Hey y'all! I'm back with two chapters. This first one is a mini-chapter; a brief scene between Robin and Veronica. It's simple. There's no coming out, but Veronica makes an educated guess based on her observations throughout the year (BTW, it's now April of 1985!). It's a subtle thing, and hopefully appears as tasteful as I think I wrote it. I wanted to save Robin's actual coming out for that amazing bathroom scene in 3x07 with Steve, since that's such a pivotal moment in their friendship.

The next update will be the last one of the "between-seasons" chapters. I've decided to put Prom, Graduation, and an extra little surprise all together. After that, we're moving on - finally - to season 3. As always, I only own my OCs. Special shoutout to Boris Yeltsin for being an excellent brainstorming partner.

Hawkins High School, Indiana

Tuesday, April 30

My dad always said you can gain more from watching a person than asking them questions. The wrong one will make them close up - they could lie, and you'd never know. But when you watch them, how they move, how they speak… it's harder for a person to hide.

Of course, he was talking about selling cars. That's not what I'm doing.

Robin Buckley, my physics partner. A nervous talker. Band geek. Movie buff. Smart ass. Artsy girl that's friends with the Peach State giant that saved me from a crooked neck.

And the girl who won't stop staring at Tammy Thompson. I'm not one for lying - at first, I thought she was looking at the boys the cheerleader walked with, until I realized she never glanced at them again the moment Tammy lost interest.

I'm not judging. With a few exceptions, the male population of Hawkins High leaves something to be desired.

One way or another, Robin's eyes always drifted over to Tammy. It was a pattern I picked up on since the gate closed, and I let myself see beyond the scope of my own problems. Look, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter to me why my physics partner is watching the senior cheerleader. My mom by nature isn't one to judge. I'm glad she passed that on to me and Dustin. Besides, David Bowie's, like, bisexual, right? Likes men and women? And he's still a badass. Robin looks like she's badass potential.

Still, it's not like I could just go up to Robin and ask "hey, do you like girls?" Not only is that rude, if someone overheard… no matter her answer, rumors would be spread. My partner would be in danger, and it'd be all my fault. I can't bring it up to anyone else, either - it's not their business who Robin does and doesn't like. I can only wonder to myself, and act like I haven't noticed a thing. Which is honestly kinda killing me, because I wish I could let her know it didn't change our partnership. Friendship? I feel like we're friends.

Robin and I are walking out of Physics, shuffling exhaustedly as we'd both managed to nap during class - much to Mr. Lewis's chagrin, but maybe he should be a little more interesting.

"One day, I'll figure out a way to not zone out in that class." Robin grumbles, and I snort. "Like, whatever happened to physics being an applied science? We never do anything fun, like - like throw balls to demonstrate velocity, or some shit."

"Maybe because Lewis doesn't have the 'balls' to get creative." I joke, Robin groaning at my corniness as she leads me to her locker.

"Gross."

"You're gonna stand there and tell me I'm wrong?"

"Idiot." She chortles, digging through her locker to weed out what she does and doesn't need to take home. "So, I was thinking we could meet up at the library this weekend? I have a dumb history assignment to finish, and all my other friends are busy."

"We're friends?" I smile wide so she doesn't think I'm teasing her, and Robin shifts her weight bashfully.

"I mean, yeah." She punches my shoulder lightly. "Us physics partners gotta stick together."

Before I can respond, a couple of douchebag seniors leaving their English class - Mark and Drew, ugh - pass by, laughing their asses off. "Like I even wanna hear about that queer shit. If Ms. Wallace wasn't so damn hot, I'd tell my parents about the crap she's making us read."

"Fucking disgusting. I don't know what's worse, that the dude was an artist or that he liked other dudes." Drew agrees. "What are you looking at, Ice Queen?" He shoots my way, completely ignoring Robin.

"Nothing special, Drew." He flips me the bird as he and Mark keep walking, loudly berating Ms. Wallace for choosing Dorian Gray. "What a couple of douchebags, huh, Robin?"

"Yeah." I turn to see her half-buried in her locker, breathless.

"You know," Robin's head twists towards me, and I focus my gaze on the row of lockers across from hers, "it sucks they're so homophobic. Mark and Drew would be the perfect couple. They both hate the same stuff, they're always together, they bicker like they've been married for decades." I list softly. "It sucks there's people out there who hate shit they're too lazy to try and understand. Don't you think?"

"Yes." Robin murmurs, and I send her a gentle smile.

"We should be able to love who we love. Except for if it's incest. Pedophilia. Bestiality."

She laughs, shaking her head. "Yeah." Then she clears her throat, looking down at me with wide blue eyes. "So… library on Saturday, 10 o'clock?"

"Sure thing, Rob. Like I said," I clear my throat and back away, sending her a wink, "us physics partners gotta stick together."