Chapter Text
Nova was sitting on Zoey's bed, as her friend paced the room.
“So. You're telling me, that he stopped you from falling on your face, called you perfect, told you that you would be amazing at tryouts, and then came to watch you?” Zoey said, looking at her in disbelief.
“He didn’t call me “Perfect”” she said, using Air quotes, burying her face in a pillow.
“And I don't think he was there to see me. But yes, to… the rest of that.” she said with a sigh, propping herself up on her elbows.
Zoey snorted, leaning against her desk.
“Right. Because he has a ton of other girls to watch cheerleading.” she said sarcastically. Nova shrugged, even though the notion of that made her slightly sick.
“Maybe he does. I don't know.” she said. Zoey groaned, putting her head in her hands.
“I swear to go Nova, your obliviousness will be the death of us all. He was obviously there for you, he could barely take his eyes off of you the whole time.”
NOva blushed, throwing a pillow at her friend.
“I am NOT oblivious. And he was not looking at me.” she muttered. Zoey snorted.
“Sure Nov. whatever you say.”
Nova glared at her, trying to look mean and intimidating, but likely failing as she sat there in pajama pants and messy braids. Zoey sighed, unfolding her arms.
“Remind me why we hate him again?” Zoey asked, giving her a look. Nova sighed, looking at her in exasperation.
“I don't hate him. It's complicated. And I've already explained it like a thousand times.” she said. Zoey gave her a look.
“You have. And I still don't get it. Your reasoning makes less sense every time.” she said teasingly. Nova groaned, throwing a pillow at her friend again.
Zoey was one of those people who was infuriatingly nice. She never wanted to think bad of anyone, and Victor was no exception. Even though she had never met him, she insisted on giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Come to think of it, it was probably better that Zoey had never met him. She would probably like him a lot. He was pretty hard not to like.
She banished that thought, and flopped back onto the pillows. Zoey sighed, and came to sit on the bed.
“Look Nova, I know that you probably don't want me to ask, but… do you really not want to see him? Like at all?”
Nova sat up, wrapping her arms around her knees.
“Honestly? I don't know.”
She looked out the window, watching as the sun slowly set.
“Everything between us is just so complicated. And not much about what we fought about then is different. I still work for my dad, and he is still his aunt's nephew.” She dropped her hands, her resolve against him feeling weak and tired.
“Its been so long. I don't know how to just… forget. Being around him is so strange now. I'm not even sure if I still know him anymore.”
Zoey looked at her for a minute, before scooting closer, and wrapping an arm around her.
“Look Nov.” she said, smiling a bit.
“I don't know everything. But what I do know is friendship. It isn't just based on what you like, or where you come from. It's about who you are. And even if you two aren't the exact same, you still know each other. It doesn't matter who your parents are, or where you come from. Not with friendships like that,”
Zoey leaned forward, smiling conspiratorily.
“And if you are asking me? It's not just friendship. Because the only other time that I've seen someone looking like he does at you? Is when my brother looks at Addison.”
Nova felt her cheeks warm. It was one thing to be called friends, but a whole other to be compared to the IT couple of Seabrook high. And especially ones that came from two opposite places, and grew up very different, but still fell in love despite it all…
Her inner debate was interrupted, when Zoey sat up again, her tone turning more easy and light hearted.
“Or you know, you could just do it because of how much hotter hes gotten. Seriously, did he always have those biceps?” she said with a laugh. Nova rolled her eyes, slapping her arm as the two girls burst into giggles.
It was times like these, that she was grateful to have a Zoey.
Just then, they heard the door open, and laughing voices came from downstairs. Zoeys eyes lit up, and she grabbed Nova's hands, pulling her off the bed.
“Come on Nov! It's Zed and Addison!” she said excitedly.
Nova groaned, not wanting to leave her fort of blankets and pillows.
“Zoeyyy.” she complained, as she got yanked out.
“They probably don't want to talk to us, and just want to get to Zed’s room.” she said, as Zoey pulled her into the hallway. Zoey crinkled her nose, as she dragged her down the hallway.
