Back to Reality

Elara watched from behind her glasses as Leah waved goodbye, bouncing away toward her own car.

Lincoln High was already buzzing with after-school chaos — kids rushing to sports practice, couples tangled in awkward goodbyes, groups planning hangouts. Normal life. Real life.

She shoved her hands deeper into her hoodie pocket as she walked toward the silver car waiting a block away. At least her mom had listened to her for once, sending something less flashy than the usual black SUV.

Marcus, her quiet, stone-faced driver, stood by the car, watching her carefully but saying nothing.

"Hey," Elara said softly, sliding into the back seat.

"Miss Blake," he greeted, ever formal, as he pulled the door shut and circled back to the driver's seat.

Elara leaned her head against the cool glass window as the car pulled away from the curb. School had felt so strange — like trying to walk in someone else's shoes. But at least no one had guessed who she really was.

For now.

She stared out the window as they drove through town, her mind drifting between the day's awkward conversations and her mother's voice that would surely greet her at home, filled with fake sweetness and sharp expectations.

"How was school?" Marcus asked unexpectedly, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.

Elara blinked, surprised he was making conversation.

"It was..." She hesitated. "Weird. But... not terrible."

He nodded. "Weird is a start."

She smiled faintly, watching as her neighborhood loomed closer — huge gates, fountains, glass mansions that gleamed too perfectly in the sun.

Home.

Or whatever home was supposed to be.

When they finally pulled up to the towering white house she called home, Elara hesitated before getting out.

"You'll be alright?" Marcus asked quietly.

She gave a small nod. "I always am."

But even she didn't believe that anymore.

As she stepped out and shut the door behind her, she took a deep breath and forced herself to walk inside.

The house was quiet — too quiet, except for the faint sound of her mom's heels on marble and the constant ping of her phone as she worked.

"Elara?" her mother's sharp voice called the moment she set foot inside.

Elara sighed, running a hand through her hair under the hoodie.

"It's Ellie, Mom," she called back half-heartedly, already knowing it wouldn't matter.

Her mom appeared from the hallway, phone pressed to her ear, sharp in a fitted white suit, hair in perfect waves like she was heading to a photoshoot herself.

"Well, Ellie," her mom said with a tight smile, "Your agent called twice. We need to confirm the Milan shoot."

Elara's heart sank. "Mom, I told you. I'm not doing any shoots right now."

Her mom's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. "You can't just disappear, Elara. You're not—"

"A normal person?" Elara finished for her, her voice sharp.

"You're Elara Blake," her mom said simply. "That doesn't go away just because you put on some glasses and baggy jeans."

Elara clenched her jaw. "Well, maybe I want to be just a person for once."

Before her mom could argue more, a voice interrupted from the staircase.

"Mom, give her a break."

Elara turned, relief flooding her as Savannah appeared, barefoot, in an oversized hoodie that probably belonged to Elara, her curls piled on top of her head in a messy bun.

Her mom pursed her lips. "You always take her side, Savannah."

"Because you never do," Savannah shot back smoothly.

"Stay out of this, both of you," their mom snapped before stalking back into her office, phone already back to her ear.

The moment she was gone, Savannah flopped onto the couch, grinning up at Elara. "Welcome home, superstar."

Elara rolled her eyes, but her shoulders loosened for the first time since stepping through the door.

"Don't call me that."

Savannah patted the couch next to her. "Come on. Tell me everything."

Elara sank down beside her, pulling her knees to her chest. "I don't know. It was weird. I kept waiting for someone to recognize me, but no one did. They just... ignored me."

Savannah smirked. "So basically what I deal with at Rosehill every day."

Elara laughed softly. "Guess so."

Savannah nudged her. "So, did you meet anyone? Any cute guys? Girls? Friends?"

Elara hesitated. "There's this one girl, Leah — she's the only one who knows. She's awesome. But... I don't know. I didn't really talk to anyone else yet. I'm not used to this. I don't know how to be..."

"Normal?" Savannah offered.

Elara nodded. "Yeah."

Savannah looked at her for a long moment before speaking. "You'll figure it out. And if you don't? I'll crash your school and be your weirdo sidekick."

Elara laughed harder this time, leaning into her sister. "Deal."

There was a quiet moment, the kind Elara always treasured with Savannah — safe, real, without cameras or expectations.

"Hey," Savannah said suddenly, sitting up straighter. "You wanna go to my school's art show next week? It's a charity thing, and I'm showing one of my paintings. You could meet some people who actually care about real stuff."

Elara blinked in surprise. "You're showing your art?"

Savannah shrugged, looking almost shy. "Yeah. I mean, not that Mom cares. She thinks it's a waste of time."

Elara reached over and squeezed her hand. "I care. I want to see it."

Savannah smiled — and for the first time in days, Elara felt lighter.

"Thanks, El."

They sat in silence for a moment longer until Savannah smirked. "So. About this Ryder guy Leah mentioned..."

Elara groaned, but she was smiling.

"Shut up."

Savannah laughed. "No way. You're telling me everything."

And for a moment, Elara let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, this whole "normal life" thing could work — as long as she had Savannah by her side.