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Chapter 9: A Filmmaker
Last Updated:
2025-03-18 15:48:53
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Against all odds Chapter 10: Unspoken Bonds
ElliotThe days since Luca and I started brainstorming for our film have been exhilarating. Every conversation, every meeting, every shared idea feels like another step toward something meaningful, something real. I can feel the pieces of our project coming together, and with it, the pieces of myself, parts I’ve kept buried under layers of expectations and fears.This time, we decided to meet at my place. My parents are out for the evening, so I don’t have to worry about prying eyes or disapproving looks. I set up the living room with notebooks, my laptop, and a scattering of snacks. When the doorbell rings, I take a deep breath and open the door.“Hey!” Luca greets me, grinning as he steps inside, carrying his own notebook and a stack of film magazines.“Come on in,” I say, leading him into the living room. “I thought we could use the space to spread our ideas.”“This is perfect,” he says, settling onto the couch and looking around with
Last Updated : 2025-03-19Against all odds Chapter 11: I Have Luca
ElliotThe next morning, I wake up with a renewed sense of purpose. The weight of my family’s expectations, the pressure to live up to their dreams, they still linger, but today, they feel lighter. I have Luca now, and somehow, that makes everything seem more bearable.As the day goes on, we text back and forth, exchanging ideas and plans for the film. Each message brings a rush of excitement, a reminder of the bond we’re building through this project.A few days later, we met again, this time at a park near my house. We sit on a bench, our notebooks open on our laps, but our conversation drifts away from the film, turning instead to life, dreams, and the things that keep us up at night.“Do you ever feel like you’re just…pretending?” Luca asks, his gaze focused on a distant point in the park.“All the time,” I reply, my voice soft. “Like I’m living someone else’s life, playing a role that doesn’t fit.”He nods, a look of understanding crossing his face. “Sometimes I think about what
Last Updated : 2025-03-20Against all odds Chapter 12: Sacrifice
ElliotSaturday arrives, and the morning sun filters through my curtains, casting warm rays across my room. I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glance at my phone.A message from Luca brightens my mood. “Excited for today! What do you have planned?I grin, typing back with enthusiasm. “Meet me at the park at noon? I have a surprise!I spend the morning pacing around my room, trying to figure out how to make this day special. I want to show Luca that I’m more than just my family’s legacy. I want him to see the real me, the part that’s been buried under expectations and responsibilities.When I finally arrive at the park, my heart races with anticipation. I spot Luca sitting on a bench, his expression brightening as I approach.“Hey!” he says, his smile infectious.“Hey! Ready for the surprise?“Absolutely,” he replies, leaning forward with excitement.I gesture for him to follow me as we walk deeper into the park. The morning air is crisp, and the trees sway gently in the bre
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Against all odds Chapter 13: Over for Dinner
LucaThe next time Elliot and I meet, the atmosphere between us is charged with something unspoken, something deeper than friendship. I keep telling myself to stay focused on the film, on the project that’s brought us together. But it’s impossible to ignore the way my pulse quickens when I’m around him, or how I find myself looking forward to every message, every meeting, every chance to see his smile.Tonight, we’ve decided to work at his place again. He invited me over for dinner first, and I can’t help but feel like it’s become something more than just a work session. As I walk up to his door, I tell myself to stay calm, to act normal. But the butterflies in my stomach are impossible to ignore.Elliot opens the door, a warm smile on his face, and my heart skips a beat. He’s dressed casually, but there’s something about him tonight, something that makes him seem even more magnetic than usual.“Hey,” he says, stepping aside to let me in. “I hope you’re hungry. I might have gone a lit
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Against all odds Chapter 14: Can Create a future
LucaThe next morning, as I walk to work, I can’t shake the memory of last night. Every detail, every word, every glance between us plays on repeat in my mind, filling me with a quiet joy that I’ve never felt before. For the first time, I feel like I’m truly moving toward something real, something that matters.When I arrive at the diner, I’m greeted by the usual chaos of breakfast rush, but even that can’t dampen my mood. As I go through the motions, my thoughts keep drifting back to Elliot, to the way he looked at me, the way he made me feel like I could finally be myself.By the time my shift ends, I’m practically counting down the minutes until I can see him again. We’ve made plans to meet at a park after his classes, and the thought of being with him, even just for a few hours, fills me with a sense of excitement I can’t explain.When I finally see him, sitting on a bench with his notebook open, I can’t help but smile. He looks up as I approach, his face lighting up in a way that
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Against all odds Chapter 15: Hidden Truths
LucaBeing with Elliot feels like a dream, one that I never want to wake up from. Every moment we spend together, every laugh, every shared glance—it all feels right, like I’ve finally found my place in the world. But I can sense the weight he’s carrying, the struggle he faces with his family’s expectations, and it kills me that there’s nothing I can do to fix it.I want to be there for him, to show him that he doesn’t have to go through this alone. But I also know that this is his journey, his battle to fight. All I can do is stand by him, offering whatever support he needs, hoping that he’ll find the strength to be true to himself.A few days later, I decide to invite him over to my place. It’s small and far from fancy, but it’s mine, and I want him to feel at home here. As he steps inside, I catch a glimpse of the tension in his shoulders, the weight he’s been carrying around. I wish I could take it from him, even just for a little while.“Make yourself at home,” I say, giving him
