chapter eighteen:
❛ girls day ❜

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

the reason i always say "please don't be a ghost reader" this isnt just because i want votes, i mean i do, but ive been writing on this app for 3 almost 4 years and it helps me stay motivated because that means people are reading my stuff. and unlike other people, they have so many views on their books and i know my writing isnt the best but i love to write and it just helps me stay motivated. and i know i unpublish and republish my chapters and i get thats really annoying

tw: mentions of violence and drug addiction

✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸

Alessia had been invited to a girls' day out with Sam, Moon, and Yasmine. Alessia was thrilled at the prospect of spending time with the girls, excited for a day of bonding and pampering. She enjoyed hanging out with Sam and Moon, but the thought of spending the day with Yasmine made her stomach churn. Alessia couldn't stand Yasmine, convinced that she was using Demetri just for his body and didn't actually care about him.

The four girls sat in a cozy booth at their favorite café, the sun streaming through the windows, casting a warm glow over their table. Alessia sat beside Sam, while Moon and Yasmine were across from them.

Sam was busy texting Miguel, her fingers moving quickly over the screen. She had confided in the girls earlier that she was considering taking a break from her relationship with him. Things had been feeling off lately, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to continue as they were. Sam's phone pinged with a response from Miguel, and she quickly showed it to the group. The message read, "Can't wait to see you tonight. How are you?"

Yasmine snorted, not even trying to hide her disdain. "Desperate," she commented, a smirk playing on her lips as she leaned back in the booth.

Alessia rolled her eyes at Yasmine's remark.

"He knows he's in deep shit," Alessia added with a shrug, trying to lighten the mood. She knew Miguel wasn't completely oblivious-he could sense something was wrong, but Sam had yet to fully express how she felt.

"I just... I feel like things have been off lately. There's so much I want to say. Maybe I should just... lay it all out?" Sam suggested, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She looked around the table for advice, clearly torn about what to do.

Before anyone could respond, Yasmine snatched the phone from Sam's hand, her eyes widening in disbelief. "No!" she exclaimed, her voice loud enough to draw the attention of a few nearby tables.

"She's right. Less is more," Alessia chimed in, surprising herself by agreeing with Yasmine.

"I'm with Yas and Alessia," Moon said, her voice more measured. "It's better to have these conversations in person. You don't want to risk sending the wrong message over text."

Yasmine was already typing on Sam's phone, her long nails clicking against the screen with purpose.

"Keep it short, not sweet," Yasmine declared, her tone decisive as she showed Sam the phone screen. The message simply read, "I'm okay."

Sam, still caught up in her own dilemma, looked around the table, unsure of what to do. "Wait, should I add a smiley face or something?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

"No!" Yasmine said, her voice firm and unyielding. But at the same time, Alessia and Moon said, "Yes!" with equal conviction. The three girls exchanged looks, their expressions a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Ultimately, Sam sighed and sent the text as it was: "I'm okay." She put the phone down, trying to push her worries to the back of her mind.

As the four girls entered the salon, they were greeted by a burst of pastel colors and the scent of lavender in the air. The space was a paradise of soft pinks, purples, and blues, with plush seating areas, delicate chandeliers, and serene spa music playing softly in the background. The walls were adorned with inspirational quotes about self-love and empowerment, framed in ornate, floral designs. Matching silky robes wrapped around each of them, the material cool against their skin.

Alessia and Moon were already bubbling with excitement, their faces lighting up as they took in the familiar surroundings. They were the picture of pure joy, skipping slightly as they moved forward. Yasmine, however, was glued to her phone, her fingers tapping away furiously. Sam trailed behind, a cloud of melancholy hanging over her, while Clementine looked around, her expression unreadable.

"Moon, Alessia, this place is so... you," Sam commented, a half-hearted smile tugging at her lips.

Alessia giggled and shared a delighted squeal with Moon. "Isn't it just perfect?" Moon exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

Yasmine, still texting, stepped closer to Alessia. Without looking up, she asked, "So, what's your deal?"

