Chapter 11: Like A Horse On A Carousel

Everything has been going great with the life I've been having at the Pizzaplex. Gregory and the twins, Ryan and Reagan, have been going back to school while Scarlett works during the day. It's been going smoothly during my night shifts as well. Monty has been the most wonderful boyfriend, even if he was a gator animatronic. He has been taking me on dates all throughout the Pizzaplex. I loved seeing his soft side that he only really showed to me. However, in the back of my mind, I knew all these good times would end. I didn't know when, and that scared the shit out of me. I knew Andrew would pounce after me eventually, and I needed to cherish these fun times with everyone.

"What's wrong princess?" Monty's gruff but soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"What?" I blinked and looked at Monty. I was sitting on his lap while he was cuddling me on his couch.

"You started to stare off into space. I'm just making sure that you're okay, Elijah", Monty placed a gentle kiss on top of my head.

"Yes, I'm okay, big guy", I breathed and smiled softly at my handsome boyfriend, "I was just thinking about something."

"What would that be?" Monty looked down at me with a quizzical look.

"Have you been outside of the Pizzapex before?" I asked Monty.

"Not really", Monty pondered.

"Maybe we could have a date outside of the Pizzaplex!", I beamed up toward him.

Monty tilted his head, the soft glow of his LED eyes flickering slightly. "You'd want to take me out there? With everyone around?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I think it'd be fun. Just imagine—we could go to the park, maybe see a movie, or even just walk around the city at night. The fresh air would be amazing."

Monty hesitated, his claws gently running along my back in slow, soothing motions. "I don't know, princess. What if someone… reacts badly to me?"

"We'll deal with it together," I assured him, leaning into his chest. "You're with me, Monty. No one's going to mess with you. Besides, you deserve to experience more of the world."

Monty's jaw shifted slightly, a telltale sign that he was mulling it over. "Alright," he finally said, his voice a low rumble. "If it's with you, I'll give it a shot."

I grinned, my excitement bubbling over. "Great! I'll plan everything. It'll be perfect, you'll see."

Monty chuckled, pulling me closer into his embrace. "Just don't make me go to one of those fancy restaurants. I'd probably break a chair."

"Noted," I teased, poking his chest playfully. "No fancy restaurants."

As we sat there, wrapped up in each other, a sense of calm washed over me. Even though the shadow of Andrew loomed in the back of my mind, I allowed myself this moment of happiness. Monty was right here, and for now, that was enough.

Later that night, Bonnie and Roxy called a meeting between the Glamrocks and me. Everyone gathered in the Atrium, a rare occurrence for all of us to be together. Bonnie stood with his arms crossed, while Roxy leaned against the wall with an intense look on her face.

"Alright, everyone," Bonnie began, his tone serious. "We called this meeting because we want to know if anyone's seen anything unusual or out of place lately."

The room fell silent as we all looked at each other. Freddy shook his head, and Chica's cheerful demeanor didn't falter. Sun and Moon exchanged glances but didn't speak up. Monty's arms were crossed as he stayed quiet, his gaze shifting to me briefly. Everything felt normal, like a horse on a carousel—repetitive, predictable, and safe.

But then Roxy spoke up. "I don't know if it's anything, but I've… seen glimpses of someone. Damien. Out of the corner of my eye." Her voice wavered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. "It's probably nothing, but I thought I'd mention it."

The tension in the room thickened. To lighten the mood, Bonnie smirked and said, "Well, if we're talking about unusual things, can we address how close Elijah and Monty have been lately? You'd think they were glued together or something."

My face flushed instantly. "W-what? No! We… it's not like that," I stammered, completely flustered.

We are like that though, and I'm happy about it. I felt like dropping to the floor with regret.

Monty placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding me. "Relax, princess," he murmured before looking at the others. "Actually, Bonnie's right. Elijah and I are together. As a couple."

The room erupted in mixed reactions. Freddy and Chica's faces lit up with joy. "That's wonderful! We're so happy for you two," Freddy said warmly.

Roxy and Foxy exchanged uncertain looks, while Sun tilted his head curiously. When they didn't say anything, I felt like I wanted to run away from here.

"You're serious?" Roxy asked, her voice softening. "You're really… happy with each other?"

