chapter seven:
❛ zoo fun ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!
COMMENT AND VOTE

tw: mentions of drugs

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Robby and Alessia walked up to the group of teens gathered outside the gates of the zoo, their hands clasped together. The cool night air carried a sense of anticipation, but as soon as they approached, all eyes turned to them. Tory smirked, her arms crossed as she leaned casually against the fence. "Someone took their sweet ass time," she teased, her tone playful but with an edge.

Hawk, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow at Alessia. "You invited him, Al?" he asked, using her old nickname as if trying to remind her of the past. Alessia narrowed her eyes at him, not missing the implication behind his words.

"I didn't invite him," she replied firmly, her voice steady as she met Hawk's gaze.

Tory, sensing the tension, quickly stepped in. "I did. And either way, they're a package deal now. They're the couple here," she defended, her tone leaving no room for argument. Hawk rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed but not pushing the issue further.

Kyler, who had been rummaging through a backpack, suddenly tossed two bottles of beer in their direction. "Here you go, Keene, Chavez," he said with a grin, clearly enjoying the idea of stirring things up.

Alessia caught her bottle and immediately shook her head, her expression resolute. "No thanks. I'm sober," she stated, holding the bottle out for Kyler to take back.

Kyler looked at her as if she were speaking a foreign language. "So?" he asked, his tone dripping with confusion and mockery. Alessia rolled her eyes, ignoring him and instead turning her attention to Hawk.

"How are you hanging around the guy who bullied you for years?" Alessia asked, her voice soft but laced with genuine confusion. Hawk visibly faltered, unable to meet her eyes as the question hung in the air, unanswered.

Robby, still holding the unopened bottle, took the opportunity to chime in. "Yeah, I'm good too," he said, handing the bottle back to Kyler. The casual refusal seemed to irritate Hawk, who shot him a taunting look.

"What, you can't handle a sip of beer?" Hawk sneered, stepping closer to Robby as if daring him to respond.

Robby met Hawk's gaze with a calm but firm glare. "Nah, I just don't need to pretend to be cool," he retorted, his tone dismissive but confident. Alessia couldn't help but chuckle at his quick wit, clearly amused by how easily Robby brushed off Hawk's attempt to provoke him.

Hawk's smirk faded slightly, his bravado challenged. "Yeah, that's funny," he shot back, his tone losing some of its bite as he took a challenging step forward, his eyes narrowing.

Alessia's expression turned serious as she stepped in, her voice sharp. "Calm down, Hawk," she said, her words a clear warning. Hawk hesitated, momentarily thrown off by her assertiveness.

Before the tension could escalate any further, Tory stepped in, her voice cutting through the moment. "Let's just get going," she stated, her tone firm as she glanced between Hawk and Robby, her eyes narrowing slightly at Hawk before she started toward the fence.

Hawk shot Robby one last look, a silent challenge in his eyes, before following Tory through a hole in the fence. The rest of the group began to filter through after them, but Robby and Alessia held back, exchanging uncertain glances.

Tory noticed their hesitation and walked back over to them, her expression softening slightly. "Don't worry. It's not gonna violate both of your probations. You got outta juvie, not Sing Sing," she explained, trying to reassure them.

Robby, sensing the lighthearted attempt to ease the tension, raised an eyebrow at her. "You resorting to peer pressure?" he asked, his tone half-joking.

Alessia chuckled softly beside him, the tension easing a bit with the humor. Tory shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It's kinda my thing. If you guys are gonna be friends, you're gonna have to get used to it," she joked before turning back to the fence and climbing through the hole with ease.

Robby glanced at Alessia, a small, playful smile on his face. "Ladies first," he said, holding the fence back for her.

Alessia smiled back, appreciating the gesture as she carefully climbed through the hole. Robby followed right after, and together they rejoined the group on the other side of the fence.

Hawk and Kyler were already waiting for them, Hawk with his usual smirk firmly back in place. Alessia looked around at the zoo's darkened paths, curiosity piqued as she turned to the group. "Why do we have to sneak in?" she asked, her voice reflecting both her confusion and mild concern.

Hawk's smirk widened as if he was enjoying keeping them in suspense. "You'll see," he said cryptically.