Alessia irritation flared. "Why are you always on your phone texting?" she snapped, her voice sharp.

Yasmine barely spared her a glance, her attention fixed on the screen. Alessia rolled her eyes, feeling like she could do it all day when it came to Yasmine.

Moon, sensing the tension, quickly interjected. "When Eli and I broke up, there was a lot of negative energy. This place helped cut through the noise. Which is why I brought you here," she explained, draping an arm around Sam's shoulders.

Sam offered her a blank stare, clearly not as enthusiastic as Moon had hoped. Moon pressed on, undeterred. "Come on, Sam. You've gotta find yourself. Figure out who you really are!"

"They also do facials. So..." Yasmine added, glancing up briefly to make the suggestion, her tone matter-of-fact.

Alessia shot Yasmine a look, the urge to roll her eyes barely suppressed. Why does she always have to be so smug? she thought.

Moon began leading the way deeper into the salon, her arm still looped around Sam, guiding her like a lost child. Yasmine followed, her steps languid and unhurried as she resumed her texting. Alessia, refusing to let the negative energy dampen her spirits, locked arms with Clementine and pulled her along.

"Come on, Sam!" Alison urged, her voice bright and hopeful.

Sam hesitated for a moment, then allowed herself to be led, her expression softening just a little. She wasn't sure what to expect from this outing, but with Alessia by her side and Moon's relentless optimism, maybe-just maybe-it wouldn't be so bad after all.

Moon led the group to a dimly lit room that held an air of mystery, its centerpiece a sleek, futuristic-looking water pod. The pod, with its smooth curves and soft, ambient lighting, looked both inviting and intimidating, like something out of a sci-fi movie.

Moon turned to the others with a broad smile, clearly excited to share this experience. "This is where the magic happens," she said, gesturing to the pod.

Sam hesitated, eyeing the contraption with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. "What is this, exactly?" she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism.

Alessia, who had been scanning the room with a critical eye, arched an eyebrow as she took in the pod's appearance. "Looks like something from Stranger Things," she remarked, her tone half-joking.

Moon chuckled softly. "That's what it is, basically," she said, her voice playful yet informative.

Alessia's eyes lit up with excitement. "That's my dream," she said, her awe palpable. The idea of tapping into something deeper, like her favorite TV heroine, filled her with an unexpected thrill.

Moon laughed at Alessia's enthusiasm, clearly pleased that at least one of their friends was on board with the experience. "This is a self-actualization pod," Moon explained, her tone soft but earnest.

Sam still looked unsure, glancing between the pod and Moon. "So, like a sensory deprivation tank? Like Alessia said... from Stranger Things?" she asked, trying to wrap her head around the concept.

Moon shook her head quickly, her expression brightening as she launched into an explanation. "Oh, God, no! They don't call them that anymore. It's not about deprivation. It's about connection with your innermost self." Her voice was filled with a kind of hopeful sincerity that only Alison could pull off.

Alessia, already buzzing with excitement, squealed and grabbed Alison by the shoulders, shaking her gently. "Oh my god! I'm so excited," she exclaimed, her eyes wide with anticipation.

Moon laughed, enjoying Alessia's contagious enthusiasm. "Clem, relax! You're gonna love it," she reassured her friend, still grinning.

Sam, however, was less enthusiastic. She sighed heavily, her apprehension growing the more she looked at the pod. "Thanks, but I'm still gonna pass. I already have nightmares about drowning in shallow bodies of water," she admitted, her voice dropping to a more somber note.

Alessia's excitement faltered, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Oh wow," she muttered, not sure how to respond to that.

Moon blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. Sam's fears were more intense than she had realized, and it threw her off for a moment. "Wow. That's dark," Yasmine commented, her voice devoid of empathy, as usual.

Moon stepped closer to Sam, her expression softening with understanding. "Sam, ever since the tournament, you've been off balance. It's clear there's been some tension with Miguel. The only thing you're gonna find in this pod is yourself. That's not so scary, right?" she asked gently, her words meant to soothe rather than push. "So have you, Alessia. That Silver guy framed you. This will help."

