Blank By:Ashlie Brown The clang and Clamor of her last hour classes bell filled the air, yet Robin Ann Marie stayed in her seat, and waited for her classmates to slowly file out along with the new kids. It was the start of the weekend, and all Robin wanted to do was hang out with her friends and soon to be adopted father, Mr. John T. Parker, also her drama teacher. She waited like usual for him to get all his belongings organized before she took off with her best friend, and only guy friend, Peter. "Headed to the library again?", John asked her as he put some papers, that had been thrown haphazardly on his desk, into his small brown leather bag. "Yes, Peter and I are going to find a new book to read for English." Robin told him. "Alright," John said as he offered them a lift, but his offer was shot down because Robin liked to walk, and she knew he had a teachers meeting that he was trying to avoid. What Robin didn't know was that the meeting was for a secret organization of teachers called the T.P.S. Teacher Protection Services, where teachers from all over inform each other about what is happening with their students, and John was most definitely going to be late. As Peter and Robin walked along the road side they had made small conversation about their futures and school. It had only taken them 12 minutes to get to the large rustic building. When the two seventeen year olds entered, they immediately started searching for an amazing book to read. The pair had gone shelf to shelf, yet they had not found that one book which really pops out at you and makes you say that it's the one. "I found something!" Peter called Robin from the next aisle. When Robin came around the corner he was holding an egg white colored book titled Blank in bold black letters and black printed demon wings on its cover. "Wow, I come here almost everyday yet I have never seen this book." She pointed out," I wonder if it's new?" Peter opened the book to find out when it had been printed, but it did not say. Next, he turned the book over to find out who wrote it, but again he could not find the information. "What kind of book is this? It has no publishing date or author." Peter asked not really caring what the answer was. "Oh, how mysterious." Robin said grinning, " I wonder if it's any good." "You'll just have to wait to find out." Peter told her, "I'm reading it first." "What? Why do you get to read it first?" She asked him getting ready to debate him to death. "Well, one I read faster than you, and two I found it before you did." He told her matter-of-factly as he pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose in victory. She had forgot how he was the debate team's captain and president. " Fine, but I get it after you," She mumbled in defeat. For the rest of the time, they spent it reading, Peter reading the mysterious white book and Robin re-reading "Dracula" by Bram Stroker, her favorite novel. It was now close to five o'clock and she had to go. She told Peter goodbye, barely getting a reaction from the reading teen, and went outside to meet John. "So, find any good books you haven't already read?" John asked jokingly as Robin got into the passenger seat of his old yellow mustang. He always joked about how one day they'd have to move so she can read all the books in a different library because she had already read all of this ones books. "I didn't but Peter did," She informed him. "I see you got stuck with that vampire book again" The brown haired man joked. "I didn't get stuck with it! You know it's my favorite book!" Robin told him knowing he was only trying to get a reaction from her. "Ok, sure honey, whatever you say," John told her driving into their drive way with a grin on his face. "How was your teacher meeting?" She asked him changing the subject. "Good kinda boring," he told her. When actually it was not okay, there were insane reports from different schools all over the country. They were about how all the so called nerds were suddenly losing interest in school, getting dizzy, passing out, and wearing darker clothing along with a change in personality. He knew how smart Robin was and he was worried for her safety because whatever was happening was happening fast. The rest of the day flew by and so did the rest of the weekend leaving the essance of happiness in its wake. Sunday night they ate pizza and had a movie night in which Robin fell asleep on her dad. John picked her up and took her upstairs towards her bedroom. When John was carrying her up the stairs she started to stir in his arms. "Night baby," John said setting her down on her bed. "G'night daddy" She slurred as she snuggled into her bed and fell back asleep. He stayed there by the light switch thinking about his T.P.S meeting and how he was going to protect his daughter, no matter what. The next morning was like any other, John woke Robin up and went to take a shower, while Robin went downstairs to make breakfast for the both of them. This morning was eggs, bacon, and hash browns. Then John drove them to school, parked in the teachers lots and headed to his class room, while Robin headed over to meet Peter and Meg in the cafeteria. She always found her two friends sitting towards the left far back corner of the room. It was like that the entire week up until Thursday when she noticed a change, the three new kids, Kendra Lyon, Rena Kage, and the leader of their pack Nick Paige were sitting at the table behind them. Also something different about today was that Peter was not sitting with Meg, he was sitting with the new kids. "Hey Meg," Robin greeted sitting down at the table across the younger brunette, " What's up with that look?" "Well actually, I don't know. I think I just don't like the fact that Peter didn't even say hi to