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Just like he promised, Finney was going to help Robin with his math homework. The whole day seemed to fly by, as the only thing Finney could seem to remember was standing alone in the bathroom with Robin, who was wrapping up his bleeding knuckles. They were talking about the texas chainsaw massacre before the conversation seemed to switch to his grades.
"Hey uh- think you got time to stop by my house after school?" Robin had said with that sly smile on his face, leaning against the bathroom stall door.
"Is it math again?"
"Mr. Johnson talks too fast. He doesn't explain it right, not like you," Robin leaned off the wall and took a step forward closer to Finney, "Can you walk me through it? If i get another F im suspended," Finney smiled softly at him, nodding with understandment.
"Yeah, sure"
Once school was over, Robin walked alongside Finney and Gwen following the gate of the fence. Robin and Gwen were having a meaningless conversation about some sort of drama in her class, and Finney was almost 100% sure Robin wasn't all that interested but engaging himself anyways. He was so spaced out at that point, when he snapped back she was almost finished with her story and he was still just as confused.
"And she blamed it ALL ON ME? What a bitch!"
"Literally such a bitch," Robin agreed kicking a stray stone off the sidewalk.
"It was nice talking to you and all, but i gotta go. Todays friday so i'm sleeping over Susie's. Sorry Finney," Gwen said stopping in the middle of the sidewalk.
"It's fine, i'll look after dad," He really, really didn't want to.
"I'll be home in the morning!" Gwen called out and she began skipping in the opposite direction. "AND DON'T EAT ALL THE ICE CREAM!"
Now it was just the two of them, Finney and Robin walking a different route to Robins house as promised. With every step he only felt as if the bag hanging by his side was getting heavier, and the sun was beating down harder making the heat a little less bearable than usual. Or maybe it was just him, and the occasional glances he'd send Robins way, thinking he didn't notice. While he felt like breaking out in a sweat, Robin practically glowed. It was distracting to say the least. At this point he memorised the curve of Robins lips, and the way his hair fell around his neck, bouncing with every step he took. It had grown out a bit, and it was getting noticeable. Finney hoped he'd never cut it. Robin turned his head to catch the eyes staring at him, and grinned with a knowing look. Like he knew something Finn didn't, but was keeping it a secret. The small glint in his eyes said so.
"What're you looking at hm?" Robin asked his voice laced with playfulness. He shied away from Robin, and turned his attention back to the street in front of them.
"It's nothing"
"Didn't seem like nothing," Robin said laughing, and bumped his side against Finney as they walked. "I know i'm good looking and all but damn Finn"
Finney was sure he was gonna die.
"HUH??" His face was practically on fire from the embarrassment as he stumbled for an excuse. Without anything even being said, Robin seemed satisfied with this answer.
"C'mon, i'll race you"
Before He could even process those words, Robin took off sprinting towards his house. He didn't even know they were already there.
Inside they were greeted by Robin's mom, who presses a wet kiss onto her son's cheek. (He wiped it off when she wasn't looking). Their home was cosy. Messy sure, but a home. Dirty plates were still in the sink, and leftovers were left out on the small table in the kitchen. But it didn't really matter, because it still felt like home. His mom pointed her finger at the two of them with a sudden stern look.
"Escucha me, you boys better be studying ok? Algún día me lo agradecerás, You need to bring that grade up," She said and Robin rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Si, si, si mami lo entiendo," He said, and grabbed Finney's arm to lead him to his room.
"No quiero escuchar tu actitud!" His mom called as they walked down the hall, and into Robin's bedroom.
Robins room was messy, more than the rest of the house. His dirty clothes splattered themselves all over the floor, ignoring the half empty laundry basket that stood useless in the corner of the room. The small trash bin obviously hadn't been emptied in a while, and was slightly over flooding. Finney could tell half of the mess was hidden under his bed, but chose to ignore it. Robin threw his bag onto the ground, and sat on his bed without a care in the world. Finney followed shortly after, sitting on the corner of the bed and pulling his bag into his lap to fetch his homework out of it.
"Alright, we can start here. It's due tomorrow anyways"
Robin groaned and fell onto his back looking up at the ceiling.
About an hour later, and Robin was still glaring daggers at the sheet of paper in front of him. Finney tried to help explain pythagorean theorem to him, but something just wasn't clicking. He was able to get through the first couple of problems with some help, but once they turned the sheet over he was lost. He insisted Finney let him see the answer, but apparently "it wouldn't help him learn".
"Remember, a2 + b2 = c2. It helps to write it at the top of your paper as you're working," Finney said patiently, but Robin huffed with growing frustration.
"I know, i know, but it's just not working," He snapped, erasing what he had on his paper to try again.
"C'mon you got this! just remember what i told you. The hypotenuse is C, and A and B are the legs. When added up they equal C," Finney reminded. Robin nodded at his encouragement, and brought his pencil back to the paper to try again. His brows furrowed as he concentrated on the problem in front of him, and for the same reason as earlier, Finney couldn't peel his eyes off of Robin. He could feel his own breathing stutter for a second watching his friend in front of him. right, his friend. Friends weren't supposed to look at each other that way. Finney has only heard it for basically his whole life. Finney the fag.
"I think i'm done," Robin said, looking up from his paper, and sliding it over to Finney to check. Picking up the sheet, Finner skimmed over it.
"So teach, how'd i do?"
