Episode 4: Family Calls

Hello Little One

Episode 4: Family Calls

---

Ivy had barely rolled out of bed when her phone started buzzing on her nightstand. She rubbed her eyes, groaning, before glancing at the screen.

Mom Calling…

She sighed. She loved her mom, but damn, the woman was determined to check in on her every other hour. She swiped to answer.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Ivy! Finally! I was starting to think you forgot about your poor mother.”

Ivy flopped back onto her bed. “Mom, we talked last night.”

“Yes, but a lot can happen overnight! What if you got lost? What if you fell down the stairs? What if your roommate turned out to be some kind of serial—”

“Mom!” Ivy cut in, exasperated. “Camila is not a serial killer. She’s just messy.”

In the background, her dad’s deep voice chimed in. “Told you, sweetheart. She’s fine.”

Ivy smiled. “Hey, Dad.”

“How’s my grown-up college student doing?” he asked. “Made any new friends? Any professors out to destroy you yet?”

Ivy hesitated. “Uh… yeah, I made some friends.”

Her mom gasped. “Is it that Elena girl?”

Ivy winced. Damn it, Lila. “Uh… maybe?”

“I knew it! Lila said she’s a senior, Ivy. Be careful around her! Older students can be bad influences.”

Her dad chuckled. “Relax, honey. It’s not like she’s dating the girl.”

Ivy nearly choked on air. “DAD!”

Her mom gasped. “Oh my God, Ivy! Are you dating her?!”

“What? No!” Ivy sat up, flustered. “We just talk sometimes! She’s annoying and likes teasing me, that’s all!”

“That’s how it starts,” her mom muttered suspiciously.

Ivy groaned. “I regret this call.”

Her dad laughed. “We’re just messing with you, kiddo. But seriously, don’t forget to focus on your studies, alright? You’ve worked too hard to get here.”

Ivy softened. “I know, Dad. I got this.”

There was a pause.

“…We’re proud of you, Ivy,” he said, voice warm.

Her chest tightened. “Thanks, Dad.”

Her mom sniffled. “If you ever need anything—”

“I know, Mom.”

“…And I’m not overreacting about this Elena girl.”

Ivy groaned.

---

Elena’s Conversation

While Ivy dealt with her overbearing parents, Elena sat on her bed, staring at her phone with a deep scowl.

Dad Calling…

She exhaled through her nose before answering.

“Hey.”

“You took your time picking up.”

Elena rolled her eyes. “I was busy.”

A scoff. “With what? Teasing freshmen?”

She smirked despite herself. “Maybe.”

Her father sighed, unimpressed. “Elena, you’re graduating in a few months. When are you going to start taking things seriously?”

There it was.

Elena leaned back against the wall. “You mean when am I going to ‘stop messing around and get my life together’?”

Her father’s silence was confirmation.

“Elena.” His voice was sharp. “We’ve discussed this. You need to figure out your career plans. I don’t want you aimlessly drifting through life. This world won’t wait for you to get your act together.”

Her jaw tightened. “I have my act together.”

“No, you don’t,” he said bluntly. “You’ve spent the last four years dodging serious conversations about your future. You don’t talk about your plans. Hell, you barely even come home anymore.”

Elena swallowed. “I have a life here.”

Her father scoffed. “A life of what? Playing around? Avoiding responsibility?”

Elena clenched her jaw. “I’m not avoiding anything.”

Silence stretched between them. Then—

“You still don’t want to take over the family business, do you?”

Elena closed her eyes. “I never wanted to.”

Her father exhaled, long and heavy. “You’re so damn stubborn, Elena.”

She smirked faintly. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It is when it ruins your future.”

Elena’s chest ached, but she kept her voice steady. “My future is mine to ruin.”

There was another long pause before her father muttered, “You’re impossible.”

“I know,” she whispered.

Then the line went dead.

Elena let out a slow breath, pressing her phone against her forehead.

Shit.

---

Later that night, Ivy was lying in bed, mindlessly scrolling on her phone when a text popped up.

Elena: Still alive, Little One?

Ivy smiled.

Ivy: Barely. My mom thinks you’re a bad influence.

Elena: She’s right. I am.

Ivy snorted.

Ivy: Rough day?

There was a long pause before Elena replied.

Elena: Something like that.

Ivy hesitated, then typed—

Ivy: You wanna talk about it?

Another pause.

Elena: Nah. But thanks, Little One.

Ivy’s heart did a weird little flip.

She bit her lip.

Ivy: You sure you don’t need some terrible freshman wisdom?

Elena: …Fine. Distract me, then.

Ivy grinned.

And just like that, they kept talking—long into the night.

---

So far do you like this story or this is not your cup of 🍵. Love you all❤️