A/N: Oh my gosh. Sorry for switching from present to past tense a trillion times. I'll fix that in a bit. I was caught in the moment ahaha. Anyways, Here is more because I love you all. Little cutsie chapter for all who want Robbie…to be with Steph.
Chapter 19: Star Gazing
Robbie had put his disguise back on before Don and Alice came home from work. He sat on the loveseat with Stephanie and watched cartoons. Stephanie showed him some of her favorite moments from a silly animated sitcom. Robbie enjoyed it, but was surprised at Steph's taste for television. She was more like him than he knew. She was a nerd like him, too; being caught in a fantasy world of dragons and elves. Then there was a soft side of her that got quiet when her favorite character in a show died.
"They can't kill Luca! He saved Emie from the black sorcerer. Damn. I don't think I can watch anymore. Oh well." Steph put the news on and sighed. "Poor Luca."
"I don't understand," Robbie asked, "Why did Luca carry the stone of remembrance? Isn't he the one who made it for Ross to see his parents again? I'm so confused."
"Alright kids!" Alice called from the kitchen. "Time for dinner."
"To answer your question," Steph said as she stood, "He knew the stone would backfire. I guess his death was inevitable."
The two sat with Alice and Don at the dinner table and continued their conversation about fantasy. Don gave Alice a look and they both stifled laughter. There they sat, eating pot roast and mashed potatoes, indulging in impossible conversations of magic. Alice and Don remained quiet and watched their daughter smile. They watched her slowly falling in love with a strange boy.
And they watched as Robin and Stephanie continued to sit at the table well past dinner time.
"They're going to watch the news probably all night now," Steph said as her parents disappeared. "It's so entertaining seeing houses being broken into and car accidents. Seriously, this world can be complete crap sometimes. Like, a giant turd."
"How come you never showed this side in L-town? You seem a lot better now that you are away from school, too. I like this Stephanie."
Steph blushed and answered, "You. I can talk to you. Sorry I didn't realize this before. I thought you hated me."
"Not you. Never you." Robbie turned red as well and smiled. "Except for when you call me mean names and chuck Frisbees at my head."
"Ha. Right," Stephanie chuckled. "I am so abusive. Let's go sit on the porch. We can talk about school there."
Stephanie told her parents where the two would be. Alice mentioned bed time being soon. Steph hadn't noticed the time. It was already dark outside. A velvet blanket warmed the sky with stars and wisps of white.
"Sit," Stephanie said. "Stay a while. Let's put our heads together and think of a plan."
Robbie sat down on a dark-stained wooden bench. From here, Robbie could speculate the acre of land Stephanie's parents owned. There were pine trees in the far back, lined up like a border. A few feet from the front stood a proud oak tree with its strongest branch holding up a tire swing. A few flower beds bordered the backyard.
"You have a nice home, Pinky." Robbie said. He added, "I never grew up somewhere nice like this. You are very lucky."
"Was your childhood not good?" Steph asked. "Not trying to be nosy, but you seem a little out of place here."
"It was alright," Robbie answered. "Parents fought a lot, but nothing physical. I never really got along with other kids, either. Always an outcast, I guess."
"I know how you feel."
Robbie turned so he could face Stephanie. Under the moonlight, she looked downright beautiful. He slugged her arm playfully.
"Hey, no beating me up now." Stephanie laughed. "I could hurt you."
Robbie blurted, "Funny, I couldn't hurt you."
"Uh . . . So, the plan. Should we just go in and be our annoying selves? I'd like to get revenge somehow, though. That poster was really mean. I don't want to be one of those teens who go home crying every night. I need to let everyone know how strong I am. I am better than this mush-ball of pain. Help me, Master of Disguise. What would you do?"
Robbie stood up and said, "I would swing." He ran down the porch steps to the tire swing.
Immediately, Stephanie's head was spinning. She laughed and ran down to push Robbie to go higher.
"Is this what Sportacus feels like when he is flipping in the air like a weirdo?" Robbie stopped the swing with his feet and got out. His wig nearly fell off. "I can't do that again, Pinky. At least I made you laugh."
"Goofball," Stephanie stepped into the tire swing and said, "Feet first so your head isn't facing the ground. Don't you know how to use these?"
"Nope. But I know how to push really hard." Robbie placed hesitant hands on Stephanie's back and pushed her into the air.
No one could see how big her smile was.
Off of the tire swing, Stephanie chose to sit behind the tree. She leaned against it so that her eyes had perfect view of the stars above. Robbie sat close to her and caught his breath.
"In all honesty," He began, "I think you should just go back. If you show up and do your work, they'll see nothing affected you. They will move on to the next victim."
"But I already ran out today. I can't show up like nothing happened when they've already seen me cry over it."
Robbie took Stephanie's hand in his and said, "Then we go in to battle it out."
Under a dark sky, Stephanie knew Robbie could still see her cheeks turning hot pink. She, herself could also see Robbie blushing.
"What if, to get back at Nathan, we pretend to be a couple?" Stephanie regretted her question the second it left her lips. "To get back at him. You know, make him jealous."
"That would be a disguise I've never put on before. I don't know how you teens act these days. I'm not that much older than you, but I haven't had a girlfriend since my own high school days. What would we do? Walk around with matching clothes or something?"
Stephanie replied, "Nevermind. I mean . . . Just like, hold hands and stuff. Make them think we are together."
"That could work. As for your cheerleader backstabbers, maybe you should ruin their day differently. Something more . . . permanent." Robbie changed the subject and pulled his hand from Steph's. "I do have a plan."
"Oh. Right. Good. What is it?"
"Don't you worry, Pinky. If I tell you, you will feel partially at guilt. Let me do all the hard work so you can leave tomorrow with a clean conscience." Robbie stood up and helped Steph off of the ground. He said, "We should go back in soon. I don't want your parents to be worried."
"Robbie," Steph stopped her villain from walking away. "Are you positive my plan for making Nate jealous will work? It was just an idea. We can think of something else if you aren't comfort-"
"It will work. We will be the best couple in your school. Just think, you only have two weeks left before you graduate. I'll be here for you. I promise." With that, Robbie turned to enter the house.
Stephanie was not too far behind, but stopped to collect her thoughts. Her hand still tingled from where Robbie touched it.