Robin was right. He was being silly about the whole thing. It didn't matter what was going on, or how much it bothered him. She was his best friend. His confidant. There wasn't much she didn't know about his life.

"You remember how Billy was my best friend for a little while?"

Robin nodded. "And?"

"And you remember that girl I've liked since 4th grade?"

She nodded again.

"Well, that's who I saw outside. Together."

"What do you mean together? Like in a band? Hanging out? Sucking face? Explain." Robin rattled off the inquiry so quickly. Her mouth could move at 100 words per minute it seemed sometimes.

"They were out there with his friends," he gestured behind them. "His arm was around her. And it didn't look friendly. It looked flirty. Like they were together."

Robin's brows furrowed and she looked behind them. Where they were standing now there wasn't a clear view to outside, but that didn't stop her from trying to see. Dissatisfied with the lack of view of the potential couple, the young girl pouted and returned to her friend.

"Are you sure you saw right, Steve? I mean, Billy was your best friend. Before me, of course." She fluffed her short hair dramatically. "Maybe they're just friends? Maybe they have a partner project for Biology due and that's why they're hanging out?"

"Looked more like chemistry to me," murmured the boy under his breath. "It doesn't matter, right? Let's just drop it. Maybe you're right and I just saw it wrong." He began walking down the hall again. "How about we put this in the band room and then I'll walk you to your locker? Sound good?"

Robin nodded slowly at him. Despite what he was saying, she could still see the displeasure written clearly on his face. He wasn't the best at concealing his emotions no matter what lies he told himself.

Fifteen minutes into second period, Steve overheard two cheerleaders speaking in hushed tones to one another. Considering their close proximity to him, it was impossible not to eavesdrop on their conversation. They were at the table adjacent to his.

"When did he start dating her?" The blonde cheerleader asked her redheaded friend.

"I don't know. They were never together before winter break, were they? Did we somehow miss that?"
"Nuh uh, there is no way we could have. And they're so different too."

The two girls who were discussing amongst themselves were two of the biggest gossips in the entire tenth grade. Millicent Jeffries and Danielle Bowdoin. Steve knew them well. They were nice enough girls, but in no way were they trustworthy. Anything newsworthy that they knew cycled throughout the entire school in less than a day. Everyone knew not to confide in them unless they wanted the attention from their life story being told over and over again. Neither of them had to use names, he knew exactly who they were discussing.

"Oh, I know they are. What clubs does she participate in again?"

Steve knew but he wasn't going to get involved in the conversation. He and Emily had been in the same class since Kindergarten. It wasn't until they got to high school that they started seeing each other less. Most of her classes were AP classes, while Steve was satisfied staying in the "normal" classes. They did share one class though: French. 5th period on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Listening to the two girls scrutinizing his crush's life made him uncomfortable. It wasn't fair that they were speaking about her behind her back. Emily was one of the kindest people he knew. Still, he knew if there was any information to gather, as much as he didn't want to know, it would come from these two.

"Cooking and Key Club, aren't those right?"

Danielle covered her mouth to try to stifle her laughter. "You mean she voluntarily signed up for those? Who is she trying to be? Charitable Betty Crocker?"

Steve ground his teeth together as he resisted the urge to interject into their conversation. There was no need to be so catty.

"She is very pretty though," added Millicent. "And him? He's so handsome. His eyes are so dreamy."

"But they couldn't be more different, could they? While she's making cupcakes, he's rolling and smoking joints, isn't he?"

Millicent gently batted at her friend's arm as laughter erupted from her. "Maybe that's what it is! She can satisfy his munchies!"

The teacher, who was writing notes on the chalkboard, twirled around quickly and glared at the two girls. "Is there something you two would like to share with the class? Hmm?"

Fear crossed both of their faces as they shook their head in unison. "No, we're sorry," Danielle answered almost immediately. "I smacked my funny bone. You know how that just makes you laugh. It won't happen again."

"Right. Well, it better not," the teacher responded before resuming the lesson.

That one interruption ceased their conversation on the matter. For the rest of the class, both of the girls were mousy and on their best behavior. Steve couldn't help being agitated. He wanted and didn't want to learn more. It was like pouring alcohol on a wound: it burned even though it was helpful. He needed to make sense of what was going on. It seemed so random to him.

The rest of the day progressed like a blur. Steve did his best to concentrate on his lessons, but none of them were able to hold his interests. He answered the teachers' questions when they called on him, took notes he typically would, but also spent time staring out the window or doodling. When the final bell rang, releasing them for the day, Steve beelined it for the bus. Usually, he would spend a brief few minutes talking to some of his buddies but he wasn't interested today. When he got on the bus, Robin was waiting for them in their preferred seat like she always was.

Disinterested in starting conversation, he quickly discovered that didn't stop Robin from speaking to him at a million words a minute. He was thankful for her in that moment. The distraction was a welcomed one. All he could do was hope that when he returned to school the next day, after sleeping on it, that he wouldn't be as bothered. He knew he was being dramatic, and he didn't really know why.

It wasn't until that night that he realized he felt betrayed.