The Heart's Quite Beginning

Chapter 11: Another Village Meeting!!

The bell above the door of my book cafe jingled softly, and before I even looked up, I knew it was Nova. There was always this... energy she carried with her, like a whirlwind of excitement wrapped in a mischievous grin. Sure enough, there she was, strolling in with that glint in her eyes. The kind of glint that immediately made me suspicious.

"Lia!" she called out, her voice all sing-song as she leaned against the counter, far too casual for my liking. "Are you free tonight?"

I eyed her warily, wiping the last of the coffee grounds off my hands. I'd known Nova just long enough to know that when she asked a question like that, it wasn't a question at all. It was a trap. A fun trap, sure, but still... a trap.

"That depends," I said, trying not to smile but failing. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

Nova's grin spread wide, like she was savoring some secret joke I wasn't in on yet. "There's a village meeting tonight," she began, a bit too innocently. "You remember how fun the last one was, right? The 'Great Cat Debate'? People practically formed teams like it was a soccer match."

I couldn't help but laugh. Of course I remembered. It was ridiculous how heated things had gotten over cats. Who knew something as simple as cats could turn into a full-on town event?

"I do remember," I said, shaking my head. "It was chaos. But what's the big deal this time? What's going down?"

Nova leaned in closer, her voice dropping like we were sharing some top-secret information. "Oh, you'll see. It's gonna be fun. You and Iris should definitely come."

I tilted my head, giving her a skeptical look. "Fun, huh? Or am I about to get roped into another small-town catastrophe?"

She winked, pushing off the counter as if she'd just delivered the most important message of the day. "Maybe both," she said, smirking. "But trust me, you'll want to be there."

Before I could ask more, Nova waltzed out the door, her steps light as always, leaving me standing behind the counter with an odd mix of curiosity and dread. What was she up to this time? I couldn't help but smile to myself. This village—our village—was never boring, that's for sure.

I sighed, glancing around the cafe. It was one of those late afternoons where everything had settled into a soft, cozy quiet. The hum of conversation had dulled, the customers were comfortably nestled with their books, and the coffee machines had slowed down after the rush. It was my favorite time of day in the shop, that in-between moment where everything felt balanced.

But Nova had me curious. My mind kept drifting to whatever was going to happen at this meeting. I grabbed my phone, dialing Iris's number. I wasn't about to let her sit this one out.

The phone rang once, twice, before Iris picked up."What's up?" she asked, her tone casual

"You're coming to the village meeting tonight, right?" I asked, leaning against the counter as I looked out the window, watching the sun dip lower over the square. I could practically hear her sigh through the phone.

"Do I have a choice?" she replied, her voice dripping with playful reluctance. "Nope." I smiled to myself, already knowing the answer before she could say it.

Iris sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. I'll come."

"Deal," I said with a laugh. "See you tonight."

As I hung up the phone, a flutter of excitement crept into my chest. These village meetings were never just meetings. Somehow, they always turned into something more—a mix of community debates, lighthearted arguments, and moments that made me realize how much I loved this quirky little town. This place had its own heartbeat, a rhythm you couldn't help but fall into.