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Against all odds Chapter 16: Imagine a future
ElliotThe beach is quiet now, the sun’s last light fading into darkness as stars begin to dot the sky. Beside me, Luca is a steady, comforting presence. I can feel his warmth as he holds my hand, grounding me in a way I’ve never known. And for the first time, I find myself daring to imagine a future where this, where we could be my reality, a life I no longer have to keep in the shadows.I look over at him, studying his profile as he gazes out at the water, his expression soft, peaceful. There's something so reassuring about Luca’s calm strength, his unspoken promise that he’ll be here no matter what. It makes me want to be braver, to start breaking down the walls I’ve spent so long building.“Thank you,” I murmur, my voice barely more than a whisper. “For being patient with me.”He glances over, a gentle smile spreading across his face. “Elliot, you don’t have to thank me. I want to be here. I’m in this with you.”I swallow, feeling a lump form in my throat. No one has ever said any
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Against all odds Chapter 17: No president or judgment
ElliotBeing in Luca’s apartment, just the two of us, feels like a sanctuary, a place where I can finally let my guard down. There’s no pressure, no judgment—only the quiet understanding that somehow, he sees me in a way no one else ever has.As I sit there, sipping my tea, I find myself opening up to him in ways I never thought possible. I tell him about my family, about the weight of their expectations, the pressure to live up to an image that never quite fit. I tell him about the fear that’s kept me silent, the longing to break free, to live a life that feels true.He listens without interrupting, his gaze steady, his hand warm on my shoulder. And as I talk, I feel a sense of relief, as if a weight is slowly being lifted from my chest.“I don’t know how to change things,” I admit finally, my voice barely a whisper. “But I want to. I want to find a way to be…me.”Luca reaches out, taking my hand, and his touch is like an anchor, grounding me in the present moment. “You will, Elliot.
Last Updated : 2025-03-29
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Against all odds chapter 30: I already know how this will end.
Luca Elliott walked away without looking back, his broad shoulders stiff, his pace quick and unrelenting.I knew that walk. That damn walk he always did when he wanted to act like something didn’t bother him. When he pretended he could just shake things off, bury them deep enough that they wouldn’t matter.But I wasn’t about to let him get away with it this time.I wasn’t done.Not after everything we had been through. Not after the sleepless nights, the stolen moments, the words left unsaid. I refused to let this be how it ended.My chest was tight as I pushed forward, my footsteps echoing against the polished floor as I went after him.“Elliott, wait…”He didn’t stop.I could see the way his fists clenched at his sides, the tension in his shoulders growing, but he kept walking like he didn’t hear me.“Dammit, Elliott, just talk to me!”That made him stop.He let out a sharp exhale before turning around. His face was carefully composed, but his eyes…God, his eyes held something raw
Against all odds Chapter 29: I am leaving in two days
Luca I couldn't take it anymore.The entire night had been a blur of frustration and anxiety as I sat on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, watching the screen light up, only for it to be notifications that weren’t from him. The missed calls, the unread messages, the radio silence, it all added up to one thing. Elliott was ignoring me.My chest tightened with every passing minute. Had I pushed him too far? Was he angry? Or was something actually wrong? My mind spun with possibilities, each one worse than the last. The longer I waited, the more suffocating the silence became, swallowing me whole.I should have just told him the truth from the beginning. The moment I found out, I should have just told him when he came earlier, I should have looked him in the eyes and confessed everything. Maybe then he wouldn’t be shutting me out now. Maybe then he would still be talking to me instead of making me feel like I no longer existed in his world.But I couldn't undo the past.What I could d
Against all odds Chapter 28: Cecilia and Elliott
Elliott’s POVBy the time I got home, my entire body felt heavy, like I was carrying something I couldn’t put down.Luca was hiding something from me. I could see it in his eyes, hear it in the way his voice wavered. And yet, he wouldn’t let me in. Wouldn’t tell me what the hell was going on in his head.I clenched my jaw, slamming the door shut behind me.Maybe I had been stupid to think that night actually meant something.I kicked off my shoes and headed straight for the liquor cabinet in the dining room. My father never touched the cheap bottles, he only cared for his overpriced whiskey and aged wine, so I figured he wouldn’t even notice if something was missing.I grabbed a half-full bottle of vodka and a glass, already preparing to drink myself into oblivion.If Luca wanted to be distant, fine.If he didn’t want to tell me what was wrong, fine.But I wasn’t going to sit here and drive myself insane thinking about it.I had barely taken a step toward my room when I heard a muffle
Against all odds Chapter 27: Luca and Elliott