Tory flashed them a mischievous smile, clearly in on whatever plan Hawk had concocted. "Come on. This way," Hawk said, motioning for them to follow as he started down a path leading deeper into the zoo.

Robby and Alessia exchanged a look, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension in their eyes, before following after the group. The night was far from over, and whatever was waiting for them inside the zoo was sure to be anything but ordinary.

As they walked deeper into the zoo, Alessia's unease grew with each step. The dimly lit paths, lined with empty animal enclosures, only added to the sense of foreboding that had been gnawing at her since they arrived. She was still trying to figure out what the group was planning when they stopped at a set of stairs. Hawk, with his usual cocky grin, began explaining the situation.

"Right, there's two cameras over there," Hawk started, pointing to a corner of the building where security cameras were positioned. Alessia barely registered his words as a cold wave of anxiety washed over her. The location, the familiarity of the place—suddenly, it all clicked.

This was the last place she had seen Tommy.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she instinctively grabbed Robby's arm, her grip tight with fear. "I—I'm gonna go to the bathroom," she blurted out, her voice strained. Before Robby or Tory could question her, she turned and darted off, the urgent need to escape overwhelming her.

Once inside the bathroom, Alessia locked the door behind her, the cold tile under her feet grounding her for a moment. She hurried to the sink, gripping the edges tightly as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Memories she had tried so hard to bury came flooding back, overwhelming her senses.

Alessia stood in the same zoo, but it felt like a different world. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the paths as she waited nervously near the entrance. She was younger, more naive, and she had been desperate to see Tommy, hoping he would be the one good thing in her otherwise chaotic life.

When he finally showed up, there was an edge to him she hadn't seen before. His smile didn't reach his eyes, and the way he looked at her made her stomach churn with unease. They walked together, but Alessia couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Finally, they reached a secluded spot near the reptile house, and Tommy turned to her, his expression hard. "I need you to do something for me," he said, his voice low and serious.

Alessia frowned, confused. "What is it?"

Tommy reached into his jacket and pulled out a small bag of weed, pressing it into her hand. "I need you to move this for me. Just take it to this guy downtown, you'll get a cut of the money."

Alessia stared at the bag in her hand, her heart sinking. "Are you serious? You want me to deal drugs for you?"

Tommy's eyes darkened, his grip on her shoulder tightening. "Don't act like you're above it, Alessia. You think you're too good for this? You owe me."

She felt a lump form in her throat as fear and disbelief mixed into a suffocating cocktail. "I can't do that, Tommy. I'm not doing this."

Tommy's expression turned menacing, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper. "If you don't, I'll make sure you regret it. You won't have anyone left. So, what's it gonna be?"

Tears welled up in Alessia's eyes as she looked at the boy she had once trusted, now a stranger with cruel intentions. Trembling, she nodded. "Okay... I'll do it."

Alessia's grip on the sink tightened as the memory faded, her knuckles white against the cold porcelain. Tears stung her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away, forcing herself to stay composed. The bathroom felt stifling, the air thick with the weight of her past. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before walking back out into the night.

As soon as she stepped out of the bathroom, Robby was there, concern etched across his features. He was holding a small bag, and inside, she saw a snake coiled up, its tongue flicking against the plastic in a silent hiss.

"Are you okay?" Robby asked, his voice gentle, but his eyes searched hers as if he could see through the lie she was about to tell.

Alessia forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed a minute." She glanced at the bag in his hand, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "Why do you have a snake?"

Robby's smirk returned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Those dumbasses left when they heard someone walk into the backroom while they were trying to steal this snake back," he explained with a chuckle.

Alessia couldn't help but laugh, the absurdity of the situation cutting through the lingering anxiety. "Of course they did," she said, shaking her head in amusement.

Robby smiled, pleased to see her mood lighten, and together, they began to walk out of the building. The night was still thick with tension, but with Robby by her side, Alessia felt a little more grounded, even if the shadows of her past still loomed large.

"We failed the mission because of you!" Hawk yelled as Robby and Alessia climbed back through the fence, the bag containing the snake clutched tightly in Robby's hand.

"Who said we failed?" Robby shot back, his voice steady despite the tension.

Hawk, Tory, and Kyler whipped their heads around to see Robby and Alessia standing triumphantly together. Robby was holding the bag with the snake inside, its hissing filling the air.