me this morning." Meg informed her. "He didn't say hi to you? That's odd," Robin said looking past Meg to where Peter was sitting. "Yeah, he didn't even acknowledge me when I called his name," Meg told her with a hint of sadness on her face. "Here let me talk to him," Robin told Meg standing up. Just then the bell rang and all the students scattered like ants in a rain storm, and Peter was nowhere to be found. "It's ok we'll talk to him later," Meg told her. "I have drama class with him. I could talk to him then?" Robin told her as the two girls walked down the over crowded corridors towards their first hour. "Sounds good to me," Meg agreed as she walked into her class room. For Robin, her normal day had changed, her best friend was ignoring her and avoiding her. At lunch Peter did not even show his face. By the time seventh hour rolled around she was ready to confront him about his rude behavior. So Robin waited outside the classroom for him to arrive, and when the warning bell rang she could not wait any longer. John gave her a look, then started class. It was about ten minutes into the hour when the door to the room squeaked open, and sure enough there was Peter and Nick meandering in. "Mr. Paige I know it's your second day so I will let this one slide, but you Mr. Krell I did not expect you to be coming in so late. Please meet with me after class." Mr. Parker told him then waited for them to take their seats before continuing with his lesson. The whole class hour felt like days had gone by, not minutes. All Robin could do was stare in bewilderment at her friend, whom she had known since before her parents died, and wonder what could make him act this way. The only thing not changed was his love for books because he was still reading that book he got from the library. She had been oblivious to the worried glances from her teacher and father. When the bell finally rang the class exited leaving her and Nick alone in the classroom as Peter and John talked behind closed doors. She was not sure why but Nick kind of gave her the creeps. She had been putting stuff in her bag when she looked up to see Nick fairly close to her, making her jump in surprise. "Sorry, you scared me. I didn't know you were still here." Robin told Nick taking a step backwards. " Would you like to walk to the library with us?" Nick asked suddenly. It had been the first time she heard his voice, it was a low rough demanding voice that pushed her away further. "Actually I have stuff to do today with my dad, sorry," Robin lied hoping he would go away. When he did not back off she grabbed her stuff and started walking away, only to be stopped by Peter grabbing her arm. "Come on we're going to the library," Peter demanded fiercely clutching Robin's arm. "Ouch, Peter, let go," Robin pleaded as she tried to wiggle from his iron grasp. "No," He told her trying to pull her out the door. "Stop!" She screamed at him for the first time in her life, getting the attention of John, who had been sending an E-Mail to T.P.S. about his suspicions. "What's going on in here?" John demanded to know. Seeing tears start to spring up in Robins eyes was enough, "alright both of you have detention Friday after school! I expect to see you there!" John handed the two boys their slips of paper and had them head out before talking to Robin. "Hey kiddo, you okay? What happened?" John asked handing her a tissue. " I'm not sure, one minute Peter is talking to you, the next he is trying to drag me out the door. I don't understand what happened he was fine last week but this week, he changed. Did you know that he hasn't turned in a single paper this week? It's already dropped him to a C," Robin rambled off fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. John did all he knew how to do when comforting someone, he hugged her, holding her close till she calmed down. After a few minutes of silent sobs from the girl in his arms he stood up, went into his office and bought her her favorite soda. "Better?" he asked her. All she did was nod as she took another sip of soda. "Good because I have something that we can be happy about." He said taking out approved adoption papers. In all the time John had known Robin, he had never seen her smile so big before. " Really? You mean it? You're officially my dad!" She squealed and hugged him again. When they got home that night they ordered Chinese food and watched a movie that was on television . All the excitement of the day had got to Robin and she was suddenly really tired. She said good night to her father and trudged up to her room, and got ready for bed. The next day, Robin decided she was not going to let yesterday's events get in her way, after all it was Friday.That morning did not go as planned, as soon as she sat down with Meg, as if right on que, there came Peter and Nick. It was getting stranger and stranger, Peter was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, a black shirt with skulls on it and a black hooded jacket, totally out of his normal shorts and anime club t-shirts. " Hey, we just wanted to say sorry about yesterday," Peter told her. "Yeah, so to make it up to you we brought you the book," Nick said pulling it out, and handing it to her. "Well, I guess I over reacted a little," Robin said looking at the white book, not noticing the small smile on the two boys' faces. "Why don't we all sit together today?" Meg chimed in, just as the bell rang and they all dispensed. "Maybe tomorrow," Robin encouraged as they stood up from the table. Robin was actually really excited to read Blank she had even gotten ahead in her classes so she could read in class. Throughout the day she read almost one fourth of the book. When it came to drama class she could not put the book down, she was