Heart Beat Series At sixteen, Antena's world is turned upside down when her mother forces her to transfer to an elite private school. Leaving behind her friends and the only life she's known, she steps into a world of privilege and pressure, where fitting in feels impossible. Lost in the unfamiliar halls of her new school, Antena crosses paths with Nate, a charming and confident classmate who seems to have it all. But first impressions can be deceiving. Just as she begins to navigate her new life, a snarky remark in her homeroom sends her spiraling into doubt and insecurity. Caught between her mother's high expectations, the weight of her own dreams, and the unexpected connections she forms, Antena must find her voice in a world that seems determined to silence her. Will she rise above the challenges, or will her insecurities keep her from embracing the life she deserves? Heart Beat Series is a heartfelt journey of self-discovery, love, and finding strength in the face of Uncertainty
Chapter 1 the decision
Antena's voice trembled as she stood at the kitchen counter, gripping the edge with white knuckles. "Mom, I said I don't want to go! Why can't you just listen to me for once?"
Her mother, hands busy chopping vegetables for dinner, didn't even look up. "Antena, we've been over this. This move is for your own good. You'll thank me later when you're sitting in a lecture hall at Harvard."
"I don't care about Harvard!" Antena snapped, her voice cracking. "I just started fitting in here. I've made friends-real friends-for the first time. I'm not going to throw that all away because of your stupid obsession with a perfect future!"
Her mother stopped chopping, placing the knife down carefully. She turned, her expression calm but unyielding. "You might not understand now, but you will one day. Life isn't about what's comfortable, Antena. It's about making the hard choices that lead to success."
Antena's chest heaved as frustration and helplessness built up inside her. "You're not listening!" she screamed, the words echoing through the small kitchen. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and stormed down the hallway, slamming her bedroom door so hard the walls shook.
She leaned against the door, her breath shallow and uneven. Tears stung her eyes as she slid down to the floor, burying her face in her hands. She stayed like that for what felt like hours, sobs wracking her chest.
When the tears finally slowed, Antena crawled to her bed and curled up on the floor beside it. She grabbed the stuffed animal she'd had since she was little-a small, fraying teddy bear-and held it tightly against her chest.
Her thoughts swirled, a chaotic mix of anger, sadness, and frustration. She didn't understand why her mom couldn't see things from her perspective. It felt like no matter how loud she screamed, her voice just disappeared into the void.
As she stared at the shadows dancing on the ceiling, she began to focus on her breathing, counting slowly in her head to calm herself. In, one... two... three... Out, one... two... three...
The rhythm steadied her, quieting the storm inside just enough for her to think clearly again. Maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to convince her mom to change her mind.
For now, though, she let the quiet of her room wrap around her like a shield.
The quiet didn't last long. A knock at the door broke the stillness.
"Antena?" her mother's voice was soft, almost hesitant. "Can I come in?"
Antena froze, quickly wiping her arm with the sleeve of her hoodie. "Go away," she said, her voice hoarse from crying.
There was a long pause. "I know you're upset," her mother said, still on the other side of the door. "But I want you to know I'm doing this because I love you."
Antena let out a bitter laugh, low and sharp. "Love? You think dragging me out of the only place I've ever felt okay is love? That's not love, Mom. That's control."
The words stung more than she intended, and the silence that followed told her they had landed.
"Please open the door," her mother said quietly, almost pleading now.
Antena stared at the door for a long moment before shaking her head. "Just leave me alone."
After a few seconds, she heard her mother's footsteps retreating down the hall. The knot in her chest loosened slightly, but it didn't go away.
Antena crawled onto her bed, curling into a tight ball beneath her blanket. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, but she ignored it. The glow of the screen dimmed and disappeared into the darkness.
In the quiet of her room, she let her thoughts spiral. Would she ever feel like her life was hers? Or was she destined to be dragged along by other people's plans forever?
As she lay there, her arm throbbed faintly. She pulled her sleeve down to check the cut. It wasn't deep, just enough to leave a mark-a mark she'd probably hide from the world, just like everything else.
She sighed, the exhaustion of the day weighing heavily on her. For now, all she wanted was to disappear into sleep, away from the chaos, away from her mother's expectations.
Chapter 1 the decision
17/01/2025
Chapter 2 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
17/01/2025
Chapter 3 GUM GIRL
19/01/2025
Chapter 4 Valentine ball
21/01/2025
Chapter 5 Valentine ball II
21/01/2025
Chapter 6 I'm sorry
23/01/2025
Chapter 7 SHARED PAINS
23/01/2025
Chapter 8 A choice to make
23/01/2025
Chapter 9 Back to Where It Began
24/01/2025
Chapter 10 New beginnings
24/01/2025
Chapter 11 Unspoken Changes
24/01/2025
Chapter 12 Awkward meeting
09/02/2025