"So what? He was just dead on the sidewalk?" One student asked, gaining Robin's attention, she was aware that there was a shooting from a failed robbery last night but she didn't think it would follow her to school.

It was all over the news this morning and her parents talked about it over coffee. Now she was hearing about it again. It was a group of students sitting at a breakfast table. She recognized most of them as members of the newspaper while others were trying to get as much information as possible. They were pouring over this morning news newspaper.

"Yeah apparently he was some kind of mob boss fugitives wanted for so many crimes like trafficking and kidnapping. The police thought it was a robbery gone wrong but now that he's been identified as Horice Slug they're not sure what to think." Kim told the crowd eagerly. She seemed a little too excited about a man's death but seeing as she was head of the newspaper and her father was a head reporter of Townsville Tribune it wasn't that strange. The town hardly ever got something worth reporting about so this must of been a major break.

"Someone that dangerous was living in Townsville?"

"That's the thing though he wasn't living here. He was last seen as a Kanas no one knows why he went such a long way just to come to Townsville." Kim explained setting the paper down Robin took the opportunity to read the front.

"Leader of the trafficking world found dead on Townsville pavement?" Which was an absolutely horrifying hook if you asked her.

"So why do you think he was here?" Mary asked and Kim sighed. "Who knows but it's the first bit of news even worth mentioning in this boring city."

"What do you mean?" Mary asked again.

"What do I mean , how could you honestly not know I mean nothing ever happens here. Nothing bad at least this is abnormal especially for a town as big as ours." Kim rolled her eyes then she flipped open the page.

"I mean we never have a robbery or." She trailed off once she saw the crowd around her start to shift there from interested to concerned. Cautiously she reconstructed her sentence with another sigh. "It just feels like this towns a little too perfect , you know."

Robin's head inclined almost by instinct over towards her best friends since 1st grade. They were huddled at the back at their usual table. The girls all looked extremely tired which caused Robin to sigh. "Hey Kim, you wouldn't happen to have a copy of the paper would you?"

"Of course i do," The girl nodded flipping open a messenger bag she had today's issue lining the bag. "For five bucks." Robin almost glared at the reporter's shit eating grin but gave her the money and headed to her table.

The girls in the back kept mostly to themselves especially in the morning but Robin had been friends with the four since 1st grade since all sisters she always felt like the special exception to their little tight knit group. Like she was chosen to be something no one ever was. Their closest friend.

"You guys look dead." Her joke was only half funny due to the fact that they looked like a meteor had paid them a visit by crashing on their heads. Even Blossom who was always so poised and composed had her high ponytail slightly lopsided. Which may have seemed like a minor detail to others but Robin knew it was a major malfunction for Blossom. Her pink eyes were the first to look up at her longtime friend.

"It was a long night at the diner." She sighed her cheek resting in her hand.

"So many customers, so much food." Buttercup whined dryly, her green eyes half lidded, her black hair was a total mess like she had just let it fly in the wind though that was a normal look for Buttercup really.

"Did they have a dinner rush last night?" The blue eyed girl asked, sitting down next to Blink who took the liberty of draping herself over Robin's shoulders.

"The old man had a 'huge winter blowout'. He's gonna do another sale this Friday, its a nightmare." The grey haired girl whined in a tired dull voice her hands coming up to her half up pigtails giving them a rough tug. Her eyes didn't even bother staying open.

"Oh come on, it's not that bad.' Bubbles always the optimist smiled as she approached the table arm full of drinks. Since they weren't anything the school served Robin guessed she had taken their shared car.

"Is that Cooper's coffee?" Blink asked, her head perking up.

"Yep!" The blond beamed in her signature smile, a smile that would light up any room she was in. She had always had that sweetness to her ever since Robin met the four she knew the roles they held in the there group and Bubbles she was the joy and the laughter.

"We didn't even give you our cards?" Blossom raised a brow taking the Cherry Blossom Mocha that was extended out to her with caution, the pink ice cold coffee happened to be Blossom's favorite though Robin had tried it once it really wasn't her thing.

