Today was quickly shaping up to be one of Robin’s favorite Saturdays, and she had a feeling she would remember this weekend for a long time to come.
Sipping her peach tea, Robin listened in on her friends’ conversation. When Juniper suggested they go out somewhere, Robin thought of places that would be fun, such as Gatewater Land or the Berry Big Circus.
But before she could say anything Hugh began talking about his home situation. While Hugh had a nice enough place, it came at the cost of a very stressful, delicate balancing act.
“I know you can keep up with everything, Hugh!” Robin exclaimed. “But don’t be afraid to ask us for a little help if you really need it!”
When asked about her own home situation, Robin immediately flinched. In her mind, she relived the explosive argument she had had with her parents. How could she put it to her friends?
“It could be worse. I have a roof over my head and food to eat,” Robin answered, uncharacteristically quiet. “My parents and I aren’t talking to each other right now. Honestly, that’s an improvement.”
Almost in perfect unison, Juniper and Hugh reached out to touch Robin comfortingly. Juniper placed her hand over Robin's, and Hugh placed his on her shoulder.
"If it becomes too much, you're free to stay with me." She offered easily. She didn't know the full extent of how Robin and Hugh had been treated, but the places her imagination took her were enough to make her shudder. Hugh nodded, looking serious.
"Yes, the offer extends to my home as well. You're a legal adult now, Robin, you don't need to stay there." He was giving her a long look over, considering her face and skin as if comparing it to something in his mind. "Food and shelter isn't...Worth your sanity." Juniper regarded him with a morbid sort of curiosity. She could make guesses as to what he'd meant by that. Surely they could discuss it later, however, it seemed like a more 'in the quiet of the night' sort of discussion. She also noticed that he'd glanced over at her for a moment before pointedly going back to look at Robin. Hmm...
Before too much more could be said, Juniper flinched when the phone went off, snapping her out of her thoughts. Excusing herself, she answered the phone. With the phone in the same room, it was easy to overhear that she was talking to another member of the student council. Once she was finished with her call, Juniper turned around to address her friends.
"So! Ah, that was Varyn." Varyn was Juniper's vice president. "He's asked me to pick up decorations for the Spring Festival." She explained that he'd done the ordering for the special decorations, but they'd arrived earlier than planned and he couldn't get them himself. "The seller is at the mall~ Care to come with me?"
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The mall itself was a large and glorious building. After stepping inside, Juniper checked the mall directory.
"The store I need to go to is on the third floor. It's early, however, so we can hang around here~ Did you have any places you wanted to go to?"