Hard Times

"Hey!", Matt greeted Zephyr as he walked into his room, "How are you doing?". 

"Good", Zephyr neutrally answered, not looking up from his laptop screen. 

"So", Matt muttered, unsure of how to bring up what was on his mind. 

"Yes?", Zephyr sighed, looking up from the screen and setting his piercing blue eyes on his dad. 

"Did you get your college acceptance e-mail?", Matt curiously inquired. 

"Yeah", Zephyr nodded, "I got an acceptance letter from Harvard, Yale, Caltech and MIT so far but I expect to get one from all of the others I applied to". 

"Really?! That's great!", Matt exclaimed, "We should celebrate!". 

"No", Zephyr shook his head, "Alex didn't get accepted into Harvard and I haven't told her that I have yet. I don't want to make her feel worse by celebrating". 

Seeing his reaction, Matt sighed. Sitting down on Zephyr's bed, he looked at his son, "You know, not everything in your life is about Alex". 

"I know", Zephyr answered, not giving a hint away of what he was thinkin.

"Do you though?", Matt interrupted, "Do you?". Hearing his words, Zephyr found himself incapable of answering, "At some point, you're going to have to tell her and make a decision on your future". 

"I know", Zephyr tiredly muttered, leaning back on his seat, "I just don't want us to go to separate colleges and then end up breaking up. I promised that we'd stay together but now that I'm in the situation, it feels harder to make a decision than I thought. To be honest, I don't think I need a degree in the first place. What's a piece of paper going to do to help me? I'm already a billionaire". 

"I know that going to university may seem redundant, but when you're grown up, you'll think about your time at college and about how much you enjoyed the experience. Do you want to look back and then regret not making the choice?", Matt said. 

For the next few seconds, Zephyr didn't reply, opting to remain quiet as he gathered his thoughts. Taking a deep breath, Matt stood up, "I'm just saying that you shouldn't make a choice you'll regret later. Whether you go to Harvard or any other college, hell, you can choose not to go college at all, I want you to think of yourself for once. Be selfish and make the house that's best for yourself". Not wanting to speak any longer, Matt walked out of the room. 

Once he was gone, Zephyr slouched on his chair, leaning backwards as he looked at the ceiling. "What's best for me huh?", he muttered under his breath, his eyes looking somewhat dazed and unclear. 

[With Matt]

"What was the result?", Desire concernedly asked Matt as soon as he entered the kitchen. 

"He's gotten an acceptance letter from every college that has sent an acceptance email so far", Matt stated. 

"That's great!", Desiree exclaimed, proud of Zephyr. Matt shook his head. "What's wrong?", Desiree asked, feeling worried by the look of hesitance on his face. 

"Alex didn't get in", Matt answered. 

Desiree gasped upon hearing his answer, her hand covering her mouth in shock, "But Claire hasn't told me yet", Desiree muttered, "She said she'd call me as soon as Alex got the result". 

"Then I don't know how he got the results?", Matt muttered, unsure and weary by how his son managed to get the information. 

"Wait!", Desiree yelled, attracting Matt's attention. "You know Zephyr's really good with technology right?", Desiree asked. 

"Yeah, but what does that have to do w-", Matt stopped halfway through, "You don't think?". 

"I'm pretty sure", Desiree answered. 

"You can't really think that!", Matt raised his voice by a few octaves as he refuted Desiree's argument. 

"Think about it!", Desiree exclaimed, "Zephyr's really good with technology, he's built a tech company for God's sake. The company's already worth millions. And to be that good, you must be an amazing programmer so chances are he hacked into Harvard's system to find out whether Alex got in or not". 

"Bu-but that breaking the law!", Matt yelled. 

"When has that ever stopped him from doing anything?", Desiree remarked, "You know him even better than I do, surely you must see him actually doing this". 

For a few seconds, Matt was quiet as he thought about Desiree's words. After a few seconds, Matt nodded his head, "You're right. That does sound like something he'd do". 

"Anyways", Desiree interrupted, "Did you talk to him?". 

"Yeah", Matt nodded his head once more, "I told him that he should make a decision that's best for himself".

"Good. You did the right thing", Desiree agreed, leaning her head on Matt's shoulder. Taking a deep breath, she softly muttered, "I'd hate it for them to break up. They're the perfect couple as well". 

"I know", Matt sighed, "He'll be heartbroken if that does happen". 

