Chapter Text
Finney sort of thinks he’s dying.
Maybe he’s already dead. Who knows at this point, maybe he’s entered heaven, and met an angel.
‘’Finney?’’
He thinks his heart has stopped beating. Or no, that’s wrong. It’s the opposite. His heart is beating too fast – bu-dum bu-dum bu-dum – he’s worried it’s going to fly out of his chest.
‘’Finney.’’
He’s quite sure his cheeks are completely flushed. He wouldn’t be surprised if his neck and ears are red, too. Finney really thinks he’s dying.
‘’Finney!’’
He jolts, snapping his head to the right. ‘’What?’’
Bruce stares at him in a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. ‘’Dude.’’
Finney raises his eyebrows. ‘’What?’’
‘’Stop staring!’’ Bruce whispers aggressively.
‘’What?’’
‘’Oh my god.’’ Bruce lets his face fall into his open palms.
Finney looks on helplessly, unable to understand what his friend is talking about.
Bruce looks back up. ‘’You’re embarrassing yourself.’’
‘’How?’’
Bruce’s mouths fall open. ‘’You’ve been staring at Robin Arellano for the past five minutes!’’
Finney blinks. ‘’Oh.’’
‘’You are unbelievable.’’ Bruce’s face is full of defeat.
Finney swallows, and glances over to where Robin is sitting. ‘’He didn’t notice, did he?’’
Bruce rolls his eyes. ‘’No, he definitely didn’t notice the pair of eyes boring into the back of his head.’’
‘’Bruce!’’
Bruce smirks. ‘’No, he didn’t notice.’’
Finney sighs, relieved. ‘’God, that would have been so awkward. I didn’t even realise I was staring.’’
‘’Yeah, it’s only like, the fiftieth time this week you zoned out daydreaming about him.’’ Bruce says, rolling his eyes again.
‘’That’s not true!’’ Finney sputters, his blush reappearing.
‘’Oh please, I’m surprised the whole school hasn’t caught on to your massive crush on Robin Arellano.’’ Bruce says, and Finney claps a hand over the other boy’s mouth.
‘’Not so loud!’’ He hisses.
Bruce chuckles from behind his hand. Finney huffs and takes it away, glaring at him.
‘’You should just tell him. Ask him out or something.’’ Bruce suggests after a few seconds of silence.
‘’Are you insane? I can’t just ask Robin Arellano out on a date, that’s ridiculous. He’s like, one of the most intimidating guys at school.’’ Finney replies, shocked.
‘’So? It worked for me with Vance.’’ Bruce looks smug as he says this, and now it’s Finney’s turn to roll his eyes.
‘’That was different,’’ Finney counters. ‘’Everyone knew Vance was into guys, and plus, you two were already lab partners, so you knew each other. I don’t even know if Robin likes men.’’
Bruce sighs. ‘’Despite all that, my boyfriend is still ‘Pinball’ Vance Hopper. Crazier things have happened then you asking Robin out.’’
‘’Did you not hear me? Robin isn’t into guys point blank, let alone me.’’ Finney stresses.
‘’He flirts with you literally all the time.’’ Bruce deadpans.
‘’We’ve spoken on like, three occasions!’’ Finney exclaims.
‘’Yeah, and during those three times you’ve talked, he was definitely flirting with you.’’ Bruce insists, throwing his hands in the air, exasperated.
Finney shakes his head, brown curls bouncing violently. ‘’No, just no.’’
Bruce opens his mouth to say something else, but before he can the teacher walks in to start the lesson. Bruce groans a little under his breath, looking frustrated, but ultimately gives up and turns away from Finney to face the front.
Finney smirks to himself, looking ahead as well.
*****
The shrill ringing of the lunch bell sounds, and Finney starts piling his notebooks and pens into his backpack. When he finishes, he looks up to find Bruce smiling down at his phone, a light pink dust settling across his tanned cheeks.
‘’Let me guess,’’ Finney says, raising an eyebrow. ‘’Vance is texting you.’’
Bruce’s head snaps up, and he seems to realise what he looks like. He coughs and put his phone back in his trouser pocket.
‘’Let’s go, I’m starving.’’ He says, walking hurriedly away from Finney.
Finney snorts, chasing after him. As Bruce reaches the classroom door, Finney throws himself forward to try and catch his friend in a headlock. Unfortunately, he’s forgotten about the other kids also walking out the door, and Finney goes crashing into the back of a person that steps in his way.
They both go down in a tangle of limbs, and Finney lets out an embarrassingly high-pitched yelp that he knows Bruce is already laughing about.
