The Heart's Quite Beginning

Chapter 13: The Meeting Chaos

As the last light of day filtered through the windows of the cafe, I flipped the "CLOSED" sign, letting out a sigh of relief. The aroma of coffee still lingered in the air, a comforting reminder of the busy day, but the chaos had finally settled into a comfortable silence. I was working on the counter when the door swung open, and in walked Nova and Iris, like a pair of mischievous sprites.

"Need a hand?" Nova asked, already pulling off her jacket with an eager grin.

"Absolutely," I replied, grateful for the help. "I was about to lose my mind over managing the cafe and thinking about the festival."

Iris chuckled as she grabbed a broom. "Yeah, I know. You've got a whole festival to run now. Just don't burn out before it even starts!"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence!" I shot back playfully, sweeping my hand dramatically across my forehead. "Maybe I should start taking notes on how to juggle chaos."

As we chatted and tidied up, Ethan walked in"Hi! I brought my childhood friend, Ryan!"

I smiled. Ryan was really handsome—tall with an easy grin and an energy that felt bright and inviting, like a warm hug on a chilly day.

"Hi, I'm Ryan," he said, his smile genuine. "Ethan mentioned the festival meeting, and I wanted to help out."

"Ryan! Good to see you! I'm Lia," I said, genuinely glad to meet someone new.

"This is Iris," I said, gesturing to her, and turned to introduce Nova, who simply smiled and said, "I know him. Don't forget, I'm from this village."

Right, I laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie. It was nice to have someone new in our little circle.

"Thanks for having me," Ryan replied, his voice warm and inviting. He turned to Nova, who greeted him with a nod. "It's good to see you again."

"Always a pleasure!" Nova responded, her tone playful.

Ethan chimed in, "Ryan said he could help with the festival prep. You know, since Lia's been roped into overseeing the whole thing."

"More like 'volunteered against her will,'" I muttered, rolling my eyes, but I couldn't help but smile. The thought of organizing the festival still sent a wave of panic through me, but having Ethan, Nova, Iris, and now Ryan here felt like a lifeline.

With everyone gathered around, I set up the cafe tables in a rough circle. We all squeezed in—Ryan sat beside me, his energy infectious. Ethan faced me, a mixture of support and mischief in his eyes. Nova settled in next to Ryan, while Iris took the last spot beside her.

"Alright, team," I declared, trying to muster my best leadership voice. "Let's brainstorm how to make this festival unforgettable—or at least, less chaotic than last year."

"Good luck with that," Nova quipped, leaning back in her chair with a smirk.

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. This was my first real leadership role, and I wanted to make it count. "So, what's our theme?" I asked, looking around at my team.

Ryan jumped in enthusiastically. "We need something fun! What's your vision, Lia?" He turned to me, a sparkle in his eye that made me feel a little more confident.

My heart raced. "Um, I was thinking pumpkins—"

"Boring, darling!" Ryan interrupted, waving his hands dramatically as if I'd suggested a trip to the dentist. "How about a 'Harvest Hoedown'? We could have line dancing, hay bales, the whole nine yards! Picture this: villagers decked out in cowboy hats, two-stepping under the stars!"