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chapter 7: My Family Is
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2025-03-12 01:42:12Elliot pov
The drive home feels different. Each mile stretches out before me, and my mind races with thoughts of Luca. Our conversations, our laughter, the way he made me feel, alive, understood, and hopeful. But alongside the excitement is a sense of fear. I’ve never allowed myself to get close to anyone like this before, and the thought of vulnerability terrifies me. I know that opening myself up means risking heartache, and that’s something I’ve tried to avoid for so long. When I finally pull into my driveway, I sit in the car for a moment, gathering my thoughts. The weight of my parents’ expectations looms over me, but in that moment, I feel a flicker of defiance. I don’t want to be trapped by their vision of my life anymore. As I step inside, I find my parents sitting in the living room, their voices mingling with the hum of the television. “Elliot! How was your night?” my mother asks, glancing up from her magazine. “Good,” I reply, forcing a smile. “I went out with a friend.” “A friend? Do we know them?” my father interjects, raising an eyebrow. I hesitate, weighing my words carefully. “Yeah, just someone from school. We had dinner and gelato.” My mother’s eyes light up with curiosity. “That sounds nice! Any plans for the weekend?” “Not yet,” I say, shrugging it off. “Just going to see how it goes.” I can feel their gaze lingering on me, the subtle pressure to divulge more. But I’m not ready to share everything, especially not the way I feel about Luca. “Make sure you keep your grades up, okay?” my father adds, his tone serious. “You know how important it is for your future.” “Of course, Dad,” I reply, but the familiar weight of expectation settles back onto my shoulders. I give them a quick nod and head to my room, the door clicking shut behind me. As I sit on my bed, my mind wanders back to Luca. He’s different from anyone I’ve ever met, there’s a light in him that draws me in. I can’t help but wonder if he feels the same way, if he’s as scared as I am about what this could mean for us. I pull out my phone, fingers hovering over the screen. I want to message him, to share my thoughts, but I hesitate, uncertain of how to put everything into words. Instead, I scroll through our previous conversations, reliving the moments we’ve shared. Finally, I take a deep breath and type out a message. “Hey, just wanted to say I had an amazing time tonight. It really meant a lot to me.” I hit send, my heart racing as I wait for his response. I can’t shake the feeling that something is shifting between us, a current that pulls us closer together, yet also threatens to overwhelm us both. Moments later, my phone vibrates, and I practically leap to check it. “Me too! I can’t stop thinking about it. Let’s do it again soon?” A smile spreads across my face as I read his words. “Definitely. Let’s make it a regular thing,” I reply, my excitement bubbling over. As the conversation continues, I feel a sense of relief wash over me. No matter how daunting the path ahead might be, I know that Luca is someone I want to explore it with. I know it's not really accepted in the society, but I can't ignore the feeling no matter how much I try. but the society isn't really my problem. MY FAMILY ISRelated chapters
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As we finish our meals, the conversation continues to flow, each word building a bridge between our worlds. I find myself leaning in closer, captivated not just by what Luca is saying, but by the way he speaks, the passion in his voice, the way his eyes light up when he talks about his dreams. It’s infectious.“So, what’s your dream film about?” I ask, genuinely curious.He pauses for a moment, his fork hovering over his plate. “It’s about a kid who feels lost in the world, trapped in the expectations of his family and society. He discovers a hidden passion for art, and through that, he learns to break free and express himself.”“Wow, that sounds incredible,” I say, nodding enthusiastically. “That resonates with me. It’s like you’re telling your own story.”He smiles. “In a way, yes. I think a lot of us feel that pressure, don’t we?”“Definitely. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever find my own voice, or if I’m just meant to follow the path laid out for me,” I confess, feeling a wave of
Last Updated : 2024-11-21
Latest chapter
Against all odds chapter 7: My Family Is
Elliot povThe drive home feels different. Each mile stretches out before me, and my mind races with thoughts of Luca. Our conversations, our laughter, the way he made me feel, alive, understood, and hopeful.But alongside the excitement is a sense of fear. I’ve never allowed myself to get close to anyone like this before, and the thought of vulnerability terrifies me. I know that opening myself up means risking heartache, and that’s something I’ve tried to avoid for so long.When I finally pull into my driveway, I sit in the car for a moment, gathering my thoughts. The weight of my parents’ expectations looms over me, but in that moment, I feel a flicker of defiance. I don’t want to be trapped by their vision of my life anymore.As I step inside, I find my parents sitting in the living room, their voices mingling with the hum of the television. “Elliot! How was your night?” my mother asks, glancing up from her magazine.“Good,” I reply, forcing a smile. “I went out with a friend.”“A
Against all odds Mixed feelings