Elliott’s POVEven after everything, after the punishment, after the pain, after the bruises that still burned across my skin, I couldn’t stop thinking about Luca.I didn’t want to stop thinking about him.I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling, my body aching from the beating my father had given me the night before. My ribs throbbed with every breath, and my cheek was still swollen, but none of that mattered. Not really.What mattered was the way Luca had touched me. The way he had kissed me, made me feel like I wasn’t just someone trapped in a life he didn’t want.I needed to see him.But my father would lose his mind if I stepped outside without permission again.I turned my head to where Cecilia sat by my bedside, quietly dabbing ointment onto a cut near my temple. Her brows were drawn in worry, but she didn’t say anything.I shifted slightly, wincing. “Cecilia?”She looked up at me, her expression cautious. “What is it?”“I need you to cover for me.”Her hands froze. “Elliott…”
Against all odds Chapter 26: Dear Luca Romano
Luca I couldn’t stop thinking about last night, everything was just surfacing over and over again anytime I closed my eyes.The way Elliott’s lips had felt against mine. The hesitant way he’d responded at first, and then, when he finally let himself go, how desperately he’d kissed me back. Like he needed it just as much as I did.It wasn’t just some drunken mistake or a fleeting moment of weakness. I knew that.But did he?I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I sat in front of my laptop, trying to focus on editing my latest film project. The footage blurred together, my mind refusing to cooperate. Every time I tried to concentrate, my thoughts drifted back to him.To the way his breath had hitched when I touched him. To the quiet gasps he made when I kissed down his neck. To the way his fingers had curled against my shirt like he didn’t want to let go.I shut my laptop with a frustrated groan and leaned back in my chair, rubbing my hands over my face.This was bad.I wasn’t su
Against all odds Chapter 25: Utterly lost
Elliott The Next MorningI woke up to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the blinds, casting streaks of warmth across Luca’s small apartment. My body felt heavy, my limbs tangled with his as we lay in bed, still wrapped in the lingering warmth of the night before. For a moment, I didn’t want to move, I just wanted to stay in this cocoon of safety, away from the expectations waiting for me at home, but I know I don't have that's luxury.Luca stirred beside me, his arm tightening around my waist as he murmured something incoherent against my shoulder. I smiled faintly, running a hand through his messy hair.“You’re awake,” he muttered sleepily, his voice husky from sleep.“Yeah.” I sighed, glancing at the clock on the bedside table. It was past nine, my father was going to be furious.Luca must have caught the change in my expression because he propped himself up on one elbow, studying me. “You don’t want to go back, do you?”I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down my face. “
Against all odds Chapter 24: Luca in L.A
Elliott I just can't explain it, he said, turning his face away. Luca in L.A.? The thought slams into me like a punch to the gut.Though I should be happy for him, this is what he’s always wanted. He’s been obsessed with films but it just hurts that he didn't tell me before he applied.And that's not just it, all I am thinking about right now is how far L.A. is from here.“You haven’t heard back from them yet?” I ask, my voice tight.“No,” he says, watching me carefully. “Not yet.”I nod slowly, but my thoughts are spiraling. If they accept him, he’s gone. And what happens then? What happens to us?“I didn’t tell you to freak you out,” Luca says, stretching his hands to reach mine, but I take a step back again. He sighs. “Elliot, come on.”“I just…” I swallow, shaking my head. “It’s a lot, okay? My parents dropped this marriage thing on me, and now you’re telling me you might move across the country?”Luca watches me, and for a second, I see something flicker in his eyes. Hurt? Frus
Against all odds Chapter 23: Confessions and Consequences
Elliott Luca opens the door before I even knock. His apartment smells like coffee and cedarwood, warm and familiar. He’s wearing a loose hoodie, his dark curls slightly tousled, like he just woke up from a nap. Normally, I’d take a second to admire him, but tonight, my mind is a mess.He takes one look at me and frowns. “Elliot?”I don’t answer right away. I step inside, running a hand through my hair as I pace the length of his living room. My heart is hammering, and I can’t tell if it’s from frustration or fear. Probably both.Luca watches me with quiet concern before shutting the door. “Okay. What happened?”I let out a sharp breath, finally turning to him. “They’re forcing me into an engagement.”He went numb for a second.Then he blinked, he blinked again and again, then raised his eyebrows as if waiting for me to say it’s a joke. When I don’t, his expression hardens.“What?” His voice is dangerously low.I swallow. “My parents. They’re making me marry some girl… Cecilia Lauren
Against all odds Chapter 22: Unwanted Arrangements
Elliott I should have seen this coming.After last night’s disaster of a dinner, I expected some sort of retaliation from my father. A punishment disguised as a lesson. But I thought I’d have at least a few days before he tried again.I was wrong.Because the moment I step into the penthouse today, there’s a stranger sitting on the couch.And from the smug look on my father’s face, I already know why she’s here.“There you are, Elliot,” my mother says, standing with a practiced smile. “Come, sit. We have someone we’d like you to meet.”I don’t move. My eyes flick to the girl instead.She’s beautiful, glossy dark hair, sharp cheekbones, the kind of expensive confidence that only comes from growing up with wealth. But the moment our eyes meet, I see disdain.Good. At least we’re on the same page.My father gestures toward her. “Elliot, this is Cecilia Laurent. The Laurents are old family friends, and her father is a respected figure in the industry. We believe this match will be benefi
