Chapter 25 - Ketchup, Confetti, and Controversies

The rising sun cast long shadows over the Harper house as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and burnt toast filled the air. It was Sunday morning, and in the Harper household, that meant one thing: chaos. Alan desperately tried to bring order to the morning rush, while Jake, with unwavering dedication, smeared ketchup artwork onto his toast. Berta, as always, sat at the kitchen table with the newspaper in front of her face, commenting on the latest world news with a sarcastic undertone. Only Nero sat quietly, his gaze fixed on his almost untouched plate, his thoughts still lingering on the previous evening and Mark's surprising offer.

"Morning, sleepyheads!" Charlie called out cheerfully as he entered the kitchen. He seemed refreshed and content, perhaps a subtle hint about his date from the night before.

"Oh, and Alan," he added casually, "Nero got a pretty cool offer last week. He could practically become a rock star."

Alan, who was just trying to contain Jake's ketchup escapades with a damp kitchen towel, almost choked on his coffee.

"What? Rock star? Nero? What are you talking about, Charlie? Is this another one of your jokes?"

Charlie grinned. "No, seriously. Mark offered to connect him in the music scene. He thinks Nero has real talent."

Alan's face darkened. "Talent or not, he needs to focus on his education! This is completely unrealistic! What's going to become of him if he neglects school now?" His voice took on a worried, almost panicked tone.

Berta lowered her newspaper and gave Alan a meaningful look. "Rock star? Well, that'll be fun. As long as he doesn't burn down the house or bring home screaming groupies, he can do whatever he wants."

"Berta!" Alan exclaimed in horror. "That's not a responsible attitude! This is about his future! He needs to think about his education!"

Berta rolled her eyes. "Oh, Alan, let the boy live a little. He needs to have his own experiences. You can't keep him on a short leash forever."

Jake, who had only half-heartedly followed the conversation so far, now interrupted his ketchup session. "Will Nero be rich and famous then? Will he get a pool full of gummy bears? Or his own jet?" he asked with sparkling eyes.

Charlie chuckled. "Maybe even both, Jake. Maybe even a jet that runs on gummy bears."

Jake nodded enthusiastically. "Cool! Can I fly with him then?"

Nero had silently followed the conversation. The others' differing opinions echoed in his head. Alan, worried and sensible, urged caution and emphasized the importance of school. Berta, casual and pragmatic, encouraged him to go his own way. And Jake, carefree and childlike, imagined the glorious aspects of a rock star's life.

After breakfast, Nero retreated to his room. He sat on his bed and looked at his guitar leaning against the wall. The morning's conversations swirled in his head.

Alan: "School is important! What about your future?"

Berta: "Do your thing! Don't let anything stop you!"

Jake: "Gummy bear pool! Jet!"

He thought back to his time in Malibu, to the initial loneliness he had overcome through music. He remembered his first clumsy chords, the hours of practice, the small gigs at the bar that had given him more and more confidence.

Music had become more than just a hobby; it was a part of him, a release for his emotions, a way to express himself. Nero picked up his guitar and gently strummed the strings. He felt a mixture of excitement and uncertainty, but also a strong urge to take a chance.

He knew he had to meet with Mark and gather all the information before making a final decision.

He reached for his phone and typed a message to Mark:

"Hey Mark, I'd like to talk to you about your offer. Would you be free sometime next week?"

Nero put his phone down and looked out the window. The sky over Malibu shone a deep blue. In his eyes, determination was reflected, but also a hint of nervousness. The future lay before him, uncertain and full of possibilities.

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