13 - Family

"Robin!" She ran up to her, throwing her arms around her waist as tears streamed down the little girl's cheeks.

Kneeling, she tilted her head back to see Erin. Straight away, another wave of guilt washed over her. Her head whirled with pain. She didn't want to cry in front of the small redhead. She was supposed to be strong and not break down. But how could she remain stoic? Her emotions were so strong, so intense, so omnipotent. Robin's tears mixed with Erin's as she squeezed the girl she had come to love over the past months.

But, she knew it would all be for the best - for both of them. They needed to get out of that house, and if it meant giving up her own happiness in trade for both of their safety, the decision was well worth it. That was the reason she told herself.

"Come on, Robin," said Ms Hartman. The woman with her attractive suit stood patiently by the red car.

Slowly, purposefully, Robin stood up. "Erin, make sure you stay the great little girl you are. Help out your mother, and go easy on her."

Erin wiped away her tears with the side of her index finger. "Write me, okay?" She asked.

"I will, you too?"

Erin nodded with a small smile. "And call too!"

Robin gave the girl one last hug. "Of course."

"Erin." Ms Collins said. Having gotten their attention, she walked up to Robin. Having already said her goodbyes, it was easier to let her go. Embracing Robin, she whispered, "Stay safe, and I want you to know that you always have a place to stay with us. You have our number, don't be shy to call it."

"Thank you, Ms Collins." She pulled back, the warmth from the two girls left her body, replacing the warm with coldness. Her heart slipped as she turned around. She will herself not to look back knowing her emotions would break like a porcelain doll, but she couldn't help herself from turning around. It was an impossible urge to evade.

"It's gonna be okay," Ms Hartman said. She slipped into the driver's seat, closing the door.

Robin lingered out the passenger's side before climbing in. Her eyes fell to her feet as did her heart, causing her chest to hurt. The pain was as worse as a child learning for the first time that there was no such man who gave free presents because of his or her merit. She sniffled, biting her lip as her eyes glazed over. Averting her gaze to the tinted window beside her, she let the tears drip from her lashes.

"It's okay, Robin." The woman with manicured nails softly touched Robin's sleeve.

"I guess." She cupped her neck, absentmindedly rubbing her warm skin. Her fingers travelled to the collar of her black shirt with an 'I Heart Yoshi' message on her chest. They played with the seams as her mind drifted away.

Robin's head shot up from the tiles as she jumped to her feet. Her knees felt like they were going to fail her as she struggled to stretch her legs. As she toddled to the front door, she kept her balance with some help from the wall. The three locks unlocked and the door cracked open. A huge smile appeared on Robin's lips, feeling unnatural to her cheeks but spread at an eagle wingspan just the same. Her fingers twisted the golden storm door lock.

"Robin!" Erin jumped into Robin's arms.

"Hey, Er!" She beamed with joy, her eyes twinkled as she hugged her. "Good afternoon, Ma'am."

"Good afternoon. Robin, right?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

Erin climbed down and ran into the kitchen calling: "Daddy!"

Robin stepped aside to let Ms Collins pass. "How are you?"

"I'm well, thank you. Yourself?"

"Fine, thanks."

"Erin! My little girl, how are you? I've missed you so much!"

Erin's shrills with joy vibrated in the halls upstairs.

The ceiling creaked as Mr Bishop's laugh joined the girl's.

"Daddy, come on, come on!"

Even with the carpeted steps, Robin heard the sound of her feet thump against the steps. She smiled, Erin was a bundle of joy and energy, and the Irish girl was always happy to draw others to her warmth.

"Robin, is dinner prepared?"

"Yes. Let me just warm it up a little, it may have gotten cold."

"Sure." The chairs from the dining room pulled out from their places.

"So, what did you do this weekend, Erin?"

"So much, Daddy!"

"Robin," Ms Hartman called.

Robin's face twisted. 'What is Ms Hartman doing in the dining room?'

"Robin."

She flinched and whirled around with the casserole dish in her between her hands. How did she get in the kitchen so quick? And, what the hell is she wearing? Although she was tempted to stare, she didn't.

The woman wore all black, but her attire was completely different than her normal suit and skirt garb. In fact, she wore something more toward a casual outfit - denim jeans and a long sleeve running shirt. The fashion clashed, as they were two different shades of black.

"Robin!" Ms Hartman said, louder than the last. "Robin!"

She nearly jumped out of her skin when Ms Hartman's hand clasped on the top of her shoulder. Just shy of violently, Robin yelped, the social worker's hand radiated a sharp, acute pain all across her flesh. The stab in her muscles was similar to scalding water - almost unbearable, but once it reached a certain layer of her nerves it numbed.

"Robin!"

