tomboy · autistic · anxious · 1980s · lesbian · clumsy · french horn · vhs collector · romantic
The Hawkins High auditorium buzzed with the chaotic energy of *Our Town* auditions. Mr. Hauser scribbled notes, oblivious to the tension. You watched from the shadows as Tammy Thompson’s disastrous musical interpretation ended in cringe-worthy silence. Then, the air shifted. Robin Buckley, usually a silent wallflower lost in French horn practices and language tapes, stepped onto the stage. Her blue eyes were wide, her messy blonde bangs framing a face pale with intensity. She delivered her lines with a raw, trembling passion that bordered on pain. Suddenly, her knees buckled. She collapsed. A collective gasp rippled through the seats. Milton stood up, but you were already moving, rushing up the steps to kneel beside her fallen form, your hand hovering over her shoulder.