Page 15 of Heartstruck

Alli

I’m buried in the chaos of today’s lab. My textbooks are scattered, beakers are crowding the table, and notes are multiplying by the second while Olivia parties it up at a sorority mixer.

Jared’s voice cuts through the background noise, and I glance up from my workbench to see him and Ethan approaching.

They’re chatting about something, and Jared’s casualness manages to ease my nerves. It always does.

Maybe that’s why our first lesson in regaining my confidence was so easy.

My brain keeps drifting back to last week at Study Brew.

I could never find the guts to approach guys, let alone talk to a guy without feeling the need to throw up violently.

For once, it felt like a breakthrough of sorts, even if it was just a practice run.

“Hey, Alli,” Jared waves, his grin stretching across his face. “Ready for today’s experiment?” I turn to him, and he studies me. “You good?”

“Hey. Yeah, I’m just trying to make sense of these protocols.”

But I wasn’t being a hundred percent honest. My mind has been a mess for the past week.

Yesterday, my mom called about Victoria, my cousin’s, quinceanera this weekend, which is something I’m not looking forward to.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my family, but the idea of spending hours on end with my extended family feels like a personal challenge.

My mom’s always been supportive and relaxed, trusting me to do my own thing.

She’s nothing like the strict Mexican moms with curfews tied to the streetlights, counting the minutes before you have to be home.

Instead, she values freedom, letting us live our lives, learn from our mistakes, and own our decisions.

I can date and bring boyfriends home for dinner without weird interrogations or forced awkwardness.

But because she’s so different from her sisters and brothers, there are always whispers when we’re not around.

Teresa tiene a Allison a rienda suelta. No hay control.

And it’s not just about my mom; it’s the way they look at me too. I’m judged for not having the “right” curfew or meeting a guy at a cousin’s house before we’re even dating. I don’t follow their old-fashioned way of doing things, and they always have something to say about it behind my back.

And don’t even get me started on Tía Mary.

She’s something else. She’s my mom’s older sister and the mother of my favorite cousins, Evelyn and Victoria.

She’s always had reservations towards me—the way I was raised and my lifestyle.

She was never on board with anything my mom chose for me; it was always “Teresa, don’t do it like that; Teresa, how do you let her do that; Teresa, Allison has to pick up her grades.

” And I didn’t get away too easily. Tía Mary quite literally points her finger at me whenever she scolds me about my clothes, my choices, my major—anything and everything.

I’m never up to par, constantly under a microscope whenever I’m around her.

I’m hit with another ton of bricks when reality slaps me with the reminder that I promised Victoria I’d do her makeup for the quinceanera .

That means not only do I have to endure the family gathering, but I’m also roped into being the unofficial makeup artist. So, no excuse to stay on campus and avoid the extended family.

“Earth to Alli?” Ethan leans over, raising an eyebrow as he sneaks a glance at my notes. “Everything okay?”

I blink, snapping back to the present. “Sorry, what was that?”

Ethan’s lips lift into a smirk. “I said, do you have any plans this weekend?”

Jared starts setting up the experiment and tools, his confidence making me wish I could borrow even an ounce of it.

“Oh, right,” I reply, running a hand through my hair. “I have a quinceanera to go to. You?”

Ethan’s grin widens, clearly amused by my reaction. “Well, actually, I’m heading to Alpha Phi’s party Saturday night,” he says casually. “Thought I’d see if you’d want to come with me.”

My heart deflates at the thought. Of course, the one weekend I have plans to go home, Ethan invites me to hang out. My one chance at getting to know him better… gone. It’s like a cruel cosmic joke.

“Maybe next time.” I say, forcing a cheerful tone that doesn’t mask the awkwardness.

“Yeah, next time.”

As class drags on, I try to focus on finishing up our lab assignment, but my mind keeps wandering.

The thought of facing my judgmental Tía Mary has me feeling more anxious by the minute.

I can’t stop picturing the endless questions and disapproving glances.

Maybe Evelyn will be there, and I’ll have my trauma buddy, but I doubt she’ll come home to deal with her mom’s high expectations.

I make a mental note to call her anyway.

The screech of chairs being dragged across the floor echoes in the lab as everyone rushes to leave. I shove my notebook and pens into my bag, not even bothering to organize them. My head’s been all over the place today, and I’m desperate to crawl into bed and forget the world exists.

