Inspired by Troy Bolton
Requested by: @Vanleeuwen98
Dominic Theodore Kelce sat in his room, the echoes of football cheers still ringing in his ears, but the sounds of a different kind of music pulled at his heart. He glanced at the mirror, taking in the boy staring back at him—a tall, athletic teen with tousled dark hair and a football jersey that fit him just right. He was the star of the football team, but beneath the surface, there was a melody that tugged at him, a whisper urging him to pursue his love for singing.
It was a typical Friday night in the Kelce household. Taylor Swift, his mom, had just returned from rehearsals, her energy lighting up the room like a concert stage. She was a superstar in her own right, and Dominic felt the weight of that legacy bearing down on him. He loved the sport, loved the camaraderie of the team, but the thought of singing—the one thing that truly made him feel alive—was constantly overshadowed by the fear of judgment from his peers.
"Dom!" his younger sister Ophelia called from the hallway, breaking him from his thoughts. "Are you coming? Everyone's waiting for you!"
Dominic sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I'm coming!" he shouted back, though his heart wasn't in it. He loved his sister, loved hanging out with his friends, but the pressure to fit in was becoming unbearable.
As he joined the group of friends in the living room, he couldn't shake the feeling of being pulled in two directions. The laughter and banter surrounded him, but inside, he felt like he was standing alone on a deserted island. They started joking about the upcoming talent show at school, and when one of his friends joked, "What if Dom sings? Can you imagine? The football star crooning a love song?" laughter erupted. Dominic's cheeks burned, and he forced a smile, masking the hurt beneath.
After a few minutes of listening to his friends, he excused himself, needing a moment away from the laughter that felt sharp and stinging. He wandered to his room, the quiet embracing him like a warm blanket. There, on his desk, was his guitar, a gift from his mom. It was an instrument that held the stories he yearned to tell, but he had never had the courage to share them.
"My head's in the game, but my heart's in the song," he muttered to himself, the words echoing the conflict within him. He picked up the guitar, strumming a few chords, letting the music wash over him. The notes felt freeing, but as soon as he stopped playing, reality crept back in.
Feeling overwhelmed, he found himself seeking comfort in the one person he knew would understand—his mom. He made his way down the hall to her room, where she sat on the edge of the bed, scrolling through her phone.
"Hey, sweetie," she said, looking up and smiling. "What's up?"
Dominic shuffled his feet, trying to find the words. "Can I... can I sit with you?"
"Of course!" She patted the bed beside her, and he plopped down, leaning against her. He felt safe here, but the conflict roiled in his gut.
"I don't know what to do, Mom," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I love football, but I also want to sing. And when I think about it, I feel like I'm torn in half."
Taylor's expression softened, and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. "It's okay to feel that way, Dom. You don't have to choose one or the other. You can do both. Look at your dad and me—we have our passions, and they coexist."
"But what if my friends think it's stupid?" He felt the heat of unshed tears prick his eyes. "What if I'm not good enough?"
"Sweetheart," she said gently, "your friends may not understand, but that doesn't mean you should hide who you are. You are so talented, and your voice is a gift. Embrace it."
