Prologue
"I appreciate you coming out to see me this afternoon Rosie" A woman with aqua and mint green hair set down two mugs of coffee at a kitchen table.
A woman with bright red hair smiled.
"It's not a problem Octi. I was curious to see where you lived!" Rosie cheerfully said. Octavia sat down across from Rosie, taking a sip of her coffee. "And might I add you are furnished beautifully, this apartment is absolutely gorgeous!" Octavia giggled softly.
"Thank you, most of the furniture was a gift from Genie actually, the kind woman she is"
"Mrs. Hilbuff? Yeah, she is a kind woman. She's like our mother hen at the Pizza Plex" Rosie said as she sipped her coffee. "So are you excited to start work tomorrow?" Rosie questioned, glancing at Octavia. Octavia looked at Rosie for a moment before looking at the table.
"I am actually. It's a fresh start for me and Amber both, and god knows she needs it" Octavia sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. Rosie looked saddened for a moment, before putting a hand on Octavia's.
"You'll both adjust in no time, plus, the Pizza Plex is like a big family. You'll be just fine" Octavia nodded. "Though I must ask, what are you running from?" Octavia bit her lip and then sighed.
"My mother"
"Your mother?" Rosie looked confused.
"Yeah... there's a lot you don't know, and I'm not exactly comfortable sharing right now, but we're just avoiding my mother at the moment"
"Take your time Octavia" Rosie smiled and Octavia teared up slightly. She didn't deserve the kindness Rosie was giving.
"Thank you, Rosie, you're a good friend"
"Of course, it's what friends are for!" Rosie chirped, and the front door to the apartment opened. A few childlike giggles could be heard, with the occasional male chuckle.
"We're back from the park!" A man's voice called. Octavia and Rosie both got up heading to the living room where a girl with dark blue and pink hair stood in a dark pink coat. She smiled and ran to Octavia, hugging onto Octavia's leg.
Octavia laughed softly and picked the young girl up.
"Hey Amber, how was the park?" Amber put two thumbs up, smiling widely.
"She had fun, we went on the merry-go-round, and the slide, and oh oh the swings were the best part!" The man with similar colored hair to Rosie smiled.
"Good, I'm glad. Thanks for taking her out River, I appreciate it" River nodded and took his coat off hanging it up on the coat rack. The adults and child went back out to the kitchen. "Would you like some juice or hot cocoa Amber?"
"Hot cocoa please" Amber's soft little voice answered as she sat at the kitchen table.
Octavia put the kettle on to boil, and she sat across from Amber, as River sat beside Amber, and Rosie sat beside Octavia.
"Whatcha drawing there Amy?" River asked, pointing to the penguin Amber was drawing.
"I'm drawing my favorite animals," Amber's soft voice replied as she focused on her drawing. River ohed and watched the girl.
Rosie smiled and watched Octavia as she scrolled through her phone.
"Any interesting articles?" Rosie questioned pulling out her phone.
"Not, just a few kidnappings here and there, and uhm children disappearing" Octavia's voice whispered slightly, Rosie looked at Octavia.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, two more children have disappeared, making it a total of seven" Octavia looked a bit frightened. Rosie put a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll make sure nothing happens to Amber if that's what you're worried about Octi. Plus the Pizza Plex is the safest place in the world by far"
Octavia felt a little relieved to hear this and smiled nodding.
"Thank you, Rosie, again, for everything"
"Of course. Now how about I order us pizza for dinner?" Rosie looked at Amber, whose eyes lit up at the word pizza.
"Pizza for dinner?" Amber excitedly asked.
"Yes! What kind of pizza do you like, Amber?" Rosie asked as she pulled up the local pizza place number.
"I like pepperoni pizza!" Amber chirped, holding a blue crayon in her hands. Rosie left the room to make the phone call, while Octavia got Amber's hot cocoa ready. She handed the girl a mug with a bendy straw.
"Careful it's hot sweetie" Amber nodded and quietly thanked Octavia.
River looked at Octavia.
"So what part of the Pizza Plex are you working in Octavia?" Octavia glanced at River.
"The daycare, I'm the new Daycare Assistant. They need someone to help with the Daycare Attendant. Essentially the Daycare Attendant is my boss?" Octavia shrugged slightly. River raised an eyebrow.
"Really? Well good luck, I hear the Daycare Attendant is a bit, well weird"
"It can't be that bad, can it?" Octavia questioned.
"Well, I don't know much about the daycare attendant, except that he's a neat freak, and hates the dark," River sipped his coffee.
"That doesn't sound too bad" Octavia was a bit worried now about working with the Daycare Attendant.
"Yeah but I'm sure you'll be fine" Octavia nodded, chasing away the thoughts from her head.
Rosie came back, setting her phone down on the table.
"They'll be here in about fifteen minutes with the pizza," She explained.
"Rosie, what have you heard about the Daycare Attendant?" Octavia asked, looking at her best friend.
"The Daycare Attendant? Not much, why?"
"Curiosity, and if I should be potentially worried about having him as my boss" Octavia put her hands together as she spoke.
"Nah, you should be fine, he's harmless," Rosie said as she sipped her coffee.
"Good good" Octavia sighed relieved.
Amber hummed as she finished her drawing. She put the crayons down and showed all three adults the picture. They all looked and smiled. There was a child-like drawing of Amber, with a penguin, dog, and an axolotl. Those were her three favorite animals.
"Wow, such a good drawing Amy. Let's put it on the fridge, hmm?" Octavia stated as she and Amber got up from the table, and went to the fridge. Octavia pulled out a magnet from a drawer, attaching the paper to the fridge with said magnet. Amber excitedly bounced and squealed quietly as Octavia put the paper on the fridge.
The door knocked, and Rosie and River went to go get the door as Amber and Octavia set the table. Rosie and River came back out to the kitchen with pizza.
"Bon appetit!" Rosie smiled as Octavia got a slice of pizza for Amber. Amber ate it slowly and smiled as her taste of cheese and pepperoni hit her taste buds.
"Is that good sweetheart?" Octavia laughed as Amber had a bit of sauce on her cheek. Amber took a napkin and wiped her face nodding.
"It is good, thank you auntie Rosie and uncle River" Amber looked at the pair, Rosie cooed, smiling softly. The group had eaten their pizza and enjoyed each other's company for that night.
After a bit, Rosie and River left the apartment bidding goodbye to Octavia and Amber.
"We'll see you tomorrow my sweet doves!" Rosie said as the door shut. Amber yawned rubbing her eyes.
"Come on let's get you to bed Amber" Octavia and Amber headed towards Amber's room. Boxes still lay unpacked. The only thing unpacked were Amber's clothes and bedding. Amber got into pajamas while Octavia got the bed ready for Amber. Setting down a plush of a light yellow bird on the bed. This was Mr. Featherington. A special plush her dad had given her.
"Octi?" Amber said.
"Yes?" Octavia sat on the bed as Amber climbed under the covers.
"Are we going to go to the Pizza Plex tomorrow?" she asked.
"Yes, we are. I work there now, so we'll go there when I work. How's that sound?" Amber smiled and held onto Octavia's hand.
"I like that" Octavia smiled and kissed Amber's forehead.
"Night Amber" Octaiva turned off the light, and turned on a nightlight, before leaving the room. Heading across the hall to her room. Her bed was made, and her outfit for work hung on the door.
Octavia got into a silk nightgown, and laid in bed, scrolling through her phone before putting it on the charger, and then lay there thinking. She sighed and fell asleep, peaceful dreams played in her mind.