Finney lands on top of the other person, his face hitting a hard chest with a thump. He lies there for a moment, thinking about where it went wrong, when suddenly the person underneath him groans.
Finney lifts his head, an apology on the tip of his tongue, and immediately freezes.
Because it’s Robin Arellano’s face that he sees, and it’s Robin Arellano’s chest he’s lying on.
Finney’s brain shuts down, and he just stares dumbly. He’s vaguely aware of people asking if they’re okay, and if he listens closely, he can hear Bruce giggling in the background. He doesn’t focus on any of that though because he’s quite literally just knocked the guy of his dreams off his feet.
Dark eyes meet his, and Robin’s voice cuts through the static.
‘’Hey Finn, what’s happening?’’
Finney’s mouth opens and closes a few times before he manages to force out a reply.
‘’You know, just keeping on keeping on, I guess.’’
Robin’s lips quirk, his eyes twinkling in amusement. He gestures at their predicament a little. ‘’Not that I’m complaining, but did you wanna move or what?’’
‘’Oh! Oh yeah, I’m so sorry.’’ Finney scrambles to get up, his whole body burning with humiliation.
Robin follows, dusting himself off. Finney looks frantically towards where Bruce stands, deflating when his friend just gives him a thumbs up and mouths good luck, before turning and walking away.
Finney curses under his breath, steels himself, and turns back to Robin.
It’s unfair how good he looks. He’s wearing blue jeans, and a brown sleeveless shirt that shows off his golden skin and muscular arms. His wavy brown hair rests just below his shoulders, and his signature bandana adorns his head.
Finney realises with a start that he’s just been standing there ogling Robin, and when he looks up at his face again, the boy has a small smirk gracing his lips, seemly waiting for Finney to finish checking him out.
‘’Sorry,’’ Finney blurts. ‘’Sorry for knocking you over.’’
Robin shakes his head. ‘’Don’t worry,’’ he says, and then his eyes flick up and down Finney slowly. ‘’I didn’t mind.’’
He must be dreaming. This can’t be happening. He flirts with you literally all the time were Bruce’s earlier words, and Finney had brushed him off, not believing it.
Everyone has left the classroom, it’s only them left.
Finney has never been known to make good choices in life, and before he can stop himself, his mouth acts of its own accord. ‘’Are you flirting with me?’’
It takes a second, but Finney grasps what he’s just said, and slaps a hand over his lips.
‘’Oh my god.’’ He says, the words muffled by his palm.
Robin is grinning properly now, watching him with raised eyebrows. He steps forward, tilting his head to the side.
‘’What if I am?’’
Robin’s voice is molten honey, and Finney desperately tries to remember how to make his lungs work.
His hand drops, and he’s left floundering, unsure how to reply.
Robin laughs, taking another step forward. ‘’Finn, breathe. You’re going red.’’
Finney sucks in air, fiddling with the fabric of his shirt.
‘’Sorry,’’ He gasps out. ‘’Sorry, I don’t know why I said that. Sorry.’’
Robin’s standing right in front of him, now. He leans down slightly, mere inches from Finney’s face.
‘’Well, if it’s any consolation, then yes, I am flirting with you.’’
‘’Oh.’’ Finney feels like he’s been punched – but in a good way, if that’s even possible.
‘’Oh?’’ Robin repeats.
Finney just ducks his head, the close proximity doing wonders for his nerves.
Robin’s eyes crinkle. ‘’Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?’’
Finney swallows tightly. ‘’A good thing?’’ He says, though it comes out more like a question.
Robin straightens up and reaches down to pick up his forgotten bag. Finney watches, his spine stiff with tension.
‘’Are you free after school?’’ Robin asks, slinging his bag onto his right shoulder.
Finney racks his brain, and then nods quickly.
‘’There’s a movie that’s supposed to be good showing in the cinema tonight, do you want to come with me to see it?’’
Finney’s brain once again malfunctions, and before he can stop himself, he questions: ‘’Are you asking me out?’’
Robin’s eyes sparkle. ‘’Yes Finn, I’m asking you out.’’
Finney’s mouth drops open. ‘’Oh my god.’’
‘’Is that a yes, or no?’’
‘’Yes, it’s a yes.’’ Finney replies hastily.
Robin’s expression is warm. ‘’I’ll meet you at the school gates, then.’’
Finney nods again, disbelief written across his features.
Robin gives one last smile, and then turns and walks out the door. Finney stares after him, leaning down to pick up his backpack.
He can’t believe he’s going on a date with Robin Arellano. Giddiness fills him, and he practically skips out of the classroom door.
All of a sudden, Finney groans, his face falling.
Bruce is going to be absolutely unbearable.