“See you later,” I mumble over my shoulder to Jared and Ethan, not waiting for a reply as I weave my way through the cluster of students heading for the door. The cool hallway air hits my face, sharp and refreshing, but it does nothing to unravel the mess spinning in my brain.

The walk back to my apartment is quieter than usual, the campus humming faintly in the background.

Every step feels heavier, weighing on me.

By the time I reach my door, my fingers fumble with the key, desperate for my privacy.

Stepping inside, I’m met with the warmth of my tiny sanctuary: the cluttered coffee table and the pile of laundry I’ve been ignoring.

It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and for the first time today, my shoulders drop an inch.

The evening stretches out before me, and I dread having to mentally prepare for the weekend ahead.

Evelyn answers my FaceTime after only two rings. “ Hola, prima. ”

“Evie, why didn’t you remind me about your sister’s party weeks ago?” I groan, flopping onto my bed.

I can practically hear the smirk in her voice through the phone. “You know how my mom is, she’s been reminding me every five minutes, so I figured she was on your case too.”

“Quite the opposite, actually. My brain’s been fried, so I forgot.” I admit, rubbing my temples like it’ll get rid of my headache.

I can almost hear her casual laughter echoing in my head. She’s probably lounging on her couch, looking like she has it all figured out while I’m here scrambling for answers.

“Why didn’t you remind me?” I ask, a pout tugging at my lips even though she’s miles away.

“Well, maybe I didn’t want to think about it either.” Evelyn’s shoulders drop, her usual daring tone turning muted. I watch as her smile fades, the screen shifting slightly as she looks away. “I don’t think I’m going home for it.”

I sit up, my jaw dropping in surprise. “You’re not going? Evelyn, it’s your sister’s quinceanera .” My hand goes to my forehead, like it might help me process what she just said.

“I know, I know.” Evelyn presses her lips into a firm line, her gaze drifting off the screen for a moment. “I just don’t have the energy to deal with my mom. Plus, to be honest, I’m struggling to find the time with this big research project on my hands.”

“I get it, I understand.” The words fall flat, the thought of spending a family party alone leaving a sinking feeling in my chest.

“I’m sorry, you know I would if I could… but I can’t.”

“It’s fine, Evie. I’ll be okay.”

“Why don’t you bring Serena? I’m sure she can make the drive too.”

Evelyn’s suggestion stops me mid-motion, my thoughts briefly stalling as I try to process it. The thought of inviting Serena is tempting, but the reality of her grilling me about Jared makes me uneasy. I’m not sure I’m ready to face that kind of FBI-level interrogation.

“I’ll be fine,” I finally say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. “I gotta go, I have to study.”

Evelyn gives me a soft smile, though it’s still tinged with uncertainty. “Yeah, I get it. Don’t let me keep you.”

But then, she hesitates, her voice lighter. “Hey, so I might be becoming a teacher’s assistant in one of my classes. The professor said he’s impressed with my work so far. It’s kind of crazy.”

My heart swells with pride, even though she sounds so casual about it. “That’s amazing, Evie. You’re killing it.” I can’t help but grin, hoping my words can relieve some of the pressure she’s under.

She pauses for a moment, and I see her smile widen through the screen. “Thanks, Alli. It feels good to hear that.”

“Of course. You’re gonna do great,” I reply, my voice full of the confidence I wish I could feel for myself.

We hang up, and I’m left alone with my thoughts. The quiet of my apartment feels almost too loud as I stand there. I toss my phone onto the couch and head to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water to distract myself.

I set up camp at my coffee table, lost in my thoughts, scrolling aimlessly through my notes, when a knock on the door snaps me back to reality. It’s late, too late for anyone to be stopping by unannounced. I frown, hesitating momentarily before pushing myself off the couch.

“I hope it’s another accidental Domino’s delivery.” I say to myself.

I peek through the door’s peephole and instantly get puzzled by who’s there. Twisting the doorknob, I look over at Jared and say, “Hello?” with a confused smile.

He’s dressed casually, like he just threw on whatever was closest, but somehow, he still manages to look effortlessly put together. His brows raise as he carries a Domino’s pizza box high. “Pizza for your thoughts?”

I lean against the doorframe, folding my arms. “Just pizza? No lava cakes?”

Jared reveals another smaller box behind him. “Come on, I’m always prepared. So, can I come in?”