Phil and Luke came in just as Alex and I were putting the finishing touches on our biology project, gathering up highlighters, stray sticky notes, and the last of the colored pens scattered across the table. The living room had that lived-in, slightly chaotic Dunphy energy—books scattered on the table and the faint smell of dinner still lingering in the air. The sun was still up there, casting a warm light through the windows, making the whole scene feel almost cinematic.
Phil came inside bouncing a basketball, his hair a little mussed, Luke trailing behind him and looking like he'd just lost a bet. They both had that post-game flush, a mix of pride and exhaustion.
Phil sniffed the air, eyes lighting up. "Is that pie I smell?"
Claire, ever the general, didn't miss a beat. "Lucas brought the pie and he made it himself."
Phil's eyebrows shot up, his grin widening. "You bake? Man of many talents, just like me." He winked, but I could tell he was genuinely impressed.
Luke was already hovering by the kitchen counter, eyeing the pie with the intensity of a kid on Christmas morning. He reached out, about to sneak a taste, but Claire was faster. She slapped his hand away with a practiced mom move. "Wash your hands first."
Luke grumbled but obeyed, and Claire smiled, "I'll serve it now. Lucas and Alex need a break from studying anyway."
We all gathered in the living room after Alex and I organized everything on the table. We washed out hands and then Claire came with plates in hand. Claire handed out generous slices, and the room filled with the scent of warm apples and cinnamon. She eyed the pie suspiciously, probably wondering if it was edible, but Phil dove right in. He took a bite, closed his eyes in exaggerated bliss, and declared, "Lucas, you're a magician. Seriously, this is amazing."
Luke was less poetic but just as enthusiastic. "Dude, this is lit."
Alex took a bite and grinned at me, her eyes sparkling. "Okay, this is better than I expected. You keep surprising me."
Claire nodded, torn between being impressed and trying to find something to critique. She finally relented and said, "Yeah, this is good." I could tell she wanted to find a flaw, but the pie had won her over.
I tried to play it cool, but inside I was beaming. "Thanks, Mrs. Dunphy. I'll bring pie every time if it helps my case."
Phil laughed. "Careful, you'll have us all spoiled."
We chatted as we ate, the conversation bouncing from basketball to school to random stories about the Dunphy family's misadventures. Phil told a story about the time he tried to deep-fry a turkey and nearly set the backyard on fire. He told it with his trademark humor, but Claire shot him a glare that said, "Don't scare off the guests." Luke chimed in with his own story about his wrestling practice gone wrong which he recently started and Alex rolled her eyes but laughed along.
The whole reason I was trying so hard to impress them was for Alex. Otherwise, there's no way my introverted self would be this social. I'd been curious to meet them because of my Modern Family memories, but now I was seeing them for who they really were—not just characters, but real people. And honestly, they were all unusually attractive for a family.
After everyone finished, I set my plate down and turned to Alex. "Hey, want to go for a walk? The park's not far." There was still time before I was supposed to go home.
Before Alex could answer, Claire surprised us both. "Be back before dinner."
Alex and I exchanged a look—was that actual trust from Claire? Progress.
"Thanks, Mom," Alex said, grabbing my hand as we headed out the door.
We walked down the quiet, tree-lined street, the evening air cool and gentle. Our fingers intertwined naturally, and neither of us felt the need to fill the silence with words. It was almost meditative, just the sound of our footsteps and the distant hum of the neighborhood settling in for the night.
When we reached the park, the sun was low in the sky, painting everything in gold and pink. We found a bench to sit and watch the sunset. There were no people around us, just the rustle of leaves and the soft chirping of birds. We sat side by side, shoulders touching, the warmth of her body seeping into mine.
We talked about everything and nothing—our favorite books, my game's crazy download numbers (still climbing), and her dreams for college. I noticed how she always circled back to her grades and studies, the anxiety in her voice. I remembered that episode of her mental breakdown and felt a pang of sadness for her.
This time, I promised myself, I'd help her focus on other things, boost her confidence, and remind her she was more than just grades. Maybe I could steer her towards her real passion-music like she did later in her life.
That makes me think I should also start learning something new.
Alex leaned her head on my shoulder, her body relaxing. "You know, I never thought I'd actually enjoy group projects."
I chuckled. "Guess it depends on the group."