oblivious to the world. When John called her name she did not even look up, she was so engrossed in the writing on each page to notice the bell had rang and school had been out for twenty minutes. John pulled up a chair and sat it in front of her desk, just sitting there for a moment. He watched her eyes darting back and forth for each line change. "Robin," He said louder. This time he got a reaction, even though he made her nearly jump out of her seat. "Sorry," She said noticing him. "Did you listen to anything I said all hour? I only ask is because each time I looked up at you, you were reading," John asked gently. "No." She answered truthfully, while shamefully looking towards the floor. "We can talk about this later, it's Friday and I don't want to be the last teacher here," He told her jokingly. She gave him a half-hearted smile and grabbed her backpack. The car ride home was unusually quiet because of the fact that Robin was reading. John was starting to worry for his daughter, the whole night she had stayed hidden away in her bedroom. He had to go get her for dinner,even then she gave him little attention. "Hey, so you want to talk about why you're so quiet today? Was it because of Peter?" John asked getting her attention away from whatever fantasy world she had been in. "Peter and I are okay dad," Robin told him eating another spoonful of pasta. "You are? Did he tell you what happened?" He asked surprised. "No, but he apologized," She said still not looking at him in the eyes. "Are you mad at me?" John asked before he realized he had. "No, I think I'm just tired is all. May I be excused?" She told him, finally acknowledging him by looking at him. "Let me get your plate," he told her walking around the table to her side. As she went to stand up, she got light headed and started to sway. Luckily John had been next to her to steady her before she fell. His heart nearly skipped a beat when she almost collapsed into his arms. He pulled out one of the dining room chairs and had her sit. "Kiddo, are you ok?" John asked putting his hand on her forehead," You're a little warm. Do you feel sick?" "I'm okay, I'm okay," Robin said. "I just felt dizzy all of a sudden, and I kind of have a headache." "Must be from all the reading you did today. Here let me help you to your room." He said grabbing her arm to steady her as they ascended the steps. When John got her to her room, he gave her a glass of water and told her to get some sleep. He went down stairs to his office and frantically searched his notes for what the symptoms that students were getting, and started to memorize them. That night John did not get much sleep, he was too concerned about Robin. Even though he was not one hundred percent sure, he stayed up researching the other students whom had been acting strangely. Thus far, he could not connect any dots besides that the three new kids,who now come to his school, had been effected. Some how this problem had been passed from Nick to Peter and now it seems that his Robin has it also. John must have fallen asleep sometime early that morning because he woke up to his phone alarm going off, he had been so busy he forgot to turn it off. He went up stairs to check on Robin, which was still sound asleep, curled up in her bed. After it turned ten o'clock, he decided he was going to wake her up, but when he opened her door she was already awake and reading. "Oh, you're up. How do you feel?" John asked sitting on her bed. "Better still have a headache," Robin told him not taking her eyes off her book. "I was thinking we could make some pancakes," John told her. "Ok I guess we could do that. What time is it?" She asked him setting down her book. "Ten O'clock. You slept in," He told her with a smile. "I guess you can officially call me a teen," She joked. Her remark made him smile, yesterday he had been so sure she had changed but now he was not so sure. The day went on, they made a huge mess in the kitchen and ate blueberry pancakes for lunch. John had been observing her actions throughout the day and she seemed the same but a little run down, he was questioning weather she had a cold. That night while sitting on the couch and talking Robin started to drift off to sleep. "Robin?" John whispered to the almost sleeping girl that sat perpendicular in the recliner. "Huh," She sleepily mumbled. "Why don't you go to bed honey?" He asked her after a moment. When he did not get a response, he walked over to find her asleep. Instead of taking her upstairs he went to grab a blanket to cover her up with, then continued to watch television. It was soon midnight and Robin started to toss and turn in her sleep, she must have been having a nightmare. She started to cry out in her sleep, making him jump to his feet to wake her. "Robin, wake up baby, it's only a dream," He told her shaking her slightly. When she awoke she seemed to have no idea she had had a nightmare. John helped her up and took her to her room. She seemed wide awake sitting there in her light blue bed. "I don't think I can sleep, so I'm just going to read for a while," Robin told him picking up the book from her nightstand. "Alright sweetie, I'll just be in my room if you need me," He told her, knowing she would be okay just reading. He kissed her on the head and headed for his room, exhausted from lack of sleep the previous night. Laying on his bed he listened to the silence that filled the house. The silence was interrupted by a door creaking open quite slowly. John listened for a moment thinking Robin was heading to the restroom, but was corrected when the wooden stairs started creaking. That made him curious, so he got out of bed and followed Robin down towards the kitchen. He found her, book in hand, making some hot cocoa, her favorite