First off i would like to apologize for how long it took me to get my sh*t together and actually type this beast. Surprise surprise, my longest chapter yet!
Ok so caution there is swearing and drinking, if you're offended by either of those things maybe you should find another story to read cuz like all my chapters have swearing. Ok so yes. Please except this non-monetary sacrifice as proof of my dedication to literature, or something. :)
Rating: T -Swearing + alcohol
Monday rolled around and we were up at 3:00 to head to the airport. Cas had called Sunday to see if I could hang, but I had to turn him down to finish packing. It was an hour drive to the airport. I had my wood flute in hand and we played Celtic music all the way there. Tag sat in the driver's seat banging her hands on the steering wheel and we got pulled over because the cop thought she was having a seizure.
The port gave us hell about all the metal in our instruments and the paint Tag was bringing. I began to wonder why we hadn't just shipped all our shit to Scotland instead of bringing it with on the plane. After about 20 minutes they cleared us and we moved on to find our gate.
"Man, you can only tell them it's paint so many times!"
"You know they're just doing their job Artie, I might find it suspicious too it someone came through with a gallon of paint tubes." We laughed and continued walking. 10 minutes of searching and we finally found ourselves at gate 21. We sat down and looked for any sign of life at our gate.
The boarding lady was half asleep at the counter, propped up on her palm and slightly drooling. Apparently Scotland wasn't a popular summer destination because the only people were a young man in a suit and a lady who was probably his 90 year old grandma in a shawl. There weren't enough people for it to be a bother if I played my wood flute, so I pulled it out and played a slow Irish jig. The old woman looked up and smiled and the young man offered a hand to dance. Tag took out her Bodhran and started a steady syncopation.
When we were called to board, more people had arrived and now there were three families. The children had been dancing when they called Tag's and my name.
Inside the plain it was clean and vacant. The other families all flew business class. Tag had insisted on first class this year.
"Man, these seats are comfortable." She said sinking into her chair. Usually we flew business class because I didn't like drawing attention to ourselves when we flew, but Tag wanted to fly coach this year so I made an exception. "Hey do you think they let you plug your iPod into the speakers?"
"I don't think they have a place to do that." I said. Tag got up and walked to the cabin. Probably wants to make friends with the captain. I rolled my eyes and chuckled, slowly relaxing into my chair.
15 minutes later I heard Tag on the speakers.
"Will passenger Robin Ergovitz please make her way to the captain's cabin." The com clicked off. I walked a few feet to the door Tag had disappeared through and it swung open to reveal her smiling with the captain's hat on. Inside the cabin the captain was sitting in his chair, looking back at us and smiling shyly. He was an attractive young man, probably early 20's. He was tall and had a kind face with short blond hair, spiked up. It looked soft. He reached out his hand to introduce himself.
"Pleasure to meet you Miss Robin, I'm Captain Stomand."
"Nice to meet you." He was polite but couldn't seem to keep his eyes off my chest.
~~Time Skip~~
Getting off the plane, Tag was jumping not from excitement, but from the need to pee. She ran off and I walked over to the baggage claim to find all our bags. After waiting 10 minutes for her to get back I decided to see if something was wrong. I grabbed out instrument cases and put them in the little cart we brought with us as well as her bags, then dragging my suitcase and the cart behind me, I began searching for the bathroom.
I walked around for another 10 minutes after searching for the bathroom when over the airport's loudspeaker I heard,
"Robin Ergovitz, your presence is requested at customer service in the South wing." Oh gosh, it was Tag. She must have sweet talked some security guard or something.
At the counter I found Tag sitting on the counter talking to an old woman who looked young at heart. She was laughing with Tag about some subject I hadn't been around to hear.
"Rob! Hey come're! Rob this is Alison, she helped me find you."
"Is this where you've been? I looked all over for you."
"No I didn't find you at baggage –gate 20 - so I went and talked to Peter, the security guard (I knew it) and he showed me to customer service where I met Alison." Tag was always managing to get to a first-name basis with random people, always.
"Gate 20?" I chuckled.
"Yeah, but you weren't there.
"That's because you should have been at gate 21." We didn't say anything for a second, then cracked up.
~~Small Time Skip~~
"Man, this place is nice!" We had made our way out of the airport about an hour ago. Up until now we spent our time by renting a car and driving all the way up to our Cottage in the Scottish Highlands that we were using for the week. And Tag was right, this place was beautiful.
