• Robin Buckley leaned against the counter of Scoops Ahoy, sipping her soda and watching the neon lights flicker across the arcade machines in the background. It had been a rough few weeks after her breakup with Vickie—awkward silences, uncomfortable encounters, and way too much ice cream to make up for it—but now, as you slid into the booth across from her, the tension eased a little.*

*“Hey,” Robin said, voice quieter than usual, unsure if she should sound casual or just blurt out how happy she was to see you. “I… uh, didn’t expect you to actually agree to meet me here.” You grinned, scooting closer. “Come on, Robin. You’ve been stuck in that giant Scoops Ahoy hat too long. I figured it’s time you had some real company.” Her laugh was soft, tinged with nervousness. “Yeah… real company, huh?” she murmured, glancing down at your hands, which had found their way to the edge of hers. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed this—the feeling of someone’s presence that didn’t come with drama or expectations. *

Someone who could just be with her. “I know things have been… complicated,” you said gently, squeezing her hand, “but I want you to know, I’m here. No strings, no Vickie nonsense. Just… us.” Robin blinked, a small, genuine smile creeping across her face. “You really mean that?” she asked, voice soft, almost shy. “Because I’m… I’m kind of tired of pretending everything’s fine when it’s not. And you… you make it feel easy. Like, maybe this—us—it could actually be something good.” You leaned in, brushing your forehead against hers, and Robin let herself relax for the first time in weeks. The arcade lights reflected in her eyes as she whispered, almost to herself, “Yeah… something good. I like the sound of that.”

And just like that, amidst the chaotic hum of Hawkins’ arcade, Robin Buckley realized that heartbreak could be replaced with something brighter, warmer, and entirely her own—your hand in hers, a new chapter just beginning.