"I am," Monty said firmly. "And I've promised to protect Elijah. Not just his safety, but his heart and emotions, too."

I nodded nervously, feeling everyone's eyes on me. "And… we're going out on a date outside the Pizzaplex sometime soon," I added, my voice barely above a whisper.

Freddy beamed. "That's great! You deserve some time to yourselves."

The others slowly came around, offering hesitant nods and small smiles. Despite the initial awkwardness, the meeting ended on a positive note. As Monty and I left the Atrium, he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, silently reminding me that we'd face whatever came next together.

I was finishing making my rounds around the Pizzaplex, without Monty unfortunately. As I was rounding the corner in front of Bonnie Bowl, I accidentally bumped into someone! Well, bumping into an animatronic.

"I'm so sorry for-" I was interrupted by a gentle hand being placed onto my shoulder.

I looked up and it was Roxy, who was giving me a warm, reassuring smile. Bonnie was leaning against a wall behind her.

"It's okay, runt. It was just an accident", Roxy told me softly.

"You doing your rounds, sugar?" Bonnie asked me curiously.

"Yeah, just doing my job!" I replied with a big smile.

"Without your gator, sugar?" Bonnie smirked in my direction.

"Y-Yeah, Monty was busy cleaning up his attraction for later today", I sheepishly smiled, looking down nervously.

Roxy smacked Bonnie upside his head. "Don't tease Elijah like that!" She then walked over to me and put a finger under my chin. She raised my face, so I would be looking up at her. "I'm sorry if you thought some of us were against the relationship between you and Monty", Roxy released a slightly heavy sigh from her lips, "We're happy for you two and I'm grateful that you being with him has helped him improve himself." The wolf animatronic smiled softly at me when she told me that last part.

I blushed a bit knowing that I've been helping Monty like that. "Thanks, I guess".

Roxy's Fazwatch buzzed and she looked down on her wrist. "Ugh", she groaned with a slight bit of annoyance.

"What happened?" I asked curiously.

"Chica destroyed a part of the kitchen again. I'll be back Bonnie", Roxy hurried towards the escalators to deal with the situation.

There was a heavy silence lingering in the air between Bonnie and me in front of Bonnie Bowl. It was so quiet that I could hear the hum of the bowling lanes from the attraction.

"Look, sugar. I'm sorry that I've been different since you two have been seeing each other", Bonnie now stood in front of me warily with a sheepish smile.

He's apologizing to me? I didn't think he did anything wrong. I thought to myself.

"I-It's fine, Bonnie", I, unfortunately, stammered out.

"No, it's not okay, sugar! I started to get jealous because-" Bonnie looked down at the ground quietly.

"Jealous of what?" I started to grow concerned.

Bonnie was silent at first, the gears in his mind whirring. "I got jealous because I like someone here at the Pizzaplex, too! I don't know how to tell him", Bonnie choked out. I noticed that he was tearing up.

I rushed over to him and cupped his face soothingly. "Hey, it's okay. I understand. Who is it, if I may ask?"

"I-It's Freddy, sugar", Bonnie looked at me with sorrow.

I blinked, surprised. Of all the things Bonnie could've said, I hadn't expected that.

"Freddy?" I repeated softly, making sure I'd heard him right. Bonnie nodded, his ears drooping slightly, his gaze dropping to the floor.

"Yeah… Freddy," he whispered, his voice trembling. "He's always been so… good. Kind, strong, dependable. He's everything I'm not."

"Bonnie," I said, my voice firm yet gentle, "that's not true. You're amazing in your own way, and you don't have to compare yourself to him—or anyone."

He gave me a small, skeptical smile. "Thanks, sugar, but it's not just that. I… I don't even know if he could feel the same. And what if I ruin what we already have? Freddy's one of my closest friends."

I let go of his face, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder instead. "You'll never know if you don't try, Bonnie. Freddy cares about all of us, and I don't think he'd judge you for being honest about your feelings."

Bonnie hesitated, the anxiety in his eyes clear as day. "What if he doesn't feel the same? What if he doesn't want to be around me anymore?"

I shook my head. "I know Freddy, and I don't think he's capable of pushing anyone away for being honest about their feelings. He's not like that. Besides, if he doesn't feel the same, you'll at least know where you stand, and you can move forward from there."

