I was drifting off into sleep during any tiny break I got at work, after being awake since 6am. "Go lie down, we've got this" Robin steered me towards Steve's office. Kids and families were pouring in through the doors, but I was too exhausted to resist. Steve laid his jacket over me as I curled up on the seat, "We'll wake you in a couple hours." 2 hours later Steve shook me gently, I blinked a few times to wake up. "Sorry, we're kinda swamped out there, we need you." I barely had time to fully wakeup before being thrust into the swarm of kids and families in the store. At the end of the shift, the bell above the door Dinged, Steve shouted over his shoulder, "we're closing, you'll have to come back tomorrow." We all spun round to face the door when Mike answered, "It's me. Mind if I walk with you guys?" And nodded to us.
Steve slipped into his car, once again asking if we wanted a ride to my place. Mike's sudden appearance and request to walk with us gave me the feeling he didn't want to get home quickly, so I shook my head. Steve looked to Robin, waiting for her to get in, when Mike said "actually, could Robin come too?". The three of us briefly made eye contact before Steve shut his door and drove away. Robin, Mike, and I walked slowly towards my house. Mike stuck closely to my side, almost as tall as me now. "Is everything okay?" Robin tried to break the ice. "I think Nancy and Jonathan are done." Was all he said at first. Robin and I both almost tripped in surprise. "What? Why? How?" I asked all at once. "I was on the phone to Will, about them coming here, Nancy snatched the phone from me and demanded to talk to Jonathan." Mike continued. "I could only hear her side of the conversation but it sounded pretty final. She was like 'fine, stay in California and go to that stupid community college!' So, yeah..."
Once again, Robin and I looked at eachother behind Mike's back...something wasn't adding up here. "Sooo you wanted to walk home with us to tell us that Nancy and Jonathan probably broke up?" I questioned him. Mike's cheeks momentarily flushed, and he stammered at first, "no, not really. Basically, Will said that Jonathan isn't coming because he wants to stay back and keep El company. So El isn't coming either." Robin nodded, "are you upset she isn't coming?" At this Mike exhaled, saying "Not really. I mean, it would be cool for everyone to see her again. I know she and Max were close. Basically, it will just be Will staying at my house..."
I knew exactly what he was alluding to immediately, Robin was clueless, but before she could open her mouth and question it, I gave her a subtle eyebrow raise and she nodded. "Are you, looking forward to spending time with Will?" I asked Mike. He barely moved his lips when he replied, "yeah. A lot." Robin nudged his shoulder, "do you need our help with something?" At this, Mike stopped walking. We were a street away from his house and two from mine. "I need you guys to help me keep it a secret that I'm going on a date with Will, and that we're going to try being...y'know..more than friends."
My heart was exploding happily in my chest, and the look on Robin's face told me hers was too. "Of course kid, we got you. Also, Steve is safe to talk to, he was the only person other than Rain who I told...before it all came out.." She said. I patted him on the back and said "whatever we can do, we're here". Mike perked up and smiled at us, before walking ahead to his house, he shouted back at us "see you later!"
Robin and I clutched our chests and bumped shoulders, laughing together. "I knew it!" Robin said as we walked on to my place.