Our cottage was a white stone structure, nestled between mountains that rose above us. In the valley below a river glistened over large rocks and emptied into a large, flat water basin. The mountains that rolled up and above us were wearing a dark green shawl of grass and small trees that dotted their sides. A soft hazy mist had settled over the lake like white glare on a mirror. Surrounding the lake were mountains that created a bowl with a large wedge where the river meandered into the basin. The bowl was clad in red, yellow, and purple flowers and trees greener than shamrocks. About a mile to the north the mountains turned into platform cliffs over the low-lying valley, each topped with a carpet of crass and overlooking a flat plain.
All this could be seen from the front porch of the cottage. The inside was cozy, warmed by a central fire place made of red stone and surrounded by knotted white wood. From the front door the kitchen was directly to the left and a metal spiral staircase lead up to the second floor which was two large bedrooms and a single bathroom.
~~Time Skip~~
Tag looked at her watch, 8:32. We had been outside on the flat cliffs sketching and painting for nearly five whole hours.
"Hey we should probably pack it in. It's getting dark."
"Yeah." I looked up to see violet and indigo clouds overhead. The sun had nearly finished it's patrol of the skies and only a sliver peaked over the rocky earth. I saved a mental picture of the scene for another time. "Hey, I didn't know there was anyone here besides us."
"Um, Rob, there aren't. No homes for miles." Tag replied matter-of-factly.
"Well then who the heck is that?" I said pointing at a black silhouetted body. It appeared to be male. Broad shoulders and beefy muscular complex. It was hard to tell anything else because not the sun had completely set. When Tag finally looked up from her supplies, she seemed confused.
"Rob, there's nothing there. You must be seeing things again (I'll explain that later. Maybe). C'mon, let's go back now." Maybe the dark was playing tricks on me. It could have been … a tree. Yeah. An upside down tree…that I could have sworn waved at me…
Back at the cottage I was in my PJs and ready now to sleep.
"Ah!" Ok, I was definitely NOT seeing things. Well I was but they weren't imaginary. Through my window I could see a gruff figure walking towards the front door below us. I ran into Tag's room panicking.
"I told you! I KNEW I SAW SOMEONE!" She began to laugh at my hysterics.
BANG BANG BANG The whole building shuddered as someone (obviously very strong) pounded at the door. We both jumped and Tag looked at me surprised. I grinned at her, feeling my accomplishedness of having not lost all my marbles. I mean I had, but not about this. Then three more knocks brought me back from my mini victory.
"What do we do? I wasn't prepared for late night visitors." Tag said sarcastically.
"I guess we answer the door!" The look she gave me clearly stated in bold block letters of neon that I was completely off my rocker. And I probably was … am. Yeah. We made our way downstairs to the front door and I turned the doorknob with all the rigor of a pile of dead kittens (im not a fan of cats by the way). The door squealed open a few inches. We were still in our pajamas.
"Um, hello?"
"Allow Lassies! Welcome to the Scottish Highlands!" Said he in a thick, booming Scottish accent. "My name is Fergus Rodric McLeod (If you know this name reference you automatically win a billion points on the scale of AWESOME). I'm your neighbor!" He beamed at us. He obviously didn't get much company here. Tag stared at him dumbly while as my face resembled how I imagine a slice of watermelon would look like if it was a face and not a deliciously amazing fruit.
"It's nice to meet you Fergus! I'm Robin and this is Tag, we're visiting from the States." Tag jabbed me in the side.
~~~Time Skip~~~
A week later we returned to find extremely bored and restless friends.
"C'mon guys! Go to the beach with me! If you come I can maybe convince Leigh and Lys-baby!" Cried Rosa. She hadn't been outside since we left and she was determined to drag anyone and everyone into a day of UV exposure and sandy underwear.
"Oh Rob, it'll be fun! Scotland was beautiful but I need -need beach baby!" And with that I found myself in a bikini that Rosa picked out and being dragged by the arm to the beach.
Rosa called a bunch of people to hang out with us the second we agreed, claiming that she simply needed more 'contact with the outside world.' Then the three of us ganged up on Leigh and Lysander, practically blackmailing them in order to get them out of the house. Leigh was much easier to convince. As we made our way to the beach, we were joined by Castiel and his dog as well as Alexy and Kentin. Armin was nowhere to be seen, obviously enjoying his computer time in the dark of his room (interpret that how you will).
