In the summer, Barney and Robin spent every day hanging out together. They went to the beach, to the pool, the park and even went on a trip to Six Flags. They had a great and fun time riding the roller coasters and playing the games it was the most fun they had in a while and being around each other the entire summer was so much fun, but suddenly the summer was over and they had to go back to school. But, during their fun summer Robin started to get feelings for Barney but never told him because she was afraid of what he might say to that. So, she just kept her feelings to herself.
School started that following week after they came back from their Six Flags trip. They walked to school together that first day but after that Robin began to hang out more with the popular crowd again and Barney was left out, he just kept to himself and ate alone during lunch. He really missed Robin, but didn't want to say anything since she's been ignoring him for a good two weeks now. He didn't know what was going on with Robin, her cheery demeanor wasn't there anymore, the girl who couldn't stop laughing and smiling the whole summer was gone and she didn't look happy. Being popular didn't make her happy and Barney saw that, even, during the summer Robin told Barney that she hated being popular and was going to give up cheer leading because it wasn't making her feel any better about herself, not happy. Her friends were all shallow and all the guys were flirting and coming on to her any chance they got. Robin, just brushed them off and went on with her days. But, she wasn't happy and when Tony suddenly apologized for breaking up with her, he had asked her out again and she said yes. "What is wrong with me?" Robin said to herself wondering why she would even consider giving that jerk the time of day again, but she did and she hated herself for it.
Barney didn't see Robin for a month, she hung out with her popular friends and ignored him the entire time. He went on without seeing her every day and he started to miss her more and more with each day. However, Barney just went on with his life and hoped that some day in the most present future Robin would finally be brave enough to give up being popular and her friends and just be fun/happy Robin, the Robin he saw during the summer.
Robin wasn't happy, she knew dating Tony again would just make her feel bad about herself but she continued dating Tony because he was actually being good to her. But, again she wasn't at all happy with Tony. She had been missing Barney, she missed being around him and hanging out with him but she didn't know what to do. She could stop dating Tony and become less popular or she could date Tony and stay popular and the latter was the only option because even though she was miserable, she still liked cheer leading and cheer leading makes her feel good. She loved cheering for the school, at games and even at prep rally's so staying on the cheer leading squad was the best part of her day.
It's been a while since Barney and Robin saw each other, both had gone their separate ways and didn't have any classes together so when they did see each other again both were happy. It was a month and 2 days, but they finally saw each other. They met up after school and walked back home together talking about everything from their great summer to why Robin decided to go back to being popular when she said she was going to give it up because she wasn't happy.
"So, why did you decide to keep being popular when you said you hated it?" Barney and Robin sat in front of Barney's house talking and both were really at ease finally, after 2 long months of not seeing or talking to each other it was nice to catch up on things that's happening with them.
"Yeah, I know and I did want to stop I just... when I saw my friends the first day of school they wanted me to stay with them, so we hung out after school and..." at this point Robin put her head down for a second and when she came back up her eyes were watery with tears. "Barney, they saw us together in Six Flags and they again forbid me from seeing you. They told me if I want to still be popular, I should stop hanging around you and said that hanging out "with a geeky kid who isn't popular will not make me stay popular" so I went along with them because they were blackmailing me." Robin didn't know how to explain to Barney the true reason why she stopped seeing him but Barney changed her mind. "They have a picture of us that they blew up and if we keep seeing each other they are going to post it all over the school." Robin hated herself for even putting up with her so called friends but she was too scared of what they could actually do if she gave up on being popular.
"Look, Robin I see how miserable you are being around those people and I know that you aren't happy so." Barney paused a second before continuing with what he needs to say. "I know this isn't my place to say but you need to just give up on being popular. It isn't making you happy, those so called friends of yours don't care about you or what you say and do. They are not your true friends, and I think you should tell them that you want out." Barney was right, she is scared of what they'll do once she tells them she wants out of their little group but she has to do it for her own sake. She hated being around them and every day is just not a happy day for her so she is going to do this.
"You are right, I need to wise up and tell them I want out and that's what I will do tomorrow. But, Barney, I need you there with me. I can't do this alone, if it means being humiliated so be it but I need you there will you help me?" Robin hoped that Barney would say yes cause she needs him now more than ever and she's just too scared to face those guys alone.
"I will go with you, but Robin you need to do this on your own I will not say anything cause it isn't my place to say anything to those people, plus I can't stand any one of them." That made Robin laugh a bit and it made Barney smile again knowing that his Robin is back to being the normal Robin the Robin he knew and nobody else did.
"Thank you." Robin smiled and hugged him as tight as she could.
"No problem." Barney smiled and hugged her back more tighter hoping that he will never lose her again not to those popular kids and not to anything else that stand in between them.