thing to drink during winter. "Good book?" John asked making his presence known. His voice surprising her making her jump and nearly drop the hot beverage. She took a moment to calm down before she spoke. "I thought you were asleep," Robin told him. "Nope just resting," He said, "So, were you having a nightmare before I woke you earlier?" She paused wondering if she should tell him or not. "Yes," She told him truthfully, " I really don't remember what it was about, but I know that it was bad." They let words she spoke settle in the air causing tension that you could practically see. During that moment she watched John trying to figure out why he was being so protective the past few days. She saw him physically flinch when she grabbed his hand to show him she was alright. "I'm sorry honey, I have just been under a ton of stress lately," John told her. "Because of me?" She asked. "No not because of you," He lied. John's face paled a shade lighter giving his thoughts away, when she gave him an accusing look. Robin was anything but dumb, she knew something was wrong and it had to do with her. She turned away from him. "Robin-" John was interrupted. "No, I want to know what's wrong! Why won't you tell me? Why-" Just then a horrible stabbing pain shot through her head. She crumpled to the floor grabbing her head wishing the pain away. "Robin?" He asked worried. "Dad," She almost whispered after a moment," What's wrong with me ?" Her words stabbed his heart, breaking his walls down more than it had ever been. He just sat on the floor and held her till her pain subsided. "Hey, hey look at me," he told her waiting for her to look at him," You are fine, I will never let anything bad happen to you, I love you. Come on let's go upstairs, you need sleep." He helped her up, tucking her under his arm and walking her up the stairs for the last time that night. Even though she was still up reading for a long while he knew she would be okay. The next morning was rough one, it was Sunday and he had work to do before school tomorrow. He went to check on Robin, expecting her to be sleeping, since it was six a.m. ,but finding her awake and reading. "Good morning," John told her smiling from the doorway. "Morning, you just wake up?" She asked him. "Yes, when did you get up?" He asked happily making conversation. "Um, two," She replied sheepishly. "Two? In the morning? Why." He rambled as his mind raced. "Yeah, I just wanted to finish my book," She told him. She was nearly done it would probably take her an hour to finish it. "You're such a nerd," He pointed out, ginning. She was his nerd and there was nothing that anyone could do to change that. "Oh that makes me feel loved," She told him sarcastically. "So what you want for breakfast?" He asked. "Wait, hold on a second, " She said setting her book down and sitting up, " You're going to make breakfast?" "Yes. Is that so hard to believe? I did live alone at one point in time," He told her. "Oh yeah, what did you eat? Take out and Top Ramen?" She smirked. "Well," He paused, " maybe you should make breakfast." "That's what I thought," she said hopping out of bed," I'll be down in a second." With that he went down stairs to make himself a cup of coffee . He was sitting on a stool at the bar grading papers, when she came down he stairs. She was dressed in light blue jeans and a purple flowery shirt. "Why are you so dressed up today?" He asked biting into the toast she had set in front of him. "I was wondering if I could go hang out with Peter today," She told him. John knew she was suspicious, and yet there was no way he was going to let her go hang out with Peter. If he indeed was the reason she was starting act differently, then he needed to figure out what or who he came in contact with and stop it. "Dad?" Robin questioned, "You okay?" "Huh, oh yeah I'm fine," He told her. "Really because you've been staring into space for the past five minutes," She told him genuinely concerned about him. "Well, I was just thinking, I thought we could have a father daughter day," He quickly covered. "Dad, wasn't the last couple of days father daughter day?" She pointed out. "Yes but-" "And last weekend? Plus I haven't seen Peter much lately." She pleaded cutting him off. "Robin, I don't think it will work out today," He told her. "Dad!-" "I'm not going to argue with you. I would like you home today that's all," John cut her off. "You know what fine!" She yelled and ran up to her room. In that moment he hated himself probably more than she hated him. It was their very first fight, and it was over something trivial, which made him feel horrible. The thing was he could not change that right now. Remaining where he started to work on grading papers, looking up towards Robins room every couple minutes. He wanted to go up there and apologize, but he found the right words had escaped him. He decided he would make lunch for her and try to make her a little less angry with him. The hours flew by and when she did not come down to talk with him, he went up to her. She was sitting her room watching some crime show on television. "Hey," John said to her gently, " brought you lunch." "Thanks, " was all she said. "Listen," He said turning off the television and sitting on her bed, " I know you're mad at me, but soon you're going to have to talk with me." "I'm not mad at you," She told him. "You aren't?" He asked surprised, " why haven't you come down stairs?" " Well I was reading and then I turned on the T.V. and got pulled into this marathon," She explained picking at the lunch he brought her. "Oh, you finish your book?" He asked following the subject change. " I left the last ten pages for tonight," She answered. "So what exactly is this book about?" He said picking it up. "Well lots of