The second it came into view, Rosa made a mad dash for the mildly scalding sand of the beach. We all gave a chuckle at her eagerness. Castiel walked next to me. He was so close we could have easily brushed shoulders. We found a good spot on the large, nearly empty sandbox and rushed through set-up so we could play volleyball.
On the far side of the beach Nathaniel sat quietly, watching the rest of us and feeling left out as he entertained his spoiled prataby of a sister.
After about an hour I pulled Lys and Tag off to the side.
"Hey Rob, what's up?"
"What day is it today?" Partway through the game a grim memory dawned on me.
"Um the 21st I think." Tag's mouth formed an 'O' as her mind grasped what I were getting at.
"What's so important about today?" I heard Castiel behind me. Damn, this guy could be a ninja! However, I momentarily ignored him.
"Will you be there Lys?"
"Always. You know I wouldn't leave you two alone. Not after the first time."
"Hey I'm talking to you!" Cas scowled.
"And we're ignoring you!" Tag countered with a smug smirk, knowing she had won with a simple line. He was about to say something back but I stopped him saying,
"It's nothing, don't worry about it," With a sad attempt at a confident grin. I turned back to face Lys. "Are you bringing the Vodka?" He nodded solemnly. Tag clapped her hands together loudly.
"Ok, well looks like we're set. Let's get back to the party." Cas looked over at Lys questioningly but he only smiled, giving away nothing of my –probably unhealthy –obsession with tomorrow. Minutes later I had re-integrated as we all began to splash each other in the waves like little kids.
"Hey Robin! You know what would make you the bestest bestie in the world of bestiedom? Getting me some ice-cream!" Rosa squealed as Alexy splashed her. I gave her a stupid grin and two thumbs up and ran off to find the vendor. Nathaniel was shaking out his shirt, facing away as I mentally prepared myself to pass by him. As I moved closer I saw something on his back. Huge black bruises.
"Hey Nathaniel!" He jumped at my voice and hurriedly threw his shirt back on.
"Uh, hey Robin. How's your summer? I didn't expect to see you here, well not here here I mean it's a free beach but I meant not talking to me at least that kind of here. Here…" I stared at him waiting for him to finish babbling before boldly asking,
"Nathaniel, what's on your back?"
"Um, a shirt." He stated. I began to get worried and impatient. He was obviously hiding the bruises, nervous about someone seeing them, and lying to me. Well not really lying I mean he is wearing a shirt, but avoiding answering me honestly.
"Nat, I saw them, don't try to hide them from me."
"Saw what Robin?" He smiled, playing dumb. A hint of anxiety hidden in the creases of his fake smile.
"Don't try to tell me that I didn't see those bruises." His face got a little darker.
"What bruises." He stated more than questioned, his plastic smile never breaking.
"Nathaniel, don't lie to me! I saw the bruises!" Good thing the beach was empty aside from him, Amber, and my group.
"Tch… just be quiet. It's not any of your business anyway." He scowled at me. "You couldn't help anyway, you wouldn't understand." I snapped. My face turned from sad to purely rageful.
"I wouldn't understand?" I practically hissed. Lunging forward I seized his wrist and drug him off the beach towards the forest.
"Robin what's going on?" I stopped, glancing at Cas with my face twisted into a growl.
"Go get Lysander and Tag. Meet me under that tree." I pointed at a large willow at the edge of the forest. He rushed off to gather the aforementioned friends.
Meeting me under the willow, Castiel glared at Nathaniel, automatically assuming that he had been an asshat and somehow pissed me off.
"What makes you so sure that I wouldn't understand?" I spat, looking only at the tree, not at anyone in the group. Nathaniel was frightened now, not sure what to think of the sudden cut-throat vibes I was emanating.
"Well why would you?" He spoke softly, doing his very best to not make sound. I frowned sadly and began to untie the knots holding my wrap up over my back.
"Rob are you sure you want them to know?" Tag asked cautiously. I simply ignored everything and allowed my wrap to fall off my shoulders. This was followed by low gasps from Cas and Nathaniel.
"Robin…" Castiel slowly reached out his hand to run his fingers down my back, tracing the pattern of multiple scars. I shuddered at the unexpected gentleness of this gesture and turned my head to see the confusion and hurt in his eyes. Hurt? Why would there be hurt?
"Robin I'm sorry. I h-"
"Had no idea." I finished his sentence, "How could you?"