As we finish our meals, the conversation continues to flow, each word building a bridge between our worlds. I find myself leaning in closer, captivated not just by what Luca is saying, but by the way he speaks, the passion in his voice, the way his eyes light up when he talks about his dreams. It’s infectious.“So, what’s your dream film about?” I ask, genuinely curious.He pauses for a moment, his fork hovering over his plate. “It’s about a kid who feels lost in the world, trapped in the expectations of his family and society. He discovers a hidden passion for art, and through that, he learns to break free and express himself.”“Wow, that sounds incredible,” I say, nodding enthusiastically. “That resonates with me. It’s like you’re telling your own story.”He smiles. “In a way, yes. I think a lot of us feel that pressure, don’t we?”“Definitely. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever find my own voice, or if I’m just meant to follow the path laid out for me,” I confess, feeling a wave of
Against all odds A fork in the road
LucaI watch Elliot walk away, a swirl of emotions battling inside me. Part of me is elated, buzzing from the day we spent together, but another part feels a pang of disappointment at the sudden end to our time. I wanted to ask him about more than just dinner, to explore this undeniable connection further, but I held back.The moment they called out to him felt like a jolt, pulling him back to the reality of his world. It’s not that I want him to abandon his friends, but I wish I could be part of that world he inhabits.I turn and head inside my apartment, the familiar surroundings grounding me. I throw my bag on the couch and sit down, my heart racing with thoughts of Elliot. The afternoon we spent together plays in my mind like a favorite movie—his laughter, the way he listened intently when I spoke about my dreams, the spark in his eyes that made me feel alive.But then the doubts creep back in. He lives in a different world than I do, one filled with expectations and responsibilit
Against all odds Coffee conversation
LucaInstead, I push the thought aside and make my way to the construction site. I take a deep breath, shaking off the day’s fatigue. I’ve got a job to do, and I’m determined to give it my all.The site is buzzing with activity when I arrive. The familiar sounds of machinery and voices fill the air, creating a comforting sense of purpose. I slip into my work boots and get to it, lifting heavy materials and working alongside the crew.As the sun begins to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, I feel the familiar rhythm of hard work wash over me. It’s grounding, and for a moment, I forget about everything else the stress, the worries, the weight of responsibility.But just as I’m starting to relax, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, surprised to see a text from an unknown number.“Hey, this is Elliot. From last night.”My heart skips a beat, and I can’t help but smile.I stare at the screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. What do I say? Do I play it cool, o
Against all odds Thoughts
LucaWork at the diner is busy today, the morning rush filling every booth and table. The familiar clatter of plates and chatter of customers creates a rhythm I’m used to. I slip into the routine of taking orders, pouring coffee, and refilling drinks. It’s a welcome distraction from my thoughts, but every so often, my mind drifts back to that rich kid.“Luca! Table three needs their check!” my manager calls, pulling me out of my daydream. I nod and hustle over, jotting down the total and grabbing the plates to clear away.ElliotI’ve never been particularly good at small talk. It’s one of those skills you’re supposed to pick up when you grow up in a family like mine, but I always felt like an imposter, faking smiles and nodding along as though I cared about the latest stock prices or who just got a promotion.The meeting with the investors is nothing short of excruciating. I sit there, my father leading the discussion with his usual bravado, while I doodle on the notepad in front of m
Against all odds Thread of fate
ElliotI watch him walk away, feeling oddly… disappointed. It’s strange, but part of me had wanted him to stick around a little longer, even if he clearly had better things to do. He seemed grounded in a way I rarely see in the people I usually spend time with. There was a simplicity to him, a clarity. He looked at me like he could see through all the layers of privilege and expectation that surround me, and it was both unsettling and comforting at the same time.I get back into my car, staring at the spot where he’d been standing. He didn’t even ask my name, and I didn’t ask his. It was just a random encounter, a brief collision of worlds that would never cross paths again. But as I start the engine and pull away, I find myself hoping, strangely, that maybe I’ll run into him again someday.As I drive back toward the lights and luxury that make up my world, his face lingers in my mind a reminder that somewhere out there, life exists beyond the polished surfaces and curated spaces I’ve
Against all odds The heir and the hustler
ElliotI’m not sure what it is about nights like this that make me want to disappear. Maybe it's the low hum of the city beneath me, the way the lights reflect off the glass and steel, creating a kind of illusion. Everything looks pristine and contained from this high up. Orderly. Perfect. But that’s not how it feels down there—at least, I don’t think it is.“Elliot, are you even listening?” My father’s voice cuts through my thoughts, sharp and insistent. I turn to face him, plastering on the polite smile I’ve perfected over years of family gatherings, charity events, and business dinners.“Yes, of course,” I say, nodding along even though I’ve tuned out his lecture about “responsibility” and “image” and “the importance of the Moreau name.” It’s always the same speech, with minor adjustments depending on the occasion. Tonight, it’s about the need to form alliances, to think about the family business. To solidify my place within it.As he drones on, I catch my reflection in the massive
