Robin

Twelve hours left.

I only needed to go twelve more hours without thinking of anything negative. That seems pretty easy, right? Hell no.

Yesterday, I went to the doctor for my monthly checkup. Everything went fine until he noticed my blood pressure had gone up. He suggested I go a day without being negative, claiming it would lower the stress.

This morning started off rough. I was biting my tongue and glaring nearly the whole time. But now I sit in my office, drinking a warm cup of tea calmly as peaceful music plays.

"Kelly." I say.

She looks up from her desk. "Yes, Ma'am?"

I smile. "How is your day?"

Her eyes widen. "Ms. Davis, I apologize deeply about the coffee incident the other day but I can assure you firing me is not the ans-"

I laugh, "I'm not firing you. I'm simply curious about how your day is going."

She stares at me suspiciously for a moment before a wide smile forms on her face. "Really?"

"Mm-hmm. What did you eat today?"

She drops her binder, shock written all over her features. "Holy crap. Oh my god. I don't even know how to process this. I've always dreamed of having a normal conversation with you that didn't result in you yelling at m-"

The door opens and August strides in. He slams his hands on my desk. "We have a fucking problem."

Instead of scolding him, I lean forward with a smile. "How may I help you?"

His brows furrow in confusion and he twirls his finger at me and the office. "What the fuck is this?"

"What?"

"What's with the peaceful music? Why are you not yelling at me?"

I shrug. "Today is all about positivity. Tomorrow is about revenge for positivity." I pat his hand. "Now, what can I do for you?"

He jerks his hand back. "Stop it. Stop being nice. It's freaking me out, Robin." He takes a seat. "Marie and Damien want to make some changes to the wedding."

"What kind of changes?"

"The whole theme. I'm no expert like you, but shit is bad, isn't it?"

"No."

His eyes widen. "Yes it is! How do they expect us to change the whole theme in less than a month?"

I close my eyes and exhale a deep breath. "Everything is going to be fine. We'll find a way." I say and open my eyes.

August stands up, staring at me as if I have just shot him or something. He holds my shoulders and shakes me. "Where the fuck is Robin Davis? I want her. I need her." He whispers, searching my eyes.

August and I come up with a schedule to accommodate the new wedding theme and soon he leaves, promising to call me later. After work, Henry takes me to the coffee shop and we talk about him. He tells me he likes this version of me far more than the other, which was the exact opposite of August. Henry wanted the fake, kind and naïve Robin, but August wanted the mean, bitchy, and stubborn Robin.

Once Henry takes me home, I do the same thing I have done since I ended things with August; Painting.

After mom passed away, I have been finding ways to distract myself from breaking down. After trying and failing many other activities, I finally came to the conclusion that painting was the best fit for me.

Around midnight, I go to sleep. In the morning, since I didn't have work today, the first place I visit is the gym. I knew August would be in there as he usually did on Saturday mornings. I use a treadmill for about thirty minutes before moving onto the weights.

I try to lift a one-hundred-eighty pound weight but fail tremendously, making me frown in confusion. Normally, this wouldn't be as much as a struggle. I exhale a deep breath, trying to remain calm and not freak out as I usually would.

I continue to try to lift it, but it won't go past my thighs. I lower it, feeling my anger about to burst from my body.

"Fuck." I mutter, dropping the weight completely.

I glance at August, who is easily lifting one and rolls my eyes. After a moment, he turns to me with a frown. I look away as he sets the weight down and begins walking towards me. Once reaches me, he wraps his arms around my waist and hugs me from behind. He snuggles his head in the crook of my neck and when he is about to kiss it, his jaw tightens and he decides against it.

"What's up?" He asks, his cool breath hitting my ear.

"Nothing."

His hold tightens on me. "Robin, what's wrong? Did he do something? I swear to God I'll break every bone in his body if he's treating you wrong."

"He didn't do anything. It's this weight. I can't lift it up past my thighs."

I look at him through the corner of my eye and see him glance at the weight before he begins laughing.

"Pussy." He mumbles.

I hit his arm, a glare settling on my face. "Fuck you, August. This feels like torture to me."

He smiles and lets go of me. August picks up the weight and makes me hold it with him. "You just need to concentrate."

"Maybe I'm just not as strong anymore."

He faces me with a frown. "Bullshit. This Henry fucker is making you think less of yourself. You can and you will lift that weight."

I shake my head. "No, I ca-"

"What is it, Robin?"

I turn away, trying to hide the smile that wants to escape. August cups my face and makes me face him. "What is it?"

I get out of his hold, a smile appearing on my face despite how much I didn't want it to.

"Lightweight." I mumble.

Every time I was struggling, even if it's something I know fully well I can't do, he tells me;

"That's lightweight for you, gorgeous. You can handle it."

Most of the time I want to yell at him for it, but as much as I didn't want to admit it, I loved when he did that.

"Damn right." He replies. August hands the weight to me and gives a love tap to my ass before backing up.

He calls over the guys that work out with me and tells them something I can't hear. Shortly after, they all crowd around me as I exhale a deep breath, preparing to lift the weight.