Alessia frowned and nodded.

Sam looked between the girls, seeing the mixture of concern and support in their eyes. After a moment of contemplation, she sighed again, this time with resignation. "Okay," she said quietly, giving in to their encouragement.

Moon squealed with delight, clapping her hands together. "This is gonna be great, Sam! You'll feel so much better afterward, I promise," she said, her excitement palpable.

Maybe this girls' day wouldn't be so bad after all.

Alessia floated in the self-actualization pod, her body weightless in the warm water that surrounded her like a gentle embrace. She closed her eyes, letting the darkness envelop her as she drifted deeper into the void of her mind. The silence was profound, allowing her thoughts to quiet and her anxieties to fade.

In this serene emptiness, figures began to materialize in her mind-ghostly apparitions of people she knew, each one representing a different aspect of her life, her fears, and her desires.

First, she saw Robby. His face was a mixture of concern and encouragement. "Alessia, you need to believe in yourself. Don't let them define who you are. You're stronger than you think." His words were warm, wrapping around her like a blanket, but they quickly faded, replaced by another familiar face.

Eli appeared next, looking more serious than she remembered. "You can't keep hiding from your fears, Alessia. You have to confront them head-on. Otherwise, you'll never break free." His voice echoed in the void, and Alessia felt a spark of defiance ignite within her.

Then Sam emerged, her expression softening the harshness of the surroundings. "You have the power to change the narrative. Just because you've faced setbacks doesn't mean you can't rise again. Fight for yourself." Sam's words filled Alessia with determination, but the moment was short-lived.

Daniel LaRusso stepped into view, his tone firm and fatherly. "You have to find your balance, Alessia. Life will challenge you, but you need to stand your ground. Remember, your worth isn't determined by others' perceptions."

Just as she felt herself gathering strength from their encouraging words, a new voice cut through the fog, cold and calculating. "Alessia," Terry Silver's voice rang out, dripping with malice. "You think you're strong, but I could easily frame you for that loss at the All Valley. All it would take is a little manipulation, and they'd hand victory to Tory by default." His words pierced through her like a dagger, reviving all the insecurities she thought she'd buried.

With those words hanging heavy in the air, Alessia felt a shift in the void. The darkness morphed, and suddenly, she was face-to-face with another version of herself-one that was angry, bitter, and consumed by self-doubt. This doppelgänger was everything Alessia feared: weak, afraid, and ready to give up.

"You'll never be good enough," the dark version of herself sneered, eyes blazing with contempt. "You're destined to fail. Just look at how easily they can turn on you!"

Alessia's heart raced as she fought the rising tide of panic. "No!" she shouted, her voice echoing in the void. "I am more than my mistakes! I am more than what anyone else thinks of me!"

As the two Alessias clashed, the void around them flickered with energy, creating a whirlwind of emotion. The dark version lunged at her, fists raised, but Alessia dodged, feeling the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She was fighting for her identity, her truth, and she wouldn't back down.

With a burst of newfound strength, Alessia launched herself forward, pushing the dark version away. "You don't define me!" she screamed, her voice reverberating with power. She could feel the weight of everyone's words lifting her, fueling her determination to win this battle.

The two of them grappled, swirling in a dance of shadows and light until Alessia found her footing. With a powerful twist, she pinned her dark self down, the echoes of Robby, Eli, Sam, and Daniel pushing her forward. "I am enough! I will not let you win!" With one final surge of energy, Alessia unleashed her inner strength, and her dark self disintegrated into the void, leaving nothing but silence in its wake.

Panting and overwhelmed, Alessia opened her eyes as the pod gently shook. Moon stood over her, a concerned expression on her face as she lifted the lid. "Alessia, are you okay?"

With a deep breath, Alessia felt the warmth of the water recede and the weight of her victory settle within her. She nodded slowly, a smile breaking through the haze of her struggle. "I think I am," she whispered, feeling more alive and empowered than ever before.