She jolted, her heart was pounding at the rate of a jackhammer pogoing in concrete. A cough ripped from her throat as her hand shot to her arm where the burn on her shoulder was prominent. Except, all the pain vanished. There was no trace of it anywhere. Huffing, Robin let her grasp fall. "Where are we?"

"At the Simms'. Remember?"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, I remember." The news, even though it was old, stung. It was another reminder that Erin and she would never wake up to see each other in the morning or say goodnight at bedtime. If was another reminder of someone who left her behind. It was another reminder how awful and toxic she was to relationships. No matter how hard she tried, everyone abandoned her - no matter how hard she tried not to try, everyone abandoned her. There was no 'greener on the other side', no 'somewhere over the rainbow', no three clicks of ruby slippers to bring her 'home'. Wherever home was.

"Robin, are you okay?"

'Well, I just lost about the only person I have ever cared about more than my own parents, and now she will be down in Oklahoma or some other state hours away. So chances of seeing her are slim to nothing. I am better than okay. I feel just fan-fucking'tastic! Thanks for asking.'

Robin almost glared at the woman. Instead, her tone went as flat as the line of a person's whose heart stopped on a pulse counter. "I'm fine." She hopped out of the car before Ms Hartman had the chance to question her further. Practically slamming the door, Robin flung open the door to the back seat, and yanked out her duffel. The door slapped the rubber cushion just as hard.

"Robin!"

She ignored her call as she stomped to the door where an American Flag flapped in the wind. It was smiling. Its thirteen stripes, alternating red and white, and its blue rectangle, on the upper corner smack to the pole, twinkled and beamed. It may have saluted; the wind pushed it out and whipped the flag out like so.

"Robin, I know you're upset-"

"Hell yeah I'm upset! I just lost the only person alive that I care about! Who wouldn't be fuckin' upset!" She snapped. As soon as the words left her mouth, Robin slapped her palm over her lips.

Both of them were silent.

Ms Hartman looked stunned.

"I-I'm so sorry, I-I didn't mean-"

The woman in gold flashed her palm. "No, no. I get it. I understand, Robin. It's okay." She pivoted on her heels and walked up the two steps to the wrap around porch.

Robin's head bowed with shame. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so mean."

The woman smiled, pity - the look Robin hated almost as much as perverted lust - flashed in her brown eyes. "It's alright," she said as Robin joined her on the porch. "You've been through so much this past month." The excuse was lame, and both of them knew it wouldn't assuage Robin's conscience. Sighing, Ms Hartman hugged Robin. "I forgive you, okay? Don't worry about it." She puffed. "It certainly isn't a word I've never heard. In fact, I can bet you that I've heard enough profanities to fill the Oxford dictionary!" Tilting her head back, Ms Hartman let out a throaty chuckle, but she stopped when she noticed her laughter was alone. "I promise. We're all good."

"Okay," Robin said. She still felt uneasy.

Ms Hartman's knuckles clapped on the door.

She felt the exact same way she did a month ago when she met the Bishops. Snorting, she couldn't help but wonder how long she would last in this house. This time, she promised herself not to feel. No matter how much she would want to, she needed to refrain from becoming attached. It would end in heartbreak. Erin had. For every investment into a relationship, she had to sell a bit of her heart. Every time someone left, a heart vanished like the way it would in a combat video game. But, somehow, oddly, we still had hearts in stock. They were waiting to be spent.

The door separated from its hinges.

Robin's heart quickened and she bit her lips.

"Hi, I'm Ms Hartman, this is Robin."

She waved and put her hand down.

"Hi," the woman said. She stepped out of the screen door. "I'm Kristine Simms. Honey!" She called over her shoulder. "It's Ms Hartman!"

"Coming!" He yelled louder, "Kids, go to the door, please!" The couple both had accents a kin to Ms Hartman.

Robin shifted. Kids meant there were more reasons to grow attached, more chances to have her heart broken, more people she needed to shut out to save her heart.

One head poked out from behind the door.

"Darling, come on, don't be shy." Mrs Simms patted the boy's bum.

He was small boned and short, shorter than Erin. His lips moved, but the words caught in the breeze.

"You need to speak a little louder, hon. I'm right here and I can't hear you."

His shoulders caved in and he wiggled his foot boyishly.

Robin waited at the door.

"I'm sorry, he's just a tad shy around new people. He's really sweet once he warms up to you."

Robin nodded. Oh, she more than understood.

"Mum, what did you need?" A guy came to the door.

"Oh! Come out here!" She clung to his arm and dragged him out.

"Who are you?" His tone was not inviting, but it wasn't terribly cold either.

Robin flinched. Her gaze dropped to the side.

"Tyler!" She swatted his arm. "Don't be rude."

"Sorry."

Robin timidly turned her head back.

"I'm Tyler, and you are?"

