Robin's POV

   Francine walks up to me.  "I wanted to say I'm sorry.  You were right.  Alya was.....just using me."  "Awwww, Francine.  Did she tell you that?"  "She did."  She says, beginning to cry.

"Poor Francine,"  I embrace her.  "This is for the best.  I'm glad she finally let you go."  "I'm sorry for all the terrible things I said to you.  I was too stupid, big headed, and full of myself.  I should've known I was being used like everyone else."

"I mean, I did warn you."  "Yeah, but I didn't listen.  Foolishly, I thought I was gonna be the one to change Alya.  No one can change her.  She doesn't want to change.  She never will."

"I'm glad you see that now."

.....

There's a knock at the door.  "What do you want, Orla-  Alya?"  I say, a confused frown on my face.  "Surprise, surprise."  She says, a smirkish smile on her face.

"What are you doing here?  Showing up at my apartment now?"  "Oh, well, y'know I was just in the area."  I give her a look that says, "I don't believe you in the slightest."

She rolls her eyes.  "Ok, you got me.  I came here because you rejected my invite to go out."  "And what makes you think you coming to my apartment unannounced would make me change my mind?"  I say with a raised brow.

"Oh come on.  We both know you can't resist me."  She jokes with a smile.  That smile, that smile.  There's something about it that makes it hard to say no to it.  Fuck!

"Fine.  I'll go with you, but if I end up dead in a ditch somewhere, I'm immediately haunting your ass."  She laughs.  Her laugh is cute, too.  Shut the fuck up, Robin!

"I wouldn't kill you.  You're too cute for that."  I throw on some shoes and we head out.  "Where are we going?"  "That's for me to know and for you to find out."

We're walking on the sidewalks of New York, the sky being completely dark.  It's really pretty at night.  You don't really realize it until you're out with the boss you hate.

"So Robin, what do you like to do in your spare time?"  "Wow.  Are you actually trying to get to know me?"  She looks down, smiling, before looking back up.  "I know it's hard to believe, but I am capable of getting to know women."

"Well, to answer your question, I like to read and write poetry.  What about you?"  "I'm a bit of a poet myself actually."  "Really?,"  I say incredulously with the face to match.  "You write poetry?"  "Yeah."  "Spit something right now."

She clears her throat.  "Your eyes may not be blue like the sea, but your eyes, they tell, they are the ones for me.  Your hair, so curly, reminds me of waves.  My heart, my soul, you can save.  The ground, so stable, just like you.  You're the one thing that remains real and true.  How's that?"

"Wow.  That was......wow.  I'm.....actually really impressed.  Was that written?"  "No.  It was off-dome."  "What kind of poetry do you write?"

"Usually romantic poetry."  "You?  Romantic?,"  I giggle.  "No way."  "Nothing is ever impossible.  Remember that.  But speaking of poetry, we're here."

I look over.  It's the poetry club I love.  "Wow, you pay attention?"  "Well when we encountered each other outside of work the last time, you were coming here.  I thought it would be nice."

"That's actually........really sweet."  "Thank you.  Shall we?"  "We shall."  We go inside and get seated.  "Next up, we have the majestic stylings of Shay Smooooooth."

The audience snaps as a woman gets onto the stage.  "Hello, all.  My name is Shay Smooth, and I call this piece "Fly Away","  The woman says, her voice drinking me in.  Wow, it really is smooth.  I see why she calls herself that.  "You seem to be locked in your cage.  Fly away, you've been locked up for days.  Take your woes and throw them away.  Fly away, you've been so great.  You deserve the moon, you deserve the stars.  Fly away, know how great you are......."

I glance over to Alya.  She's giving Shay her undivided attention.  She seems.....really into it. 

"Take your step.  Take your bow.  Fly away, it's your time now.  Be so free.  Be who you are.  Fly away, you're the real star.  Winner, winner, you deserve a good dinner,"  Shay Smooth says with a smile, making us all laugh.  "Wear a smile, I know you're a grinner.  Some pain in life, you've endured, but trust me, rest assured, you will not fight any longer.  Fly away, I know you are stronger.  And now comes the end of this.  Snap your fingers if it was bliss."

We all snap our fingers, smiles on our faces.  I look over to Alya.  "You should go up there."  I say.  "What?  Me?"  "Yeah, why not?  You're good."  "Oh, I don't k-"  "Just go up there."

She does what I say.  "Give it up for the poetic stylings of Alyaaaaa Jiménez."  She gets on the stage and begins to speak into the mic.

"I don't really know what to call this.  I didn't really prepare anything,"  She looks me in the eyes.  "I wasn't expecting to come up here,"  She clears her throat.  "You hate me, you frustrate me.  You give and you take me.  On a rollercoaster ride of emotions.  I've.....changed something about myself.  It's like I've drank a potion.  I told her no, I told her to go.  I didn't know I could let some humanity show.  You make me not know who I am anymore.  I know you see me as a whore, but part of me wants you to open up the door.  The door....that leads to me.  A version that can make me say, "That is who I used to be."  I don't know why I do these things.  They're sleazy, they're cheesy, they drive you insane.  The fact that you came here with me tonight is the center of a confusing plight.  Deep down, I don't wanna be the one you hate.  And even though I didn't call this a date, I still can't even think straight.  I know I never have you throbbin', but do you think you can see a different side to me, Robin?"

My eyes are locked with hers.  I-  I don't even know what to think.  I don't know what to say.  For once, I don't know how to feel.

Everyone snaps for her, me snapping as well, still going through the motions.  She comes back to sit down.  "For someone who didn't come prepared, you're sure had a hell of a lot to say."

"Well, y'know, I guess I have a talent for doing off-dome.  Did you like it?"  "It honestly left me speechless.  I still don't know what to say."

"Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all.  Sometimes we just have to enjoy the moment."  "What made you tell Francine the truth?"

"I don't know.  I guess......it was just time to stop using her.  I was real harsh, but I had to be so that she'd stop wanting to see me for sure."

"What the hell has gotten into you, Alya?"  "I can't even answer that for you.  Maybe I've been bitten by a bug or something."  "Are you still gonna forbid Orla from talking to me?"

She sighs.  "You and Orla can do what you guys want.  It was......wrong of me to do that."  "I really don't know what's going on with you, but I like it.  It's like I'm not even talking to Alya Jiménez.  Waaaaiittt a minute.......  Are you a clone?"

She genuinely laughs, and it's a beautiful sound.  "Pinch me and if I say, "Ow", then I'm not."  She says, smiling.  I pinch her.  "Oooowwwwwwww."

I giggle at her.  Wow.  This is actually a good night.