"I've never seen so many scars before. How did you even… why would you?" Castiel was at a loss for words. He thought I had done this to myself. That must be the hurt.
"I didn't."
My back was covered in scars, one ran the length from my right shoulder-blade to the middle of my left ribcage. There were two other large ones and probably ten smaller scars which marked mostly the middle of my back. Some overlapped and only one was the thickness of a pencil, the rest were thinner. They hung on my right shoulder and draped down following the underside of my largest scar like a lace toga. There were none above that scar. The scar tissue was more sensitive so as Cas followed the small lines my skin seemed to tingle. It was so uncharacteristically gentle, his touch.
"If you guys will meet me at my house tomorrow… I'll explain this."
"Robin!" Tag shouted my name as though I were about to jump off a cliff. Metaphorically speaking though, that's pretty spot-on of what I was about to do.
"It's like you said Tag, I can't hide them forever." I shot back, somewhat forlorn. "Be at my house 1:30, no sooner."
"You mean no later." Nathaniel corrected.
"No I mean no sooner." I stated. "Lys you know when to be there?"
"Of course, same as always."
"Hey your parents don't mind you having all us over?" Asked Castiel, looking around the good sized group. I looked him in the eyes and he almost seemed to read that I wasn't telling everything.
"No, I don't think they'll mind."
"Well what about the alcohol you were talking about earlier? They don't care if you drink?"
"Well no, but they don't really have a say anymore. We live in separate places. They prefer… quieter… areas with people like them."
"Like them? Do they have good jobs or something?"
"No. In fact they are currently unemployed, and I don't see them taking up jobs anywhere in the future."
"Um, guys?" Tag was getting nervous about all this parent talk. I had become somewhat distant in my way of speaking, but Cas wasn't picking up on my tense sarcasm. Oh no, in fact…
"Do you ever talk with them?"… he was getting more curious.
"No, we aren't exactly in contact anymore. I can visit whenever I want, but I choose not to." I replied, guessing his next question and answering it promptly.
"Ok, she'll tell you guys the rest tomorrow. Bye bye! 1:30 no sooner!" Tag grabbed my arm and ran towards the car, dragging me behind her.
"Why do you suppose they never see each other?" Nat asked Cas, totally ignoring their mutual hatred for each other. Cas shrugged.
"Rob are you crazy?! You remember what tomorrow is right? June 22nd! Special day? Ring a bell!?"
"What better day is there?"
~~Time Skip to June 22nd~~
Castiel's PoV
What the f*ck is she doing in there? I stood in Robin's front yard, definitely concerned about what was going on inside her house. There were the outwardly obvious sounds of a girl crying, well more like rampaging. If I had to guess I'd say it was Tag. Screaming and cussing like a sailor didn't exactly seem like Robin's thing, but almost instinctively I knew I was wrong. I wanted to run inside and stop the madness, stop the crying, stop the pain. But she had said 'no sooner than 1:30.' It was only noon. I was knocked out of my wits when suddenly there was a bone-chilling scream and the sound of a bottle being whipped into a wall, smashing loudly. Lysander's car was in the driveway, what the hell was he doing to Robin?
At that point I'd had enough. 1:00 would have to do. I ran up to the door and shoved my way inside. It was dark and I could hear sobbing in the room. Then a light flicked on in the hallway. Lys stood near the wall with a shocked expression. As I looked down I saw Robin curled on the couch and crying hysterically. I began to walk towards her but a hand held me back. Tag's tear-stained face stared at me, trying to tell me without words to stay away.
"What's happened?" I whispered. Tag simply put her finger to her lips and lead me into a staircase, leaving Lys to watch Robin.
Robin's PoV: That Morning
9:00-took a shower. The hot water tried to wash away the soreness of my muscles. I hadn't slept well. I never sleep well the night before. June 22nd was the one day a year I had an actual routine. Shower, dress nice, make breakfast for two, great Tag, tell Tag "No I'm ok," don't try to convince her, move onto more important parts of the day.
Today I decided to wear a light blue shirtdress with a yellow belt. The shirt part of the dress was sleeveless and made of soft plaid fabric. The skirt was sky blue. Converse shoes and a panda-charm bracelet given to me by Ryo and Hitch.
The further into the day I got, the more detached I became. Lys had made his way over some time around 10, that's when I started drinking. Tag had a few beers and left the heavy stuff for me. I had stocked up on absinthe and wine but Lys wouldn't let me keep the vodka while he was gone, so he brought that over. Even though he knows I wouldn't drink it until today.
