Half a Step

Chapter 8

Noah's POV

I woke up at 6:45am, like usual. I was feeling weirdly energised, more than usual after a sleep.

I did not bother to look at the enormous amount of notifications I had received last night until I was on the bus to school.

They were mostly from SnapChat, people updating their stories. I swiped those away. Then there were a few messages asking me if I had happened to have Hope's number. I thought that was bizarre because I did not, I had not had a conversation with her.

But the ones I really looked at were the ones from my friends, first I checked TJ's messages.

Have u seen the vid??

Its actually pretty cool

Then he had sent through a video. I made sure the sound on my phone was turned down all the way, then pressed play.

It was of Hope, it was a video of her playing last night at training, it started with her about to play and then had the epic tackle that she did which intercepted the other team's stricker and then passed to a midfielder. The kick over her head was slowed down.

She looked like a professional, the camera which had taken the video must have had a good resolution on it. She looked so at ease, calm and every movement was calculated and aware of the people around her. I don't play soccer but after a few years of hanging out with soccer obsessed people I learn stuff.

The rest of my friends had sent me the same video.

I turned off my phone, poor Hope to go from new kid to the subject of a viral video. At least it was not a bad video, there were so many embarrassing different videos that went viral.

Another message popped up through my phone from TJ.

Pls tell me u saw the vid??

You have not answered my messages

I tapped on the banner which opened up messages and responded.

Me: Yeah I did

She is good at soccer

TJ: i told u

U almost at school yet

I have not seen hope yet thou

I responded with a yes saying I will be at school soon and clicked off my phone and opened my bag to pull out the music sheet I was practising yesterday afternoon which I copied from Hope's folder.

Flowers by Sleeping at Last. It was really slow but still beautiful. I tried it and I really liked it. It had inspired me for a soundtrack to work on, the idea had been forming in my head but I had not had a chance to work on it yet.

The bus stopped and stepped off it and walked toward the school gate. TJ and the rest of my friends were all standing in the grassy area next to the picnic tables like always.

TJ turned his head and waved to me. This caught the attention of a few of my other friends.

Ivan waits until I walk up to the group, then asks if I had seen the video of the really hot girl.

'As in Hope?' I ask, though I already knew the answer to that.

'Yeah.' Ivan says.

Then another one of my friends pipes up, Aaron. 'The girl who rejected you last night?' He says.

Ivan side eyes him but does not disagree, I figured that was how the conversation he had with Hope had gone last night after catching a little bit of the conversation.

'So do you reckon she will get into the team? One of the boys says from over at the handball court.

'Of course she will.' TJ jumps in. 'Why would she not?'

'That's true. But also like she's a girl.' Ivan says.

I sigh. Ivan does this, if he gets rejected which is not often that he turns bitter.

'Why? Are you worried that she is better than you?' I ask.

Ivan gives me a side eye. 'No. That's not it. I am just saying... what if she gets hurt?'

'Your joking right.' Aaron says. 'Female soccer players are honestly so good. You can break their leg and they keep playing. She'll be fine. Hope also looks experienced.'

'Oi Aaron, you only know that because you spend all your free time watching female soccer players.'

'No I don't.'

'You totally do.'

The boys break into a playful banter about Aarons interests while I watch the horizon. My soulmark has not stopped decreasing since yesterday, they can't be far off. It felt so weirdly obsessing over it for someone who had hardly bothered with it but they were close.

That's when Hope walked into the school. She looked light, happy and blissful with her eyes staring into the bright blue sky and her headphones in. I don't think that she knew that she was currently the school's viral star.

Her hair was braided with little plaits weaving into her braid and a singular golden chain hanging from her neck, glinting in the morning light.

What was it about her? She was not my soulmate, I knew that. But there was still something there.

The bell rang and we headed to class.

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Last class of the day was Music. Nice, easy and something I could do without too much thought. I also got to see Hope which was another benefit.

Mr Emerandis showed up like always about five minutes late to the class. During that time Hope spent the entire time talking to June. June kept glancing at me though. What was it about June too?

I needed answers, it was sticking in my head. Have I done something? I think my soulmate getting closer was completely stuffing my mind up.

When we were finally let in the classroom and started to do our prac lesson, Hope seemed determined to avoid everyone's eyes as people talked about her, whispering about the video which was shared around the school.

I was going to talk to her, it would not have been hard. I could ask what she was working on or start idle chit chat but I thought that would have been weird enough for the day that she had already had to put up with.

So I just watched her out of the corner of my eye. Another day I promised myself. 

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A/N

Hi, thanks from the bottom of my heart for reading this your are honestly amazing. I've done quite a bit of editing reccently (10/4/24) so you may want to go an reread earlier chapters. Another spark of inspiration has hit me and time has changed the plot dramatically so check the tags and reread the chapters. :D 

Thanks agains for reading this, I wish I could give you all the world.