Threads of Hope

Chapter 3: Hope in the Inbox

Natalie stared out the classroom window, her thoughts a tangled mess. It had been two days since the almost-kiss with Nova, and though they had both chosen to ignore it, the moment still hung between them, delicate and fragile like a thread about to snap. As much as she tried to focus on school and the looming task of getting their club approved, her mind kept drifting back to Nova's face, how close they had been. No, she told herself firmly. Focus on the club.

After school, the group met at the front gate, ready for their daily walk to the small supermarket uptown. Natalie fell into step next to Nova, trying to keep things casual. Gracie and Aaden led the way, chattering about their next steps.

"So," Gracie said, turning to face the group as they walked, "assuming we get permission—what's the first thing we do?"

"I've been thinking about an awareness day," Nova chimed in, her voice steady but her eyes flicking quickly to Natalie before looking away. "It could be simple: a booth in the quad, flyers, maybe some speakers. Get people talking."

"I'm down for that," Jaydon agreed, adjusting her backpack. "We need something that'll catch people's attention without being too overwhelming."

"What if we start small?" Aaden suggested. "Like, a lunch meet-up? Just to get a feel for who's interested before we go all-out with an event."

Natalie nodded, appreciating the practicality. "Yeah, we can invite students to join us for an informal chat. See who else cares about the same issues we do."

Casper grinned. "And snacks. Always need snacks."

They laughed, the camaraderie between them easing some of the tension in Natalie's chest. Still, she couldn't help but feel a small flutter of anxiety about their proposal sitting in Principal Walters' inbox. There was no guarantee they'd get the green light, and if they didn't... she wasn't sure what Plan B would be.

By the time they reached the supermarket, they had a tentative plan in place: if they got permission to start the club, the first meeting would be a low-key gathering to gauge interest, followed by a larger awareness day to really make an impact.

As they grabbed snacks from the shelves, Silv lingered beside Natalie, giving her a knowing glance. "You've been quiet," he said softly. "Everything cool?"

Natalie forced a smile. "Just thinking about the club. Hoping we actually get it."

He studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. We'll get it, Nat. Don't worry."

Later that evening, Natalie found herself once again in Nova's room. They had just gotten off a group call with the rest of the team, having spent hours refining their plans for the club. Gracie had been on fire with ideas, while Shy and Aaden added their own touches of practicality and creativity. By the end of the call, they had a solid framework in place for their first few meetings, should they get approval.

Now it was just Natalie and Nova, the room quiet except for the sounds of the video game they had been playing to unwind. The earlier awkwardness between them had mostly dissolved during the group call, but Natalie could still feel the unspoken tension simmering beneath the surface.

"I think we've got a solid plan," Nova said, pausing the game and stretching. "If we get the go-ahead, that is."

Natalie sighed, leaning back on the bed. "Yeah. I just wish we'd hear back already. The waiting is killing me."

As if on cue, Nova's computer chimed with a new email notification. She turned to the screen, her brow furrowing as she clicked the notification.

"Oh my God," Nova whispered, eyes widening as she scanned the email. She spun around to face Natalie, her expression one of shock and disbelief.

"What? What is it?" Natalie asked, sitting up quickly.

"It's from Principal Tupo," Nova said, her voice trembling with excitement. "We got it, Nat. We got permission to start the club!"

For a split second, neither of them moved. Then, as the reality of the words sank in, they both jumped up at the same time, yelling in excitement. Natalie grabbed Nova's hands, and they bounced around the room, laughing and cheering. The joy and relief coursing through Natalie was overwhelming, and before she knew it, she had pulled Nova into a tight hug, holding on as the weight of the uncertainty finally lifted from her shoulders.

"We did it!" Natalie exclaimed, her face flushed with happiness. "This is actually happening!"

Nova grinned, her eyes shining as she hugged Natalie back. "We really did."

Once they finally stopped jumping around, still breathless from the excitement, Nova grabbed her phone and shot a message to the group chat. Almost immediately, a flood of responses came in from Gracie, Aaden, Casper, and the others, all of them thrilled with the news.

After the initial rush died down, Natalie and Nova settled back on the bed. "Movie to celebrate?" Nova asked, grabbing the remote.

"Definitely," Natalie agreed, still riding the high of their success.

They scrolled through the options and, without much thought, landed on a romance movie. As the film started, the room grew quieter, the earlier excitement replaced by a more relaxed, contented energy. But as the movie unfolded, Natalie found herself growing aware once again of the space between her and Nova, of the way their shoulders brushed every now and then.

About halfway through the movie, Nova shifted, leaning slightly closer. Natalie's heart raced, the memory of their almost-kiss resurfacing. She glanced over at Nova, who was looking at the screen but seemed just as nervous. Without thinking, Natalie leaned in just a little, testing the waters.

Nova's gaze flickered to her, and before either of them could stop it, they were leaning in, their lips brushing in the softest, most tentative kiss. It was quick—barely more than a second—but it sent a jolt of electricity through Natalie's entire body.

They pulled back, eyes wide, both of them frozen in the moment. For a few agonizing seconds, neither said anything, the awkwardness thick in the air.

"So... that happened," Nova said quietly, her voice a little shaky.

"Yeah," Natalie whispered, her heart still pounding. "It did."

They both let out nervous laughs, trying to break the tension. For the rest of the movie, they kept their focus on the screen, pretending that everything was normal. But beneath the surface, Natalie couldn't stop thinking about the kiss—the way it felt, how right it had seemed, and yet how awkward everything felt now.

As the credits rolled, they both shifted, settling back into the usual comfort of their friendship. The awkwardness began to fade, and eventually, they drifted off to sleep side by side, exhausted from the day's events.

In the morning, they'd figure things out. But for now, Natalie felt a quiet sense of peace, knowing that not only had they gotten permission to start the club—they were taking the first steps toward something bigger than either of them had imagined.

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