She smiled, turning to look at me. "Thank you for today. For the pie, for… everything."
I brushed a strand of hair from her face, my heart pounding in that good, nervous way. "Anytime. I like being here—with you."
She squeezed my hand. "This is nice. I could get used to this."
"Me too," I said, and I meant it.
We watched the last bit of sunlight slip away, the sky turning from gold to deep blue. I glanced at Alex, and for a moment, I wanted to freeze time right there—just us, just this feeling.
I leaned in and kissed her gently, and she responded in kind. It was a slow, lingering kiss, the kind that makes your heart race and your mind go blissfully blank. Her lips were soft, warm, and tasted faintly of cinnamon from the pie. I could feel her smile against my mouth, and I smiled too, unable to help it.
I pulled back just a little, looking into her eyes. We stared at each other for a few seconds, the world shrinking down to just the two of us. Then, like magnets, our lips found each other again, this time with more urgency. The kiss deepened, growing bolder, hungrier. My hands found her waist, pulling her closer, and she slid her arms around my neck, fingers tangling in my hair.
We lost ourselves in that kiss, the rest of the world fading away. I had no idea how long we stayed like that, but it felt like time had stopped. Every touch, every sigh, every heartbeat was amplified. I could feel her pulse racing under my fingertips, matching my own.
There was no one else in the park, no distractions, just the sound of our breathing. I did something bold I slipped my hand under her shirt, my fingers tracing slow circles on her stomach. Her skin was warm and soft, goosebumps rising under my touch. She shivered, but didn't pull away—instead, she pressed closer, her breath hitching as my hand moved higher.
I kissed her neck, feeling her heartbeat flutter against my lips. My hands found her breasts, squeezing gently, and she let out a soft moan, her body arching into my touch. I could feel her trembling, her hands gripping my shoulders, nails digging in just a little.
I circled her nipple with my thumb, feeling it harden under my touch, then pinched it lightly, teasing. Her moan was muffled against my mouth, her eyes half-closed, lost in the sensation. There was a haze in her gaze, a mix of pleasure and trust, and I knew she was letting me in, letting me see her in a way she hadn't let anyone else.
I picked her up effortlessly and put her on my lap then wrapper her arms around me, straddling me, and our kisses grew wilder. Her hands roamed over my chest, mapping every muscle, every line, as if she was memorizing me. She sucked on my neck, leaving a trail of heat behind, and I let my hands explore her curves, squeezing her bottom, feeling her grind against me. The chemistry was off the charts—every touch, every gasp, every heartbeat syncing up perfectly.
We lost ourselves in each other, time slipping by unnoticed, until suddenly her phone rang, shattering the spell. Alex pulled back, breathless and flustered, glancing at her screen.
"It's my mom. I have to go," she said, her voice shaky as she tried to compose herself.
We took a moment to fix our clothes, smooth our hair, and catch our breath. I walked her home, our fingers still intertwined.
At her driveway, she turned toward me, cheeks still flushed. "Okay, see you tomorrow, Lucas."
I smiled, giving her a kiss one last time. "Yeah. Goodnight, Alex."
She slipped inside, and I headed home, grinning like an idiot. My mind replayed everything. I knew, without a doubt, that I wanted her for my 'first' time.
As I walked home, it was a twenty-minute stroll through quiet streets, the world settling into night. My thoughts bounced between everything that had happened: the game hitting 300k downloads, the anticipation of finally getting paid next week, Alex, and how easy school had become. I played chess on my phone the whole way, watching my rating creep up, but noticing how progress slowed after 2500. Maybe I'd hit my natural limit. Or maybe it was time to start grinding new skills—singing, playing an instrument, movies, maybe even the stock market. I had memories of songs from my previous life that didn't exist here. There were things that were common but many artistic things didn't exist here. They'd be hits, no question, If I tried to make them here.
I'll eventually master all these skills, but for now, which one should I focus on? I could do anything and I will be successful. Music will help me with girls and it is more believable that I am some kind of musical prodigy if I start earlier in life rather than my later years. I am not that interested in making movies- time consuming. Stock market skills are something I will eventually dabble in but I didn't want to do it now but maybe in college.
But I didn't know what to do. I was afraid that I am ruining my potential. Very first world kind of problem, I know.
That night I slept thinking about all this.
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