Bonnie sighed, his ears flicking back and forth in thought. "I guess you're right. It's just… scary, you know? Putting yourself out there like that."

"Believe me, I know," I said, thinking back to how terrifying it had been to open up to Monty. "But it's worth it. Even if it doesn't go the way you hope, you'll feel better knowing you were brave enough to try."

Bonnie gave me a small, tentative smile. "You're a good friend, sugar. Thanks for listening."

"Anytime," I said with a grin. "And for what it's worth, I think you and Freddy would make an adorable couple."

That got a laugh out of him—soft but genuine. "You think so?"

"Absolutely."

The moment was interrupted by the faint sound of shouting from downstairs. Bonnie's ears perked up, and I groaned.

"That's probably Chica again," I muttered.

Bonnie chuckled. "Sounds like Roxy's gonna need backup. You better get moving, sugar. I'll stick around here for a bit, clear my head."

I hesitated, not wanting to leave him alone, but he waved me off with a reassuring smile. "Go on. I'll be okay."

"Alright," I said, starting to walk away. "But if you need to talk again, you know where to find me."

"Thanks, Elijah," he called after me.

I turned back and gave him a thumbs-up before heading toward the escalators. As I made my way down, I couldn't help but feel a surge of hope for Bonnie. If he could find the courage to tell Freddy how he felt, maybe things would work out for him, too. After all, if Monty and I could make it work, why not Bonnie and Freddy?

As I descended the escalators, the sounds of the Pizzaplex filled the air—cheerful music, distant chatter, and the occasional clatter from the attractions. Despite the lively ambiance, my thoughts lingered on Bonnie. I hoped he'd find the courage to open up to Freddy.

When I reached the bottom, I caught sight of Roxy in the distance, pacing near the kitchen entrance. She looked visibly annoyed, her claws clicking against her Fazwatch as she muttered under her breath.

"Hey, Roxy," I called out, jogging over.

She glanced up, her frustration softening when she saw me. "There you are, runt. Took you long enough."

"Sorry about that. What's the situation?"

Roxy rolled her eyes, gesturing toward the kitchen. "Chica decided to 'help' reorganize the damn pantry. Long story short, it looks like a tornado hit it. I swear, that bird has more enthusiasm than sense sometimes."

I peeked inside and immediately saw what she meant. Shelves were toppled over, boxes of pizza dough and sauce were scattered everywhere, and Chica was in the middle of it all, holding a half-eaten slice of pizza.

"Chica," I said, crossing my arms. "What happened here?"

She turned to me with her signature innocent smile, crumbs dusting her beak. "Oh! Hi, Elijah! I was trying to make room for more pizza ingredients, but… things kinda got away from me."

"Kinda?" Roxy interjected, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll clean it up!" Chica chirped, grabbing a broom and sweeping haphazardly, only making the mess worse.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Let me help you, Chica. We can get this sorted out faster together."

Roxy smirked. "Good luck, kid. I've got other stuff to handle. Let me know if you need backup." She turned and strutted off, leaving me to deal with Chica.

As we worked on the mess, I tried to make small talk to lighten the mood. "So, Chica, any big plans for today?"

She paused mid-sweep, tilting her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… not really. But I was thinking about inviting Freddy to try my new pizza recipe later. It's got extra pepperoni and jalapeños!"

"Sounds… spicy," I said with a laugh.

"Freddy loves trying new things," Chica said proudly. "Maybe Bonnie could come too! They've been kinda distant lately. It'd be nice to cheer him up."

I hesitated, considering whether to mention Bonnie's feelings. But it wasn't my place to spill his secret. "That's a great idea," I said instead. "I think Bonnie would appreciate that."

By the time we finished cleaning, the kitchen looked somewhat presentable again. Chica clapped her hands together, beaming. "Thanks for helping, Elijah! You're the best!"

"No problem," I said, brushing some flour off my uniform. "Just try not to 'help' like that again, okay?"

She giggled and gave me a playful salute. "You got it, boss!"

As I left the kitchen, I couldn't shake the feeling that today was going to be eventful. Between Bonnie's confession and Chica's attempt at bringing everyone together, it felt like something was shifting within our little Pizzaplex family.

And deep down, I hoped it was for the better.