"No way!" Tory exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Nice!" Kyler added, clearly impressed.

"You got it? Unreal," Tory stated, her excitement evident.

Alessia and Robby exchanged grins and chuckles, their spirits lifted by their success. Kyler's eyes were fixed on the bag. "Can we see it?" he asked eagerly.

Robby nodded and carefully opened the bag. The snake, its scales glistening under the moonlight, hissed as it was exposed to the outside world.

"Hell yeah!" Kyler cheered, clearly thrilled by their victory.

But Alessia noticed Hawk's frown, his frustration palpable. She walked over to him, her brow furrowed in concern. "What's with the sad face, Hawk?" she asked, trying to understand his sudden mood shift.

Hawk glared at her, his expression dark. "Your boyfriend just seems to ruin everything," he retorted sharply.

Alessia's eyes widened in disbelief. "What's wrong with you? This is not the Eli I used to know. He was quiet and sweet, and now—"

Hawk cut her off, his voice edged with bitterness. "I go by Hawk now."

Alessia's frown deepened. "Yeah, I can tell. I don't see Eli anywhere," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment and hurt.

Hawk's expression hardened at her words. "Things change, Alessia. People change."

Alessia stood there for a moment, feeling the weight of his words and the shift in their relationship. She shook her head, her frustration evident. "I'm sorry to hear that," she said quietly, turning back to join the others. The night air felt colder, and despite their small victory, the tension between her and Hawk cast a shadow over the group's celebration.

Alessia stood beside Robby and Tory confidently at the back of Cobra Kai, a mix of pride and apprehension in her stance. Kreese approached them, his gaze sharp and approving. "Well done. I'm impressed. You showed fearlessness, leadership. And those are the qualities you need to be a champion," he said, placing his hands on their shoulders.

Robby and Alessia exchanged brief, uncertain glances, but Kreese's praise was unwavering. "Good job. You're both what Cobra Kai has been looking for," he continued, his voice firm.

"Do you see what you can accomplish when you work together?" Kreese's words resonated with a dark intensity. "Alliances are important. For us and our enemy. Because you better believe that they are making alliances too."

Alessia watched as Robby's gaze flickered to Tory, who looked puzzled. "What alliances?" Tory asked, shaking her head slightly.

"Oh, you didn't hear?" Kreese's smile took on a sinister edge. "Diaz and that LaRusso girl, yeah, they're working together."

Tory's eyes widened in shock. "Yeah, they helped save the All Valley. They gave quite a speech. They make a pretty good team," Kreese added with a menacing grin, clearly reveling in the effect his words had on Tory.

Alessia felt a shiver run down her spine, a gnawing unease settling in her stomach as she thought about the impact Cobra Kai had on its members. The promise of power and strength seemed to come with an unsettling cost.

"Well, it's getting late. Dismissed," Kreese announced, his tone cutting off further discussion. Tory stormed out, her frustration evident.

As the others began to disperse, Alessia pulled Robby aside, her expression serious. "Robby, can we talk for a second?" she asked, her voice low.

Robby looked at her, his face a mixture of curiosity and nonchalance. "Sure, what's up?" he replied, seemingly unfazed.

"I don't know. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable about Cobra Kai," Alessia admitted, her brows furrowing. "I mean, it's one thing to be part of it, but it's another to see how it manipulates people and creates these... alliances."

Robby shrugged, his demeanor casual. "I don't see anything wrong. We're just doing what we need to do. It's part of the game."

Alessia's frown deepened. "But don't you see how it's changing us? How it's making us act like something we're not?"

Robby's eyes softened slightly, but he remained indifferent. "It's not changing us, Alessia. It's just pushing us to be better, to be stronger. You're overthinking it."

Alessia's heart sank at his response. She was hoping for a deeper understanding, but Robby's dismissal left her feeling disheartened. "I just wish you'd see it from my perspective," she said quietly, her disappointment clear.

Robby gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, attempting to comfort her. "Look, we're in this together. If you're having doubts, we'll figure it out. But for now, let's just focus on what's next."

Alessia nodded, though her heart wasn't fully in it. As she watched Robby walk away, she couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental was slipping through their fingers, and it left her with a lingering sense of unease.

ASH SPEAKS!

deciding if i should have alessia in cobra kai or miyagi-do...