𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐙𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔| Robby Keene [COMPLETED UNTIL SEASON 6 PART 3]

Chapter Twelve.

chapter twelve:
❛ drive-in ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)

✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

The vibrant chaos of the kids' birthday party swirled around them as Alessia and Sam stepped deeper into the play place. The walls were brightly colored, covered in cartoon murals, and the air was filled with the sharp sounds of squeaky sneakers and the endless clamor of kids at play. The scent of pizza, sugary cake, and popcorn mingled with the sticky sweetness of spilled soda. Alessia felt slightly overwhelmed, her gaze darting around, trying to take everything in.

She shifted the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder, feeling a bit out of place. Children screamed in delight as they chased each other through an inflatable jungle gym nearby, and parents sat at scattered tables, looking a mix of exhausted and mildly entertained. Alessia couldn't help but feel like a fish out of water.

"Thank you for being here, Alessia," Sam said over the din of the party. She smiled at her, a kind of sheepish gratitude in her eyes. "I didn't really want to come alone."

Alessia nodded, returning the smile. "Of course, Sam. I get it. Plus, Ava is friends with Sheila's kid, so I needed to be here anyway. My sister asked me to keep an eye on her." She pointed across the room toward Ava, her energetic young niece, who was already darting through the maze of inflatable obstacles with wild abandon, her brown curls bouncing as she raced ahead of the other children.

Sam chuckled. "She's got so much energy. I don't know how you keep up with her."

Alessia gave a half-smile, but her gaze lingered on Ava, who was now scaling a slide with fearless determination. "You don't, really. You just try to survive it."

Just then, Sam's mom, Amanda, approached them, a warm but firm expression on her face, holding a small brightly-wrapped present. "Sam, did I really have to come?" Sam asked, her voice laced with annoyance. It was clear she would rather be anywhere else.

Amanda raised an eyebrow at her daughter. "Uh, Sheila's worked for us for ten years. She's practically family," she said, her tone pointed but not unkind. "Besides, you used to love babysitting Cindee when you were younger."

Sam rolled her eyes dramatically. "Yeah, that was when I was, like, twelve. This," she motioned with her hand at the chaotic scene of sugar-fueled kids running around, "is just about the last place I'd like to be spending my Saturday."

Amanda smiled knowingly, not taking the bait. "A lot of people have it worse than you, Sam. Try to keep that in mind."

Alessia remained quiet, plucking at the hair tie on her wrist, a nervous habit she had when she felt out of place. The elastic snapped lightly against her skin as she glanced around the room, the chaotic scene only intensifying her already wandering mind. The noise and the bright lights seemed to blur as her thoughts drifted away. Her fingers tightened around the hair tie as her mind circled back to Robby. She missed him deeply. It wasn't just his absence-it was the way she felt around him, like everything would be okay even when the world felt like it was falling apart. Without him here, there was a dull ache in her chest, an emptiness she didn't quite know how to fill.