"You know", Desiree muttered, "There's a very big part of my heart that wants him to stay and continue their relationship while my head is telling me that him making the move to Harvard is the right one". 

"It's the same for me", Matt murmured, wrapping an arm around Desiree's waist and pulling her closer, "Even if he does leave, at least we'll have Bella". 

"Yeah, but for how long?", Desiree mumbled, "She's growing up and in a few years time, she'll be following in Zephyr's footsteps and then we'll be by ourselves". 

"We will", Matt nodded, "But who knows how things will go. They might both decide to stay here instead". 

"I'd really like it if they did", Desiree sighed. 

[With the Dunphy's]

"You're still on that thing?", Luke asked, looking at the nervous Alex who kept typing into the keyboard of her laptop, "What are you constantly looking at on your laptop?". 

"Is that a question you really want people asking around here?", Alex remarked. 

"Indeed it is not", Luke rapidly shook his head, not wanting anyone to see his search history.

"I'm just checking the college acceptances", Alex anxiously muttered, racking her knuckles on the table, "I mean, they should be posting them any day". 

"You cannot spend your entire spring break worrying about college admissions", Claire stated, "Yo-you should go to that music festival thing with Haley. Do something fun. You know, learn to relax a little. It's only 4 o'clock. I'm sure we can find something for you to do". 

"Uh, I can't bring Alex to the festival because I am going there for work. You know, to research new fashion trends", Haley countered, "I need to blend in, you know? If she goes, they'll all think she's a cop and avoid me".

"No need", Alex stopped Haley, getting a text message on her phone, "Me and Zephyr are going out in an hour and a half". 

"That's great!", Claire exclaimed, "You do that!". 

"Good. I will", Alex nodded her head. 

[Time Skip]

As the car came grinding to a halt, Zephyr and Alex stepped out of the car. Taking a few steps forward, they found themselves on a hill overlooking the town. 

"So, why'd you bring me here?", Alex nervously asked, unnerved by how quiet Zephyr was. 

"I know about Harvard", Zephyr began, "I know that you feel let down, angry, frustrated, even resentful, but I want you to know it's all going to be okay". 

Hearing his words, Alex broke down and hugged him, sobbing into his chest. "I feel like a loser", she mumbled, "I spent all these years trying to be perfect, dragging my cello to school, attending debate club twice every week and even joining the lacrosse team, but I haven't even gotten into the school I wanted to". 

"It's all going to be okay", Zephyr comforted, holding Alex tightly against him and stroking her hair. The next few minutes passed in silence, both of them simply enjoying the warmth of each other's embrace. Unfortunately, the joyous moment would have to be cut short by the vibration of Alex's phone. 

Wiping her tears with her sleeve, she opened up her phone to see what it was. Her eyes quickly scanned what happened, widening every second. 

"What happened?", Zephyr asked. 

"I got accepted into Caltech!", she exclaimed. 

"That's great news!", Zephyr cheered, bringing her in for a hug, "We're going to have so much fun there together!". 

Instead of separating, Alex tilted her head up and looked at him in the eyes, "Are you really going to go Caltech?", Alex asked. 

"I am", Zephyr nodded, "I thought about it and I realised that going to Caltech is the best option for me. It might not be as good as Harvard, but I don't need to go to Harvard in the first place. Getting a degree from Caltech is just as good for me. I don't need to move away to another state, I get to go with you and I can manage my companies more easily". 

Although he was trying to hide it, Alex knew that the main reason he was going was because of her, so as the sun set behind them, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss that expressed all of her emotions. 

As soon as they separated, Alex let out a weak sigh. "What's wrong?", Zephyr asked, "I thought you'd be more happy that we're going to the same college". 

"I am happy", Alex nodded.

"Then why the tears?", Zephyr gently coaxed, wiping the tears that were forming at the corner of her eyes with his fingers. 

"I'm worried that I'll be the dumb one there", Alex mumbled, "I mean, someone has to, right? What if it's me?". 

"It's not going to be you", Zephyr comforted, "Do you know why?". 

"No", Alex quietly answered, shaking her head. 

"Because you're smart, intelligent and amazing. You work hard, you persevere, and most importantly, you give it all your best", Zephyr answered, "So don't doubt yourself. You know as well as I do that you deserve to be there". 

"Thanks", Alex muttered. 

"Anytime", Zephyr smiled. Grabbing her arms, he commanded, "Now come on! We have to celebrate you getting in to Caltech. My treat".