"You're really close, you only messed up one little thing but you're getting better," Finney said with a genuine smile but Robin's frown only deepened. He looked just about ready to give up.
"I'm just not cut out for this shit, I'm not smart"
"Don't say that Robin, of course you are. Just because you need help with this one thing doesn't mean you're an idiot," Finney tried, but Robin only looked at him sideways, as if what he was saying was total bullshit. "Even if you're not good at math, you're still good at other stuff too" He added.
Robin now turned to look at him, his dark eyes scanning through Finney's soft ones to see if he was messing with him. Finney felt himself hold his breath as they made eye contact, pretending that he didn't see Robin's eyes flicker down to his lips for a split second. Robin knew what he was doing, shuffling his body only inches closer to Finney.
"Uh huh, so what am i so good at?" Robin asked, the same old smug grin on his face as his eyes continued to search Finney's. He knew why he was asking this. The tough facade didn't work this time, and he could tell Robin needed this sort or reassurance.
"oh come on, you're Robin Arellano the toughest kid in school. I've seen you take on 3 guys at once, and that takes talent"
"Knowing how to fight isn't a talent Finn"
"But you make it seem so easy! And i've seen your literature grades, you're good at writing too. You always know what to say"
"Yeah but that's whatever," Now Robin was getting embarrassed.
"Robin you're the coolest guy i know, Okay? When i say you're talented i mean it," Finney said sincerely, and it was Robins turn to stare. He liked how honest Finn was with him. And how happy he looked around him as well. People usually didn't stick around. Sure having a reputation like his had it's perks, but it gets lonely. But Finney, he looked at him like he hung the stars and named them all. It made him confident. It made him feel loved. Knowing that made his stomach twist as his eyes locked onto Finn's lips again, this time for longer. Finney seemed to pick up on this and unconsciously licked his lips to try and alleviate the dryness.
"Robin.."
"hm?" Robin didn't look away.
Finney took a sharp breath, finding the courage in himself.
"We're friends right?" he started, already feeling like backing down.
"Yeah of course we are," Robin replied embarrassingly fast. It felt as if something were pulling the two boys together, but for obvious reasons Finney fought against it. He wondered if his father saw him, he'd call him those names. Finney the fag. He didn't want it to bother him as much as it did, but right now he felt like it was true. He didn't want it to feel ok, he wanted Robin to push him away and yell at him like everyone else. So he could get it through his stupid, stupid head. He didn't want himself to like it, but he could tell what Robin was thinking, because for one he hadn't stopped looking at his lips.
"You know what they say about me at school," He started, already feeling himself swell with shame.
"I.. i might have heard some things yeah. It doesn't matter thought. I can always beat their asses if you wa-"
"No, no Robin it's fine. It's just that sometimes," He paused for a second, searching Robins expression hoping to find something that would tell him to stop talking.
"Sometimes?"
"Sometimes i think they're right.." It didn't feel good to get of his chest. Maybe if Robin scrunched his face in disgust and called him what he was, it would be so much easier to move on from this. It was silent for a second, tension hanging over the two threatening to snap any second.
"oh"
Robin seemed to be visibly relax, which only greatly confused Finney. What did he mean
"Finney?" Robin asked
Now it was his turn to say "Huh?"
"I like you. I thought i was making it obvious you know man?"
Finney searched his face for any sign that he was joking, but there were none. He didn't know how to reply. Robin was amazing, and strong, and he was just Finney. Finney cried when things got too hard, and didn't fight back like a wimp. He was a nerd, and he wasn't even good looking. But hearing Robin say that made him feel good. It made him feel like he was some sort of special. If the toughest kid in school liked him, he had to be in some way.
"Wait huh?"
He raised an eyebrow awaiting his response.
"Robin, i like you too,"
And there they were, staring at each other again, Finney taking in all of his features, and Robin doing the same.
That's all it took for Robin to lean forward closing the distance between the two. It was only a short kiss, like a small peck, lasting less than a second but it left a burning sensation on both of their lips. Finney sat there mouth agape, with a star struck look in his face, and Robin let out a long held breath. It was something he wanted to do for a while, even though it was only for a second. Once the realisation dawned on the both of them, Robin scrambled to his feet to apologize. But before he could get his sentence out, Finney pulled him back down by the shirt to connect their lips once more. All the past doubts seemed to crumble as they kissed for the second time. It was sloppy, but that was to be expected. Their teeth only clashed a couple of times before they found the right rhythm, with a hand tangled in Finney's hair, and his other on his shoulder. They were both very obviously inexperienced but it didn't seem to matter. They just wanted each other. Finney felt as if he was getting high off the heat coming from Robin's body, and all he wanted was to pull him impossibly closer. But eventually they had to pull away for air, and when they did Robin's hands remained tangled in his hair softly scratching against his scalp.
"Robin..."
The doorknob jiggled a bit, and the two jumped apart before it swung open. Robin's mom was standing in the doorway looking back and forth between the two of them. They stood silent, hoping what they were just doing wasn't obvious. could parents tell? Who knows, but she didn't seem to have a clue.
"Come and eat, i made arroz con gandules. You two better have been studying,"She said, and the two let out a sigh of relief.
"Yeah we were ma," Robin said, and turned his head to Finney with that same old stupid grin. "Right?"
He nodded vigorously, and got up from the bed following Robin and his mom into the kitchen to be served.
"Yeah, yeah. We were studying the whole time"