Meet Cameron Smith, a charismatic and talented athlete, the captain of the university's basketball team. With an arrogant demeanor driven by his success, he exudes confidence both on and off court. On the other hand, there's Elle Davis, determined t...
I walked downstairs, my footsteps heavy with the weight of the previous night. The sunlight filtering through the curtains felt too bright, too cheerful, for the turmoil brewing inside me. As I reached the last step, I heard soft whispers coming from the living room. Mom and Dad were huddled together, their heads close as they exchanged concerned glances.
I knew this scene all too well. It was their routine—a well-practiced game plan from when Liam and I were kids. After every fight, Dad would come to me, talking softly, coaxing me out of my stubborn silence, while Mom did the same with Liam. They'd always manage to smooth things over, to get us talking again. But that was then, when our disagreements were over trivial matters like who got the last piece of cake or whose turn it was to choose the movie.
This was different.
I slipped away unnoticed, retreating back to my room, knowing what was coming next. I waited for the familiar knock on the door, the gentle voice of my dad asking to come in. But as minutes ticked by, I was caught off guard by the soft creak of the door opening. It was Mom.
"Can I come in, sweetie?" She asked, her voice full of that motherly warmth that always made me feel like everything could be okay, even when it wasn't.
"Sure, Mom." I replied, sitting up on the bed, trying to prepare myself for what I knew was going to be a difficult conversation.
Mom closed the door behind her and sat beside me, her eyes searching my face for answers. "Elle, what's going on? I know something's been bothering you, and it's not just about exams or school. You and Liam... you two have always been close. What happened?"
I wanted to tell her everything, to spill out all the confusion and hurt that had been festering inside me. But the words were lodged in my throat, tangled with emotions I couldn't fully understand myself. I hesitated, trying to find a place to start.
"It's... it's complicated, Mom." I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's about a boy... Cameron Smith."
Mom's brow furrowed slightly, as if she was piecing together the fragments of the story I hadn't yet told. "Cameron Smith?"
I nodded, feeling a knot tighten in my chest. "Yes, him. Liam hates him, and I never really knew why. But... he's not who Liam thinks he is, Mom. He's... he's different."
She waited patiently, not pushing me, just letting me find the words.
"It started on the first day of college," I continued. "I was waiting for Liam at the gym, and Cameron was there. We talked for the first time, and I didn't think much of it. But then, Liam told me to stay away from him, to not talk to him. But... I couldn't. We kept bumping into each other. At the library, at a party... it was like, no matter what, we'd always end up crossing paths."
Mom's hand found mine, squeezing it gently, encouraging me to go on.
"I started seeing a side of him that no one else seemed to notice," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "He's not just the tough, arrogant captain of the team. There's more to him... something vulnerable, something real. He's been hurt, Mom. I can see it in his eyes. And... and I think I've fallen for him."
Mom's expression softened, her thumb stroking the back of my hand. "Oh, Elle..."
"We went out a few times," I admitted, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "He was always so respectful, so kind. It felt... it felt right. But then everything changed. Liam found out about us, and... I haven't spoken to Cameron in two weeks. I just... I just want things to go back to the way they were. I want to fix things with Liam, but I don't know how."
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I blinked them away, feeling overwhelmed by the mess I'd found myself in. Mom pulled me into a hug, and for a moment, I let myself sink into the comfort of her embrace.
"Elle," she said softly, pulling back to look at me, "I know this is hard. It's clear you care about Cameron, but it's also clear that Liam is hurting too. Sometimes, when people are hurt, they lash out in ways they don't mean to."
"But what do I do?" I asked, my voice breaking. "I feel like I'm being torn apart between them."
Mom sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Maybe it's time for you and Liam to have an honest conversation. Not in the heat of the moment, not when emotions are running high. Just... sit down and talk to him. Tell him how you feel. Tell him about Cameron, about what he means to you."
"I'm scared, Mom," I confessed. "What if Liam never forgives me?"
"He's your brother," she said with a reassuring smile. "He loves you, and deep down, he just wants to protect you. It might take time, but I believe you two can work this out. And as for Cameron... only you can decide if he's worth fighting for. But remember, you don't have to make that decision alone. We're here for you, no matter what."
I nodded, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. "Thanks, Mom."
"Why don't you try to get some rest?" she suggested, standing up. "You've been through a lot, and it's okay to take a break. I'll make your favorite pumpkin pasta for dinner tonight, okay? We can all sit down together, as a family."
I smiled weakly. "That sounds nice."
Mom leaned down, kissing my forehead. "I love you, Elle. We'll get through this, I promise."
"I love you too, Mom," I whispered, watching her as she walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
As the door clicked shut, I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the conversation settle over me. I knew what I had to do, but the thought of facing Liam, of trying to explain everything, made my stomach churn with anxiety.
But Mom was right. It was time to stop avoiding the truth, to stop letting fear dictate my actions. If I wanted things to get better, if I wanted to mend the rift between Liam and me, I had to start by being honest. Not just with him, but with myself.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside me. Tonight, I would talk to Liam. I would tell him everything, and maybe, just maybe, we could start to heal the wounds that had been festering between us.
But for now, all I could do was wait. Wait for dinner, wait for the right moment, and hope that, somehow, things would turn out okay.
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