"It's winter Bloss, can't you get that hot?" Robin asked, it wasn't the first time they've had this conversation they seemed to go over it every winter. Blossom never seemed affected by the cold like other people and Robin could swear there was never a time that she had ever seen her sweat. Then again Blossom Utonium had pink eyes and was smarter than most so maybe it was best not to question.

"She wouldn't take it hot anyway; she just likes being cold blooded ." Buttercup shrugged jokingly though she has called her sister a snake in the past so Robin didn't really know whether to laugh or not.

"I suppose I'm just immune to it." Blossom smiled, ignoring Buttercup's comment. "Though that's not the issue right Bubbles cause i didn't even ask for coffee right Bubble?" Turning her attention to the blond she raised her brow.

"I thought I'd be nice and treat you." Bubble smiled, handing her green sister her cup. The way she said it would have melted hearts but her sisters looked less convinced.

"Yeah? Just like you decided to take today off?" Buttercup asked, taking her coffee, reading the label. "Black with irishcream?"

"With foam."

"With foam." Buttercup repeated back, sounding unimpressed.

If Robin hadn't known the girls for as long as she did; she would've brought up that it was the green girls' favorite but she did know them. She knew that this was a peace offering, something Bubbles would do when she had planned something she didn't tell her sisters about until the last minute.

"So what's the catch?" Buttercup asked despite already starting in on her drink.

"Of course I got you the Bomber Blink." Ignoring her green sister she handed her grey one her cup who took it eagerly.

"Three for three Bubbles but it seems you didn't get yourself anything. I thought you found yourself in love with the smores?" Blossom asked in an almost interrogating way, setting her drink down she gave her sister a long look.

"Oh I can just get that after school they close at four right? Plus I really want to try their new peppermint mocha." She said it so sweetly with a smile and everything but her tone left no room for argument.

"You are not taking the car after school." Unless your last name was Untonium that is.

"Whatcha got there Robin?" Bubbles asked, redirecting the attention to the newspaper.

"Oh did you guys not hear someone was shot last night on West Day line street." Placing the paper on the table she had almost forgotten she had bought it.

"Really?" Bubbles asked, sliding in next to her.

"Yeah apparently he was some mob boss who wasn't even supposed to be in Townsville." She paused looking at the girls for a moment. They were all staring at her intensely looking for more information though it only made her words come out sluggish and a bit shaky. "He was killed right there on the street. I mean isn't it weird a mob boss not only in Townsville of all places but being shot here." They didn't say anything, their eyes only piercing into her making her think briefly about the oddness of the colors.

Pushing the thought down into a recess part of her brain she trudged forward.

"I mean it's weird right. The last time something even remotely bad happened was two years ago when Townsville bank was almost robbed." She was starting to feel nervous at the intensity of their stairs, their eyes boring into her differently. The pink, green, grey and blue colors seemed to be trying to read her mind. Each told a different story but for the life of her Robin could never really read what they were thinking. It was almost like they only let you see what they wanted you to see. Still she was happy to ignore it.

After all they had always been like this ever since the first grade when they arrived in Townsville. Moving right next door to her into that big white house with five uneven windows punched into it. Their eyes were always such a trademark signifying their signature colors and in some way their personality. The intelligent leader whose pink eyes assessed and commanded any room she was in. The tough, always ready for action green that was always unapologetically herself. The half lidded and apathetic grey who could sleep through the teacher lectures about sleeping in class. The wide and bouncy blue who would offer you a smile and a giggle but was used to getting her way.

They always made her a bit nervous but they were friendly and other than some ends and odds they were normal.

"So yeah that's about all I know Kim probably has more information or you could have the newspaper if you want." She said pushing the papers closer to Blossom who moved her drink away from it so it wouldn't stain.

"So girls got any plans for Christmas break?" Robin asked after a moment of silence in a hopeful voice.

"Probably just going to work," Buttercup groaned ,taking a long drink of her coffee.

"Well, are there any days you're off?" Robin asked her tone hopeful.

