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I don't really like this chapter but i hope ym doooo. OMNISCIENT POV:
The evening was already off to a tense start. Tee, ever the peacemaker of the group, had rallied everyone into a hangout at the local bowling alley, pitching it as a way to "lighten the vibes."
The idea sounded good on the surface but everyone knew the truth.
This wasn't just about bowling. It was a thinly veiled attempt to patch up what was left of a group barely holding it together.
The bowling alley itself was a loud, colorful escape from the cold December air outside. Neon lights lined the walls, buzzing faintly against the chatter of groups and the clatter of bowling balls striking pins.
A faint smell of cheap pizza and fried food lingered in the air. The alley was crowded but not overwhelmingly so, and the occasional bursts of laughter and victory shouts created an upbeat backdrop that seemed at odds with the tension simmering just below the surface of their group.
Riyah trailed behind Tee and Krazy as they entered, keeping her head down. Her hands were stuffed into the oversized hoodie she'd thrown, more for comfort than style. She wasn't exactly hyped about tonight.
Not because she was scared to face anyone—she wasn't.
But spending the night with Sasha, who had made her dislike abundantly clear in subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) ways, wasn't her idea of fun.
Still, Tee had insisted it would be a "calm night." Riyah could hear her friend's voice replaying in her mind: "Don't overthink it, Riy." And then there was Krazy, who had simply asked, "You coming?" in their private chat. It wasn't much— but it had been enough to sway her.
Krazy, on the other hand, walked in with easy strides, his expression unreadable, hands in the pockets of his goose.
Outwardly, he gave the impression that he wasn't here for anything but vibes. But deep down, even he would admit that wasn't entirely true.
Drama wasn't his thing, but he couldn't deny there was something almost entertaining about watching it unfold. And if it didn't involve him? Even better.
Tee led the way, the glow of her phone lighting her face as she texted the group chat to let everyone know they'd arrived. "Hurry up, yeah? I'm not waiting for you lot all night," she muttered under her breath, already annoyed at the black people timing.
As they stepped further into the alley, the neon lights seemed to cast shadows of their unspoken tensions.
Riyah scanned the lanes ahead and quickly spotted the rest of the group sitting around one of the tables near the snack counter.
Sev was already holding court, laughing loudly about something. Mimi sat stiffly beside him, her face betraying the effort it took to pretend she was fine.