Truth be told, June 22nd was the one day a year that I have an ingrained routine and the self-allowance to get drunk. Any other day of the year I would stop after one or two drinks. (Note this is set in France so the drinking age is different) In fact I don't like most alcoholic drinks, I don't like the taste. However, today wasn't about taste, it was about how quickly I could get drunk.
By 11:00 I was shit faced and crying, like always. Lys had seen me like this before, every year in fact. Tag wasn't nearly as drunk as me, like always, but she wasn't mourning the same as I was. By 11:10 I was angry, like always. Angry at myself, my parents, my old life. So I screamed. I swore and yelled at the darkness, like always, tears streaming down my face to dot my dress like old friends hugging at a reunion. By 11:29 I couldn't take it anymore, like always, my throat hurt and my vision was blurry from tears. So, like always, I let out a howling scream from the depths of my pain, then like always, took the half empty bottle of white wine and threw it haphazardly at the wall where it shattered, like always, and spilled its contents, like always.
This wasn't new to Tag or Lysander, or the neighbors in fact. It happened exactly this way for the past five years. They knew better than to interrupt my morning 'ritual,' the afternoon was calmer. I laid down on the couch wanting to die, sobbing.
Castiel's PoV: Present Time
Lys lead me down to the basement where I noticed hundreds of boxes. It was a large room with the center cleared accept for a drum set and a gray guitar. Against one of the box-covered walls was a soft black couch, on which Lys sad down, implying that I should do the same.
"Man, what the HELL is going on? What's wrong with Robin?" Lysander sighed as though it was all exhausting him.
"I can't tell you everything. Robin invited you to come at noon so as to explain herself. I will tell you that June 22nd is a very important day to Robin, Tag, and now, knowing them so well as I do, to myself as well."
"Does this have to do with the scars on her back? Why was she screaming like a madman? What was that crash I heard?" I was sitting on the edge of the couch.
"Woah, Castiel, calm yourself. The crash you heard was from Robin throwing a wine bottle at the wall like she always does." At this I stopped him.
"Always? This is a regular thing?"
"She allows herself one day a year. In the past June 22nd has landed on days you happened not to be around. That's why you never noticed before. She was screaming because she's extremely drunk and upset. And yes it has to do with the scars." I stared dumbly at him. I knew he'd known her for a while, but not so well that he was a part of her extremely personal life. I heard the basement door open and Tag appeared.
"Guys, it's noon, come on up." She looked slightly intoxicated as she stumbled back up the steps, us following.
Robin was nowhere to be seen, empty beer bottles covered the coffee table in the middle of the living room along with a half empty vodka bottle and some assorted wine bottles. The wall looked lke it had been crying as hard as Robin and the floor was covered in shards of green glass.
Nock Nock
Robin appeared from upstairs at the sound of someone at the door. She came slowly down the stairs, appearing much less drunk than I had first assumed she would be.
"Hey Cas, when did you get here?" Her cheeks were flushed as she walked past me to the door.
"Uh… just now." I lied.
"Mmm." She opened the door to find Nathaniel and Kentin. She mumbled something inaudible and they all moved into her living room. Tag must have invited Kentin.
"Anything to drink?" Her words slurred, but that was the only clear indication of her overly intoxicated state. Aside from the many empty alcoholic beverage containers. "There's beer, wine, vodka…"
"Hey what's this?" Kentin picked up a bottle of light green liquid that said 'Green Fairy.' Robin smiled sadly and said,
"Absinth." He put the bottle down. "Really none? You'll want some later." At that comment Kentin took a beer and Nat poured a glass of red wine. Robin took a swig of vodka from the bottle and the three of us stared at her as she hardly made a face upon swallowing the burning liquid. Lys sat quietly holding a glass of the green aforementioned drink. And I pulled a beer off the table, ready for the worst.
Robin's PoV
The three of them sat in front of me, each holding a drink. I looked over at Tag but she was close to unconscious, she never did have the same tolerance as me. I sighed and sat down in a chair facing Nat, Ken and Cas.
"Ok, I think it's about time for an explaination." They were on the edge of their seats, silent as a pile of dead kittens (have I mentioned my hatred for cats?).
