A Part of Something Bigger

Chapter 3 - Devils you know... and didn't

"Mind if I sit here?" Daisy asked. Robbie looked at her but didn't say a word.

"Cool," Daisy mumbled. Robbie sighed before removing his backpack from the chair next to him, so Daisy could sit down. Daisy smiled a little as she sat down. She didn't expect Robbie to actually let her sit next to him. She could see some weird looks from the others in the class as they saw Robbie Reyes not sitting alone. Even the teacher looked at the two of them stunned for a second before beginning the lesson. Robbie wasn't stupid. He knew Daisy had an intention. So during the class, he slid a note over to her.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing. Just needed a place to sit." Daisy answered quickly.

"You usually sit with Peterson."

"Are you stalking me? : )"

"All I can do in this cursed classroom is watch others."

"Cursed? That's rather harsh." Daisy looked at Robbie and could see it on him that he had no idea how to reply. The words seemed to cut deep and he seemingly regretted writing his comment in the first place. Daisy took out a new paper and wrote on it.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to push."

Robbie just sighed and looked at her. They exchanged a few words the other day, but this was the first time they made eye contact. Daisy saw something in Robbie's eyes. There was hurt, sure, but she was prepared for that. But now looking into his eyes, she saw longing. He was longing for a friend, for actual human connection. Robbie, looking into Daisy's eyes, saw caring. He didn't understand why. Outside his household, no one seemed to care. And he didn't want people to. But just now, seeing Daisy, looking into her eyes, seeing that she truly cared, it was like that was gone. He wanted to get to know her, to be her friend. Both Daisy and Robbie were pulled out of their thoughts by the teacher's voice as it cut through the otherwise quite quiet classroom.

"Hey, Lovebirds! How about you pay attention instead of flirting with your eyes?"

Daisy and Robbie tore their eyes away from each other and looked down at their notebooks. As the teacher turned back to the board to continue her lesson, Daisy sent another message to Robbie.

"What's the deal between you and Mike? If you don't mind me asking."

Robbie took a bit to answer. He clearly didn't want to talk about it. Which was why it surprised Daisy that his reply included an actual answer. Even if just a vague one.

"We got into a fight and he got hurt. The burn marks on his face..."

Robbie watched carefully as Daisy read what he wrote. She seemed shocked for sure, but she didn't seem scared like Robbie expected.

"Why do you care? About me? Why do you want to know about me?"

Now Daisy was the one taking her time to answer. She wasn't sure how to put her concern for him into words. Especially since she didn't know him.

"I'm an Inhuman," she wrote finally. "I had a hard time with my powers. And I know you said you're not Inhuman, but I know you have powers. And I can tell that you're lonely. I just wanted to help... With whichever I can."

Robbie, once again, had a hard time figuring out what to reply, but what he wrote surprised Daisy a bit.

"I've heard a lot of bad stuff about Inhumans. Never really knew what to believe... But you don't seem so bad."

Daisy smiled.

"'Not bad' enough to give me a chance before shutting me out?"

Robbie looked at Daisy. He let out a long breath before slightly nodding his head. Daisy smiled victoriously. Robbie turned back to the paper for a second, before sliding another message to her.