"You got this!" Ashton shouts, making other people at the gym turn around.

"No she doesn't." Liam grumbles as August stands with his hands on his knees.

"Kiss my ass, Liam."

"Lightweight, baby." August says and I nod.

Shutting my eyes, I grunt as I begin lifting the weight. They continue to encourage me and my smile grows wider every time I lift it higher.

"That's it baby. Just like that." Ashton groans.

The smile drops from August's face and he stands in front of Ashton. "Watch your fuckin' mouth."

"What? I can't help it. Robin does things to me." He runs his hands over his body, a smirk resting on his face. "Sexual things."

August instantly grabs Ashton by his collar. His feet dangle in the air as August speaks. "The fuck did you just say?"

Ashton holds his hands up in defense and laughs. "I'm joking, I'm joking. Calm your tits, dude."

Biting my lip in determination, I grunt, feeling as if my arms are going to break at any moment. I lift higher and when I finally hold the weight up fully, I drop it quickly and breathe a sigh of relief. I smile widely and face August.

"I did it, I did it!"

August drops Ashton and engulfs me in a hug before picking me up. "That's my girl!"

August

I knock on the front door to Richy's house for the third time, growing impatient. "Richy, I'm about to leave your ass!" I shout.

No one responds. As I am about to knock again, the door opens and Richy's mom stands behind it. I hug her quickly. "Hey, Ms. J. Is Richy ready?"

"August." She starts and when I look closer, I notice she has been crying. "Richard's missing."

"What?"

"He never came home from school." She replies and sniffles.

"Well, that doesn't mean he's missing, Ms. J. He could have just gone with some friends."

She shakes her head. "No. You know him, August. He would tell one of us first. Not to mention he left his backpack this morning."

I try to think nothing of it, but something comes to mind. "What day is it?"

Ms. J frowns. "Thursday, why is that impor-"

I run a hand through my hair and begin walking to my car. "Fuck."

I hear her follow behind me. "What? What happened?"

I open the car door hurriedly and get inside. When she is about to get in the passenger's seat, I hold my hand out. "Ms. J, it's better if you stay."

Her nostrils flare. "Have you lost your mind? I'm going."

"No you're not." I reply, locking the car and starting it.

"August-"

"Someone wants Richy dead, Ms.J. Today is the day he claimed to do that. I'm not going to risk your life by bringing you along. So, just stay right here and don't move, you understand that?"

A tear falls down her face as she nods. "Okay, I can do that."

I grab her hand. "Stay in the house and lock all the doors. Don't open it for anyone, all right?"

I back up just as she nods. As I drive away, panic and anger rise inside of me, but I don't let it overtake me. The only thing I needed to focus on right now was finding Richy.

I had an inkling of where they might have him. The place where it first began; The jewelry store.

Richy's father opened up his own jewelry store before he committed. He left it behind for Richy and me as a legacy. Richy's father was also close with many people. When he gave that to us, it infuriated some people, as they believed they deserved it.

For the past few years, I've had one of his brothers manage the store while I was gone and until Richy is old enough. But three years later, I found out he was stealing money from us. Hundreds of thousands of dollars had been taken. I beat him half to death for it out of anger and he was sent to county jail for three years and had to pay a huge ass fine. I should have put a bullet between his eyes when I had the chance.

When I arrive at the jewelry store, I grab my gun out of the safety department and rush inside. The lights are out and silence fills the room. I walk cautiously, pointing my gun in front of me as I do so.

"You're a little late, kid."

I turn around at the sudden voice. I don't waste any time. Rage pulsing through my veins, I slap the gun across his face, making him fall to the ground before he can say another word. I stand over him and throw a punch.

"Where is he?" I shout, connecting my fist against his jaw again.

He doesn't answer. That only increases my anger. I throw another punch, this time hitting his gut. Another to his cheek. His jaw. Mouth. Everywhere, until I can barely make out his face from all the blood.

"I promise you, I will blow your fucking head off if you don't tell me where Richard is." I warn.

When I aim the gun at his temple, he holds his hand up. "In front of the dumpster outside." He grumbles, blood oozing out of his mouth as he turns to his side.

I tuck the gun in my pocket and run to the backdoor rapidly. Once I am outside, I check in front of the dumpster. My heart stops.

I kneel on the ground instantly. Richard lies on the ground, bleeding out of his stomach and legs. A small smile forms across his face when he sees my watery eyes.

"You're a fuckin' softy, bro." He chokes up, blood falling out of his mouth as his eyes flutter open and closed.

"Richy, shut the fuck up." I say, taking my jacket off.

"Love you man." He whispers, his eyes falling closed.

I hurriedly place the jacket on his stomach. It does nothing, only drenches my jacket and shaky hands in his blood. I glance at Richy when he doesn't open his eyes again.

"Come on Richy, open your eyes."

There is no grin. No stupid remark to piss me off. Instead, only silence.

A tear falls down and I quickly wipe it away aggressively. "Richy, wake up!"

I shake him, not knowing what else to do as my vision blurred from my tears.

"Richard! Get the hell up, right fucking now! Wake up!"