Robin's Story
"Tag and I grew up in the Rokongai district. It was like one giant criminal factory. The teachers assumed everyone was guilty and so it was always easy to find yourself in trouble. They had this rule amongst themselves that if you were within sight range of the 'crime scene' you were automatically guilty unless a teacher could vouch for you. This was tough because my parents were really strict. Not only were they strict they were wealthy. They owned a three-branched company and had lots of money. They bought this house and planned on moving here, but we never got the chance. They were always busy, but when they were gone they always had expectations." I paused to take another drink from the bottle of vodka.
"They put up surveillance cameras in the old house, that's why I got so good at hiding information. Tag and I would hang out every day, we pulled pranks at school, we only got caught once. I always dreaded going home without her. Half the time Rick was drunk, Sue still at work." I used my parents' first names to show I had absolutely no respect for them. This caught everyone's attention, but no one said anything.
"If I got in trouble, they would hit me. Sometimes there was no reason, Rick would be angry, Sue would be stressed, both drunk, so they hit me, slapped, kicked, beat, whatever you want to call it. Sometimes they'd change it up and use a belt or a spoon. That's the small scars. The big scar is from when Rick got real creative after a fight with Sue, he pulled out a pocket knife and just cut."
Absolute silence. Lys hung his head back with his eyes closed and Castiel looked as though he would throw up. Kentin was holding Tag on his lap while she slept, I'm surprised he didn't squeeze the life out of her.
"They would always tell me that everything, the stress, the drunkenness, all of it was my fault. That if I hadn't been born they could live like they wanted, travel the world." I paused again, absorbing myself in the memories.
"Then one day I was on the playground at school when some kids started pushing me around. Tag was sick that day. That's the day I met Ryo and Hitch. They stood up to the kids, something that, at the time, I couldn't do. After that they stuck up for me, we were best friends, they risked their lives a few times. It was Ryo and Hitch who forced me into martial arts. Haha." I chuckled at the thought.
Tag had woken up now and sat with her face in Kentin's chest, quietly crying.
"Tag knew about my abusive parents, in fact she had been working for years trying to convince her parents to let me live with them, but they were poor. Ryo and Hitch didn't find out until later when I invited them over. Unfortunately both my parents were drunk f*cks and started hitting me. When Ryo tried to pull them off they smacked him and he hit his head. Hitch called the police, the EMTs said Ryo would be ok but it shook me to the core. I had never wanted them to get involved with my parents. I had never wanted to burden them with more. I was such a screwed up kid who couldn't even stand up for herself, who looked to them to protect me. When they found out, my whole world came down. I knew from that moment on that we could never go back. That day was June 22nd."
I let my quick spoken words sink in as I prepared what I would say next and took a breath.
"My parents made bail easily and I went to live with Tag. That was when I was 10. Six months later I got word that their private jet had crashed and both of them had died. I had no other family at all and when the will was read I received it all. No doubt because there was really no one else to give it to. Rick and Sue hated pretty much everyone. Both my parents were only children and my grandparents died mostly before I was born. I got both houses, the cabin, the company. That's when I moved out here. I got rid of the old house, I hated that place. I gave a ton to Tag's family. Tag moved in with me soon after."
This time I reached for a bottle of red wine and took a big gulp, this stuff was easier to drink than vodka.
"We kept in touch with Ryo and Hitch for years after that, they basically devoted themselves to protecting me and Tag." I gave a slight chuckle remembering the made up oath that Hitch wrote to swear his 'eternal allegiance of protection' to me and Tag.
"But then they transferred to a new school and I didn't get to see them anymore. It's been four years since I heard from them last. Today is important because it's the anniversary of when Ryo and Hitch learned about my parents, and the day I became legally independent. For a while Tag's parents acted as my legal guardians, until four years ago. Put poetically, today I was freed from the shackles that tore my world down around me."
Tag had fallen asleep again and Nathaniel was crying as he stared at me, not making a sound, I doubt he even realized he was actually crying. Cas had his own look that I couldn't, and frankly, didn't want to read.
"Huh, the people I loved most in the world had taken on my problems, promised to protect me, and gotten hurt because of it. Now every year I allow myself to let it all out. I know they wouldn't want to see me like this ever, but I need one day to be angry and sad and just not have to care about anything other than what they'd sacrificed for me." I took a deep breath to push back the rising tears.
"I met Lys when I was 13. That was the first year I started doing this. I messed up. I drank too much, I didn't know my limits. I hurt myself. After that Lys wouldn't let us do this without him here. He's like a… designated driver." Lys chuckled knowingly at this comment. Tag was crying in her sleep, at least I think she was asleep, and Kentin rubbed her shoulder.
