Chapter 4 My family

Elara

I signed a deal with the devil, the terms were simple, I didn’t expect that from Landon Hayes, I had imagined I would have to give up a lot more, I would have to really work for it.

We didn’t get to talk further, we got interrupted by one of his teammates and that was my cue to leave, I didn’t need any more attention.

I didn’t mind designing for his team.

One thought worried me.

Dylan.

If there’s one person Dylan hates more than me at the moment, it’s Landon Hayes

Landon is everything Dylan wanted to me.

Star player, has an extremely wealthy father who once played in the field and he is known as a hockey legend all across the state.

Dylan on the other hand came from a wealthy family, but compared to Landon, he is nothing, and it didn’t help that Landon knew hockey better than him.

A year of dating him and I have heard more about Landon than I could imagine.

He is not that bad, I thought

Dylan will be mad, but he deserves it especially if he has anything to do with the whole situation.

A soft knock pulled me out of my trance, I looked up from my laptop, I came home immediately to start working on what Landon and I discussed.

I’m saving my dream.

Clara will be happy when I tell her tomorrow.

“Dinner.” Vivian spoke with a smile and I nodded.

Vivian worked as a maid, she helped mom along side with our cook Patrick.

—-

A chill runs down my spine.

I paused for a second when I realized dad will be joining for us dinner.

“Good to see you dear.” Dad smiled as he leaned in to give mom a kiss.

It’s been a week since I saw him.

Between school, art club and him being a renowned surgeon, we barely saw each other

No that it mattered.

He never cared.

I’m not a doctor like him and his precious wife.

I never intended to be.

“I saved a kid today, his parents invited us over for dinner as a thank you, I had to politely decline.” Dad smiled.

“I delivered a baby, she had a few complications, but I am certain she will be fine.” Mom resorted.

Every night, we don’t have dinner like a normal family.

We don’t talk about important things instead we talk about their achievements.

Whenever I try to chip in.

I was forced to stop.

I am determined to show them being an artist is a full career and I can become someone, art can save people too.

“Liam tells me the school will be cutting back on some clubs, for athletic expansion space, I am not much of a hockey fan but I think it’s a wonderful idea, we had the meeting last night.” Dad smiled and my frown deepened.

I glanced him for a moment.

He didn’t.

“You were part of the meeting dad.”

“I fund the science projects, and the club and we were discussing bringing him a new club for the students, something a lot better and many parents agree with me, how would you feel about health and first aid club?.”

The board meeting is mostly donors, I didn’t expect any less from an elite private school like mine.

I paused

My hands held the cutlery and I looked away from my dad.

“There is no funding, the budget allocation-“ I started to say when I kept quite.

He will fund them.

He didn’t have to utter the words for me to know it.

He didn’t mind.

My eyes burned for a second, itching to let out tears as I held it back.

“School only has a limited number of clubs.” I whispered.

I was about to speak when I felt a lump form in my throat.

Unless they cut back on a couple of clubs like the fine art club.

This is not only about the hockey team.

My father had every thing to do with it.

“We think next year will be a great year to have the club, this year we have the hockey team trying to win the cup for us, and I know they will, they have every funding they need to prepare, what do you think honey? I know you could be the president of a the new club.”

“I already have a club dad.” I whispered and he groaned in annoyed.

Mom rolled her eyes at my words

Next year I will be a senior, the most important year of my life, where I would have to work twice as hard to get accepted in to my dream college.

I looked away from dad.

I knew arguing with him would be pointless, he won’t understand at least not now. 

“I think it’s a fine idea, the kids will be excited, and it’s a good skill, imagine the kids learning what can help them? We can have our own team of health care students at the field with the hockey players, that saves the school a lot of money.” Mom smiled as he smiled at her

I never fit in their perfect family. 

A family where being a doctor is the only thing that matters to them.

I closed my eyes for a second, the thought of paintings filled my mind.

Art once saved my life.

When I needed someone the most, it came in, it protected me. 

“Elara honey, you are not eating.” Mom whispered,

My eyes darted to hers and I gave her a warm smile.

She is not a bad mom, he is not a bad father either, they don’t understand what art means to me, other than that, they are always there.

I started to eat softly as their conversation fades away into thin air.

In a second

Landon Hayes’s face flashed into my mind and a wave of annoyance washed over me.

I slipped out of the dinning room after finishing my meal as I laid on the bed.

A soft vibration filled my bed. I glanced up and my eyes met my phone.

A message laid across the screen

Tomorrow by 4pm, Mama’s cafe. 

Landon.