The Family Fight Club
Where the rules are:
1. Smile at the parents.
2. Pretend everything's fine.
3. Die inside.
(Lira's House – Saturday Evening)
Mood: Mild chaos with a side of spaghetti.
Plan:
Damian's officially coming over to work on art club posters.
Mom is way too excited.
I'm just trying to act like I'm not crushing on two emotionally unavailable guys.
Goal: Survive.
6:05 PM – Doorbell Rings
I open it. Damian's there.
Flowers in one hand. Sketchbook in the other.
Wearing a button-up and a devastating smirk.
Me: "You're overdressed."
Damian: "You're breathtaking."
Me: "I—this is spaghetti night???"
6:07 PM – Mom Activates Full Host Mode
Mom: "So this is the boy who calls you 'art girl'?"
Damian: "Guilty. And may I say, now I see where she gets her charm."
Mom: blushing like she's the teenage daughter
"Ohhh, I like him."
Me (mentally): CODE RED. WE HAVE A FLIRTING SMOOTHIE IN THE HOUSE.
6:14 PM – Kitchen Chaos
We sit. Plates are served. Damian compliments the sauce. My mom nearly adopts him.
Dad: "So Damian, what are your intentions with my daughter?"
Damian: without missing a beat
"To admire her from a respectful distance until she tells me otherwise."
Me: chokes on breadstick
6:23 PM – The Doorbell Rings Again
Guess.
Go on. Guess.
It's Aeron.
Me: "What are you doing here??"
Aeron: "Your mom texted me. Said we needed to catch up. I brought pie."
Me: telepathically screaming into the void.
6:25 PM – Aeron Sits Down
Aeron is now across from Damian.
They both have forks. And daggers in their eyes.
Mom: "So Aeron, how's that photography project? Still taking moody sunset pics?"
Aeron: staring directly at Damian
"Still chasing light. Some shadows don't go away though."
Damian: smiling too hard
"Maybe they're just scared of it."
Me: I AM THE LASAGNA IN THIS WAR AND I REFUSE TO BE CUT.
6:40 PM – Dessert and Tension
Damian helps clean the dishes.
Aeron wipes the counter.
I stand in the kitchen, holding a spoon and a panic attack.
Mom (to me, loudly):
"They're both sweet boys, but I think Damian really understands your vibe."
Aeron (quietly):
"So that's the game now?"
Me (deadpan):
"This isn't a game. It's my life."
6:55 PM – The Driveway Showdown
They leave.
But not before one last round of eye-daggers.
Damian (to Aeron):
"You always show up uninvited?"
Aeron (to Damian):
"You always act like you belong?"
Me:
"GOODNIGHT TO BOTH OF YOU. GOODNIGHT TO THIS NIGHT. GOODNIGHT TO MY SANITY."
7:02 PM – My Room
I stared at the ceiling.
Two boys.
Two totally different feelings.
Damian felt like a spark.
Aeron felt like a storm.
I wanted to run from both.
And also, maybe… stay.
Because deep down, I knew:
My heart didn't match my comfort zone anymore.
End of Chapter 25