"I haven't seen Ryo or Hitch in four years. After realizing that staying at the old school wouldn't change anything, I transferred here. Since Tag has been living with me this whole time, she transferred with me, not that it was a hard decision. And here we are." I finished gracefully. "Now do you understand Nat?"
Nathaniel stood up and walked over to me, taking my arms to stand me up.
"I'm so sorry Robin." He pulled me into a bear hug.
"How could any parent treat their kid like that?" Cas sat with his face in his hands leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "DAMN IT!" He hit the table making the bottles jump and rattle. "How can they say they don't love their kid?" Nat sat back down.
"You know after a while I started to believe them…" At this Cas abruptly stood up and stormed over to where I was standing , then shoved me harshly into the wall, his hands squeezing my shoulders.
"Don't ever say that." He whispered darkly. His expression was pained like he was crying without tears. "Don't ever say that again." His arms moved around me into a crushing embrace. "So many people care about you Birdie." His grip loosened and I managed to slip my arms around his back.
"I know." Tag was now sobbing and very clearly drunk as Kentin tried to controle her hysteric wails.
Cas finally pulled away and just sat down without looking me in the eye, his face a few shades of red.
Castiel's PoV
How does that kind of person even exist? And how the hell does their kid turn out to be one of the most amazing people on the planet? As I sat down Lysander's phone began to ring and he stood up to answer it in the other room. Robin's friend Tag was still crying into Kentin's shoulder about 'stupid dumb alcohol' and 'why would they leave us?' Not really able to form coherent sentences. Whoever 'they' were remained a mystery. After a minute of no talking and me staring at the floor, Robin looked at the clock and frowned slightly. Standing up, she moved to the stairs into what I assume is her bedroom. Lys came back, a hint of mischief on his face.
"What's Robin doing in her room?" I asked. Tag looked up at me and Lys, then at the time. 5:00 PM.
"She's going to sing now." He said nonchalantly, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Nat sat silently, playing with his wineglass and thinking about I don't care what.
Lys snuck us upstairs into a room directly next to Robin's and out onto a balcony with a lattice wall separating her from us. A sweet melody of chords began to hum off Robin's guitar, coaxed by her fingers in a thin string of plucks and strums. I was entranced already. And then she began to sing.
~I remember tears streaming down your face as I said 'I'll never let you go.' But all those shadows almost killed your light.~
Her raspy whisper of a voice caught on my ear and I fell completely under her spell. I sat with my face close to the wall to look through and see her sitting facing out from the house on a short stool.
~I remember you said, 'don't leave me here alone.' Well all that's dead and gone and past tonight.~
I didn't even realize at first as Lys got up to answer the chime of a doorbell.
~Just close your eyes, the sun is going down. You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now. Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound.~
Lys walked back onto the balcony followed by two other guys who looked eerily… identical. They simply sat down close to the lattice like me and listened to Tobin sing, tears occasionally running out of their eyes. They seemed to recognize this song.
~Don't you dare look out your window, darling everything's on fire. The war outside our door keep raging on. Hold on to this lullaby, even when the music's gone.~
It sounded like she was crying these words rather than singing them, her voice cracking every once-in-a-while. The two gurs were now sandwiching Tag in a hug, all three of them crying, but looking oddly relieved of some unknown burden.
~Just close your eyes, the sun is going down. You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now. Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound.~
Her voice crackled out like an old radio, leaving the guitar to its solo, ending the solemn song on its own.
The two boys jumped up and hopped over the lattice barrier, causing Robin to startle. Suddenly there were sobs coming from her and they exchanged hugs, crying into each other.
Robin's PoV
I knew they were listening from the other balcony. I didn't care. As soon as I finished, two bodies jumped over the barrier and began wailing. When I realize who the two teens were I followed suit, crying into their shoulders as I held them closer. It had been four years, of course I was going to cry upon reuniting with my best friends. The only question that passed in my head was, how the hell had they found me?
So that is that. And, yes. Ok and also 'off your rocker' is a real phrase to mean 'mental' or 'insane' kinda like 'have you lost your marbles?' sorta. It's Scottish i think but definitely British. i must sound so intelligent right now... So thank you for reading whatever this just was! Tune in next time for more action and stuff, probably not. maybe. i'm bad at posting. Thanks!
~FC