As Alessia walked down the familiar path to her home, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue across the neighborhood. She felt a mix of exhaustion and relief after the emotional intensity of the self-actualization pod. As she approached the front porch, a scene unfolded that caught her off guard: Robby was there, sitting on the porch steps, his skateboard leaning against the railing. He was playing with her niece, Ava, who was chasing a small butterfly that danced among the colorful flower beds her mom had planted.

"Robby, what are you doing here?" Alessia called out, her voice tinged with surprise and a hint of caution as she stepped closer.

Ava squealed with laughter, her small hands reaching out as she tried to catch the butterfly, oblivious to the tension brewing in the air. "I'm playing with Robby! Can't I stay out here?" she whined, her cherubic face lighting up with joy.

Alessia shot Ava a stern look, the kind that only a loving aunt can muster. "Ava, it's getting late. Time to come inside."

"But I don't want to!" Ava protested, crossing her arms defiantly and stomping her foot, her pouting face drawing a smile from Robby.

"Now," Alessia said firmly, a hint of authority in her voice. After a moment of consideration, Ava huffed, her shoulders slumping as she turned to march inside the house, muttering something about unfairness under her breath.

Once Ava was out of earshot, Alessia turned to Robby, feeling her heart race at the unexpected sight of him. "What are you doing here?" she asked again, her tone a mix of confusion and caution, her pulse quickening.

Robby looked up at her, his expression shifting from playful to serious. "My dad took me on that trip to Mexico to get Miguel," he began, his voice steady yet laced with vulnerability. "And it gave me a lot of time to think."

Alessia felt a knot form in her stomach, unsure of where this conversation was heading. She braced herself for the worst but hoped for the best.

"I'm really sorry for the way I broke up with you," Robby continued, his eyes searching hers, filled with a sincerity she hadn't seen in a while.

Alessia felt her breath catch in her throat. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to mask the swirling emotions within her.

"I miss you, Alessia," he said, his gaze unwavering. "You were there for me during juvie. I just... I broke up with you so quickly when we were only together for like a month. I like you a lot, and I want to fix this."

Her heart raced at his words, the memories of their laughter, their secret moments, and the warmth of his embrace flooding her mind. She had thought she was moving on, but hearing him speak like this reignited something deep within her.

"Robby, I..." she started, but the words eluded her as he stepped closer, his presence filling the space between them with an electric tension.

Before she could finish her thought, Robby leaned in, capturing her lips with his in a soft, tentative kiss. The warmth of his mouth sent a jolt through her, igniting a rush of emotions she had tried to suppress. She could feel the familiar comfort of his touch, the way he had made her feel safe and cherished.

As he pulled away, their foreheads resting against each other, his eyes searched hers with a mix of hope and anxiety. "What do you say?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he were afraid to shatter the moment.

"I... I need to think about this," Alessia replied, her heart pounding in her chest. The truth was, she was overwhelmed, caught between the lingering hurt from their breakup and the possibility of rekindling something beautiful.

Robby nodded, a bittersweet smile playing on his lips. "Okay, take your time," he said, understanding but clearly wanting more.

Alessia stepped back, her mind racing as she turned to head inside, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. Just as she reached the door, she heard Ava's voice filtering through the house, her excitement bubbling over. "Ooooh! I saw you guys kissing!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing with the innocent enthusiasm only a child could muster.

Alessia groaned softly, her cheeks flushing crimson as embarrassment washed over her. She shot Robby a look that mingled exasperation and humor, and he chuckled lightly, the sound a mixture of amusement and understanding.

"Great," she muttered, shaking her head as she stepped into the house, the warmth of the moment with Robby lingering in her chest even as the playful teasing from Ava threatened to overshadow it. She was left grappling with a whirlwind of feelings-hope, confusion, and the undeniable connection that still existed between her and Robby. As she walked into the living room, she couldn't shake the feeling that this night had changed everything.

ASH SPEAKS!

new gif!! and my babies are almost back together!! i missed them so much :)))

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