things," She said snatching it from his hands and putting it back on her nightstand . "Alright, will you come help me grade some papers?" John asked hoping to get her away from her room. "Okay, I guess so, it's not like I have anything better to do," Robin said smiling as she walked out the door in front of John. He glanced backwards towards the white book laying on the nightstand. He was starting to put two and two together, and that book had something to do with it. "Are you coming?" Robin asked waiting on the bottom step. "Coming, I'm coming," He said walking out of her room with the book concealed under his arm. He carefully placed the book into his brown leather bag and brought out papers for them to work on. They sat grading hundreds of papers for till it grew dark outside. Robin made some salads for dinner as they finished off the last of the papers. He had all forgotten about the book until they went and got ready for bed. John waited for Robin to come and confront him about where her book had gone, but she never did. Robin knew that some nights when John did not want her to stay up reading he would hide her book in the same place, his brief case. So she had went downstairs, took the book out read it and returned it before anyone knew it was gone. That was no different for tonight, she snuck downstairs, grabbed her book and crept back to her room. Monday morning John woke up like any normal Monday, but when he went to wake up Robin, she was not there. He went down stairs to find her sitting eating cereal on a barstool, she was wearing black skinny jeans and a black hoodie. " Robin?" John asked surprised by her appearance, "You alright?" "Yup," She told him paying little attention to him. He took that moment to look in his brief case for the book, and sure enough there it was, right where he left it. When he looked back he was still confused, he was so sure that the book had something to do with it. "What are you wearing?" Asked John coming around the bar to get a better look at her. "Clothes," Was her plain answer. "I didn't even know you owned these clothes," he confessed. "Well I do," came her reply. "Alright, so what's for breakfast?" He asked throwing a new subject out. "Cereal," She told him. Never once, since Robin had lived with him, had she ever made cereal. It was strange to see her like this, and it hurt him that he did not know what to do, he needed to fix it. The ride to school was too quiet for his liking, Robin had just looked out the window while listening to her music. John's first hour was a prep-period, in which he took to figure out what changed from the night before. When he was all out of options he started to look at the book again. Then he noticed it, there was no blue book mark hanging out from the pages like there had been before. "She must have finished the book last night," He concluded to himself. He was two hundred percent sure that this book, Blank, was the reason that the student body was changing. He quickly sent an E-mail to the rest of his committee, warning them about the book and then waited or the school day to end. The seconds turned to hours, and John kept catching himself glance at the clock. Slowly it became last hour, and like clock work Peter and Nick came in dragging their feet ten minutes after the bell. He was not only shocked but disappointed when Robin came in right behind. The group took a seat towards the back of the classroom. Getting everyone in the classes attention, Mr.Parker told them that they were going to watch a film all period. When the bell put him out of his misery, John called Robin into his office, as the two goons stood close at hand waiting to take her away. They discussed about why she had been late and why all her teachers had sent him an E-mail telling him that she had not turned in her homework from over the weekend. When they finished talking he had the boys go home and he took Robin back to the house. When they arrived home John closed the door and brought out the book. "So there's where it went," Robin said sarcastically. "Robin I know you snuck downstairs last night and read this book," He flat out told her," listen to me. I know I've been really protective lately." "That's for sure," She said interrupting him. "That's because I knew something bad was going to happen," he continued ignoring her comment, " Robin this book has changed, not just you, but Peter and Nick also. I will fix you, I promise." He tried to take her hand but she pulled away. "You can't stop this," she told him, her face void of emotion. "I will not let this book have you," He proclaimed. "Too late," the voice said with a grin. "Is it?" John asked confidently, running from the house to the back yard's fire pit, with Robin following close behind. "What do you think you're doing?" Robin asked. "This," John exclaimed as he took out a lighter and set the book aflame. Robin started to scream and grab her head as she fell to her knees. He ran to her holding her as the entity fled from her. After a few minutes of holding her, she started to cry and apologize and he just held her rocking her back in forth in his arms, telling her it was okay. John looked back up to the burning book just in time to see black spirals escape from the inferno. That's when he knew this whole thing was over, and he had won. "I'm so sorry daddy," Robin told him, still in his arms. "It's alright, you're okay," John told her, still holding her as the sunburnt sky became dark. Weeks had gone by, John had become president of T.P.S. and Robin and Peter were dating. Nick had become the top student in all of school and was now dating Meg. There had been no sign of the book until, one day Robin met up with Meg at the library, and there it was, sitting there on the table, Blank.