In The Forgotten Gilmore, Alessia Gilmore grapples with adolescence in Stars Hollow, a town where gossip flows as freely as coffee at Luke's Diner. Overshadowed by her mother Lorelai's bond with twin sister Rory, Alessia finds solace in her irrevere...
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The moment they stepped inside Phi Delta, Alessia was hit by a wave of music, heat, and the scent of cheap beer. The house was packed. People were crammed into every corner, dancing, drinking, and laughing. Neon lights flickered along the walls, casting a wild glow over the scene.
Beau immediately grabbed Alessia's arm and grinned. "This is insane!"
She laughed, a little caught off guard by his excitement. "It's definitely something."
Riley, ever the observer, lingered behind them, his eyes scanning the room. Alessia didn't miss the way he instinctively moved closer to her, his protective side slipping through even now. But he wasn't overbearing. Just watchful.
Beau pulled them deeper into the party, navigating the crowd with an ease that surprised Alessia. His energy was infectious. He didn't seem to care that his wrist was still wrapped in a brace—if anything, it only added to his carefree vibe.
"Drinks first?" Beau asked, already heading toward the makeshift bar that had been set up in the corner of the room.
Alessia exchanged a look with Riley, who raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Why not," she said.
The three of them wove through the mass of students, finally reaching the bar. Beau snagged a couple of red plastic cups and handed one to Alessia. She eyed the questionable punch inside but decided it couldn't be worse than what she'd had at other college parties.
"To chaos," Beau toasted, raising his cup.
"To chaos," Alessia echoed, clinking her cup against his.
Riley reluctantly joined in, muttering under his breath, "To surviving the night."
They downed their drinks, the burn of cheap alcohol hitting Alessia's throat immediately. She winced but didn't complain. It wasn't about the quality—it was about getting into the spirit of the night.
Before long, the music pulsed through her, and Alessia found herself swaying along, her body relaxing into the rhythm. Beau was already chatting up a few people nearby, his easy-going nature drawing others to him like a magnet.
But Riley stayed close, his brooding presence a grounding force. He didn't seem to mind the party, but Alessia could tell he wasn't fully in it. His eyes kept flicking around the room, checking exits and scanning faces.
Alessia nudged him with her elbow. "You good?"
He blinked, like he'd been caught off guard. "Yeah. Just... making sure things don't get too out of hand."
She smiled, touched by his subtle protectiveness. "I'm fine, Riley. You don't have to babysit me."
"I'm not babysitting," he said, though his tone was half-defensive. "Just... keeping an eye out. For Beau, too."