Ms Hartman looked at Robin. Sighing, she spoke. "I'm Ms Hartman, Robin, care to introduce yourself?"

She swallowed, hating the attention. "I'm Robin."

Tyler whispered to his mother, though, his whisper was less than quiet.

"Yeah, now, do be nice."

Robin read her lips, and couldn't help the small smirk.

"Hey hon." Mr Simms almost pushed through the door. "Hi, I'm Keith, Kris's husband." His hand stuck out.

Ms Hartman accepted his gesture. "Ms Hartman," she said with a toothpaste smile.

"I'm Robin." Robin tentatively shook his hand. She didn't want to, but she needed to be polite. Shivering, she felt eyes on her. Tyler. Quickly dropping his hand, Robin retreated her hand to the duffel strap.

"Come in! It's chilly outside!" Mrs Simms stepped back, dragging the younger boy with her.

The boy held her forearms, wrapping them around himself.

Ms Hartman stepped inside first, followed by Robin. "What a lovely home you have," she said. "Oh! I absolutely adore photo! It's precious!"

"Tyler took it for the family reunion. Was it three or four years ago?"

"Ah, I'm not sure. I think it was the year after Blake left."

"Oh, yes!" She snapped her fingers. Swivelling around, Mrs Simms smiled. "Blake was our first foster child. He left for UCLA."

A ring interrupted Ms Hartman. Excuse me, I need to take this, sorry." Her hand slipped into her Gucci purse, or was it Coach?

Robin eyed Ms Hartman's barbie nails as she slipped the mobile out of its pouch.

She put her hand up to her ear and ducked out. "Hello?"

Watching the woman in gold, Robin tilted her head, curiosity glimmering in her blue eyes.

"Robin," Mrs Simms said.

"Yes, Ma'am?"

The woman placed her hands akimbo. "Oh my, do I look that old?"

Surprised, Robin's head tilted down. "No, Ma-Ms, of course not. I-I didn't mean to make you feel-"

"Ha! It's fine. I was just kidding. I'm not offended, I am getting up in the ages." She smiled cheerfully. "But I will not tolerate this ma'am business. You either call me Kris or-"

"Mrs Simms?"

She sighed, pursing her lips. "Fine." A beat passed.

"Mum," Tyler said. "Kitchen?"

"Oops!" Her hand flew to her head. "Oh my goodness! Ahh!" She shot past Tyler and speed walked to the open kitchen.

Tyler leant against the wall with his eyes straight on Robin and his arms crossed.

Robin turned her back, uncomfortable with his stare. Looking at the door, she felt a magnetic, invisible force trying to push her to the door where Ms Hartman stood at on the other side.

"So, how old are you?"

"Hm?"

He rolled his eyes and tsked, but Robin ignored his obvious annoyance. "How old are you?"

"I'm seventeen, and you are?"

"Out of your league."

Robin wanted to smack the smirk off his face, but she didn't want to bounce around to different houses like she had been for every day since Ms Hartman came around to check on her at the Bishop's two weeks ago. This one was supposed to be 'the one', she had said. However, Robin was beginning to doubt the statement's validity.

"Don't give me that look."

She gave it harder as she narrowed her eyes.

"I'm nineteen. Ha! You should see your face!"

Her anger let up, replacing her face with an askance expression.

"Why, you have a problem with it?"

"No, it's just really cute when you scrunch up your nose like that." He snapped around and left without moment's notice.

Standing stunned, Robin furrowed her eyebrows. 'What a weird guy,' she thought as her feet took her to the door.

"Thanks for telling me, Will, alright. Bye." Ms Hartman ended the call and turned around. "Ah!" She screamed as her hand flew to her chest. "Shite, Jesus Christ! Robin, don't sneak up on me like that! Robin, you gave me a fright!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Her eyebrows knitted as she crossed her arms. "That was a private conversation, how long were you standing there for?"

Tucking in her chin, Robin's voice softened to a diffident whisper. "I just heard you say goodbye."

The woman uncrossed her arms and sighed. "Look, I'm sorry for being so cross, but I take patient confidentiality very serious. You understand, don't you?"

Her eyes cast to the side as her face flushed with embarrassment. "Of course. I didn't mean-" Robin said.

"Robin, Ms Hartman!" Mrs Simms called, "Dinner's ready!"

Ms Hartman passed Robin, a small scowl, almost unnoticeable, played at her lips.

I'm dedicating this to DenmarkHarris, for my interview, all my friends on the Nobody Over 100 thread, the LOL-35 thread, and my friends in the_cbc! You've brighten my days with your comments and novels, made me look forward to talking to people, gotten me to come out of my shell some, laugh (a lot!), and learn to live a little! Thank you all so much!

In the spirit of #Wattys2015, please check out these members and their entries for the Watty's 2015! I am attaching a link to this chapter! :)