when robin starts working at WSQK, she collects everybodyâs favourite songs so theyâll be on hand if somebody gets vecnaed. mike feels insanely vulnerable as he tells her âsmalltown boyâ, hiding his nerves and praying she wonât listen to or already know it and somehow See Him.
robin doesnât think much of it at first, but as the week passes she starts curiously making her way through everybodyâs songs, just to feel closer and understand them better. so when she gets around to giving âsmalltown boyâ a listen, sheâs really paying attention to the lyrics.
and itâs so familiar to her, the feeling in the song, that she wonders, less a question and more amazement, if it could really be what she thinks. eager for a second opinion, she asks steve, without mentioning mike, âhey, what does this song⊠make you think of?â and replays it.
steve wanders over to listen, and as the song trails off heâs already asking, âis this one somebody gave you?â
âwhy?â she asks, suddenly thinking maybe she shouldnât have shared. she trusts steve, duh, but if mike likes the song for That reason, itâs not her secret to tell.
he squints for a few seconds before softening in understanding, nudging her reassuringly, and quietly asking, âmike or will?â
âwhat? how?â she demands.
steve wrinkles his brow, confused. âwhat? itâs not like itâs gonna be anybody else. like, we all see it, right?â
robin makes a face, then spells it out. âno?â
steve raises his eyebrows, frowning. âokay,â he says dubiously.
quietly, robin checks theyâre on the same page. âso you thinkâŠ?â
âgay? yeah. a hundred percent.â he pauses, then asks, âitâs mike, right?â
âwhat the hell, dude.â she stares as if she suspects he has some strange superpower.
he shrugs. âi dated nancy. spent a lot of time at the wheeler house. iâve been seeing those two dance around each other for like four years now.â he hesitates, then adds, âeverybody kinda knows about will, but mike dating el sort of threw me off for a bit. not that i was, like⊠theorizing about it. just noticed. but then i was right about vickie, so i was like, oh, okay, cool, mike is gay. or something.â
robin nods slowly. âholy shit, dude. if it was ethical you could totally make money off this.â
âi think youâre just really bad at it,â he says. but he looks pleased.
robin squawks indignantly, spinning in her seat. âi noticed the song!â she protests.
steve levels his gaze at her. ârob. what other meaning could it possibly have?â
robin shrugs half-heartedly and mutters something about mr. hauserâs english class and the many symbolic layers of art.
steve groans. âsure. or the dudeâs just gay.â
âof course youâd say that, mr âi hate essaysâ.â she knocks her head against his shoulder like a friendly cat.
âhey! whatâs that supposed to mean?â steve nudges her head and they dissolve into laughter.
âdâyou think i should, yâknowâŠâ she hesitates and nods toward the song.
âtalk to him?â steve asks.
âyeah.â he shrugs.
âmaybe. probably. but he might freak out. wheeler can be a bit antagonistic.â
robin nods, frowning. âand i think he already doesnât like me much.â she pauses and quirks her brow. âare you trying to use essay words now?â
âwhatâs the matter with you? thatâs a normal word. i know that word. itâs not even a big word.â
âiâm messing with you!â she tilts her head. âi dunno. maybe if i go about it real subtle.â at steveâs dubiously scrunched face, she insists, âi can do subtle! i can totally be subtle.â
he raises his hands. âi didnât say anything!â softer, he says, âyouâre a good person. you make people feel okay to be themselves. i think whatever you do will work out.â
robin blinks rapidly, then gives him a watery smile. âreally going for the heartstrings there, huh?â
steve chuckles, a crooked smile on his face. âyouâre just getting soft.â
after a pause, she says, âi think he feels really alone.â
he nods. âprobably, yeah. i mean, lonely face, crying to your soul, nobody understands. itâs a rough song.â his eyes tighten looking down at her.
âyeah,â she finally agrees. it comes out heavy. âiâll talk to him.â
steve smiles, squeezing her shoulder. she looks up and grins bravely, sniffling and wiping her eyes. âalright! letâs get a move on. we donât get paid the big bucks to slack off.â
one day, robin plays âsmalltown boyâ for the town. before it starts, she says, âthis oneâs for a friend of mine who i think feels pretty alone. if youâre out there listening, you should know thereâs people who do understand⊠even here at home.â
as the opening notes play, steve smirks and nudges her. âsubtle.â
âshut up,â she says, grinning as her heart thumps nervously. âi thought it might help if he knows iâm cool first.â
âyeah, you are,â steve agrees, even though thatâs not what she meant.
across town, mike wheeler is listening to rockinâ robinâs broadcast and feeling incredibly, vulnerably seen. but as the falsetto vocals fade out and his startled heart slows down, itâs a lot less scary than he thought it would be.






