"Haven't gotten the schedule yet but probably. The old man can't work us everyday no matter how hard he tries." Buttercup said, propping her face on her hand. The old man refers to their grandfather, an old tough looking man who looked like he had been through a war and won with his bare hands. Oddly enough he was a simple man who owned the Outta time dinner that the girls worked at and while Robin knew that she was still just a little bit bitter that it took all their time.

"Well you know the volleyball team has finals coming up right?" Robin was a trusted and valued member of the volleyball team. She along with Wendy and Julie fully intended on leading the Pokey Olk High's team to victory this year.

"Well yeah of course you've been rambling on about the finals for who knows how long" Buttercup smirked from across the table seamlessly getting back to the banter usually had. This atmosphere was different from when their eyes bored into your soul; it was more open and easier to be playful and carefree.

"I was wondering if you guys could actually ya know come to this one" she could already see the slightly defensive looks on the girls faces.

"What are you talking about, we come to your games." Blossom started looking up from the paper. Though despite her best effort empathy wasn't Blossom's strong suit, logic was but even logic couldn't talk her out of this cause she knew exactly what her oldest friend was talking about.

"Well yeah but you're always busy ever since you guys started working we never spend time with each other." She pointed out, sighing, she then tried to explain the problem with them 'showing up to her games'. "One of you might show up, sure. Maybe even two but you always leave early or all of you would be working."

"Why do you guys need to work anyway, your dads a scientist? I've been at your house around Christmas. I know you don't need the extra cash" she sighed, already feeling defeated in an argument that hadn't even started yet.

"It's a family business where we help out our grandpa. It really can't be helped," Blink shrugged, sucking down on her straw like it was her life line. Robin knew that of course she did. She's known that since the end of freshman year she knew that they would start actually working there instead of just helping out. She remembered how Buttercup was the last to join and after that time spent with them had become scarce.

"But still its like you guys work every night now. I miss the old days when you could come over and we could hang out and have sleepovers and stuff" Robin sighed they were inseparable from the time they moved next door to when they were eight then they became slightly more distant and over time that distance had only grown. She wished she was as tight knit with them as they were with each other.

"Yeah Boss man really works us to the bone" Buttercup yawned, stretching out her arms. A nonchalance move her arms stretched over the table.

"You know how things are Rob December is always his biggest sell time. Hey, how about you come to the Diner well give the winter breakfast on the house." She smiled widely showing her teeth while her outstretched hand gave a thumbs up.

Butters was right; she knew how hard their grandfather worked them. She didn't like complaining; she knew they were only helping it wasn't their fault, smiling she patted her best friend's thumb. "Sure when we win, maybe I can bring the team."

"They'll have to pay." Blink drawled then gave a lopsided grin. "Maybe half price depending on if you win or not."

"Hey!" Robin laughed.

"What. You might be drowning your sorrows in pancakes we don't know." Blink shrugged as Bubble suddenly perked up on the brunette's other side.

"Robin" Bubbles started only to be cut off by the bell.

"Come on, we should get to class before Mr. Green decides today's the day to turn into a real monster" Buttercup joked but it seemed more like an inside joke cause it went right over her head. They did that alot they had these weird inside jokes that she didn't understand. She wished she knew what made it so funny. Mr. Green was always so sweet.

"Hey uh Bubbles what did you want to tell me?" Robin asked her pigtailed friend before heading towards the math hallway.

"Oh I did have something to tell you" Bubbles started but she didn't say anything after, only staring off into space like her brain had gone blank something that wasn't rare with her.

"Bubbles" Robin attempted to get her attention. "Earth to Bubbles." She tried again.

"What?" Bubbles asked seemingly clueless.

"You had something you wanted to tell me?" She asked, watching as realization dawned in her powder blue eyes.

"Yeah just that if we can't make it maybe we could do something ya know before the end of the month maybe we might have a day off" Robin felt a wide grin spread across her face as she found herself nodding along to the blonds every word. "I would definitely love that," she smiled.

"Great, I hope we can do that then! It will be fun" Bubbles smiled along with her walking further ahead then turning to look back at her. "Ya know like old times" and with that the blond had waltzed toward the reading hall.

"Yeah like old times" Robin smiled before the fear of being late dawned on her causing her to dash through the hall to her class.