“Gross Nova. Come on, they love me. And we can ask Addison about cheer tryouts!” she said excitedly, practically throwing her off her feet as she bounded down the stairs.
Nova sighed, following her friend as she got closer to the sound of Zeds loud friendly voice, and Addsons twinkly laugh.
When she walked in, both of the older teens gave her a wide smile.
“Nova!” Zed said, walking forward and hugging her. She smiled, and hugged him back.
“Hey Zed.” she said with a smile, pulling back, and looking at Addison with a nod.
“Addison.” she said with a nod. The older cheerleader smiled and, to novas surprise, came forward and hugged her.
“Great to see you again Nova.” the older girl said, pulling back. From across her shoulder she could see Zoey smiling excitedly, as if to say “I told you she was nice.”
Nova smiled at Addison.
“Good to see you too. How was your night? Zoey told me you and Zed went to see the new Conjuring movie.” she said with a smile. Addison's eyes seemed to light up at the mention of Zed, and she glanced over at him.
“It was really fun. I think that he still takes me to see them, because hes too scared to go alone.” she said, conspiratorily to the two younger girls. They giggled, as Zed clutched a hand over his heart in mock-hurt.
“You wound me Addy!” he said dramatically, smiling when the three girls burst out laughing. Conversation flowed for a few minutes, as they fell into an easy rhythm. Then, Zoey got a glint in her eye, turning to Addison.
“So Addy,” she asked, glancing over at Nova.
“Did you and the cheer captains work out teams yet?” she asked innocently. Nova almost choked on her tongue, as Addison gave her a knowing smile.
“Yeah we did. We pretty much knew who was gonna be on it from the first dril, but it is still a meticulous process.”
Zoeys eyes gleamed excitedly, as she leaned forward.
“Well?” she asked eagerly. Addison gave her a teasing look, and glanced at Nova with a wink.
“Zoey, you know I'm not supposed to tell anyone until tomorrow.” she said scoldingly, but ZOey widened her eyes, and put her hands forward, mock begging. Addison sighed with a giggle.
“Who am I kidding? I want to deliver this news myself.”
She turned to Nova, a wide smile on her face, and Nova's heart stuttered in her chest.
“Nova,” she began, as the Zombies siblings leaned in in anticipation.
“I am officially welcoming you to the Varsity cheer team of the MIghty Shrimp!” Addison said, throwing her hands up. Zed let out a whoop, and Zoey squealed as Nova’s jaw dropped open.
“I made the team?” she said in disbelief, as Addison nodded, her smile wide.
“You made the team!” Zoey squealed, jumping up and hugging her friend. It took Nova a second to wear off from the shock, before she hugged her friend back.
“I made the team!” she said, voice high and excited. Zed laughed, putting an arm around addison and smiling at the two younger girls.
“Congratulations Nova.” he said with a smile. And honestly? As she stood there, celebrating with these people, she felt truly happy, for the first time in a while.
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After a celebration in which ice cream cones were doordashed from in town, and a smile that she couldn't wipe off her face if she tried, she was almost certain that nothing could make her night better.
Then, she got a notification as they sat there chatting while “Friends” played in the background.
She looked down at her phone, and her jaw dropped when she saw the email.
“What is it?” Zoey asked, once she saw Nova's face. Both Addison and Zed turned when Zoey asked that, curiosity coming over their faces.
“It's the counselor, Miss Nelson." she said, surprise evident on her face. Zoey scowled at the name, her face turning up in a huff.
“Oh my gosh, what does she want? She has no right to still be emailing you, after kicking you off of the yearbook committee.” Zoey said angrily, shoving her spoon into her ice cream cup.
Addison frowned, her eyes drifting over to Nova in concern.
“Can they do that?” she asked. Zoey scoffed.
“They shouldn't be able to. But, they claimed they "didn't have a volunteer photographer for her subject.”. Complete BS if you ask me. Im sure they just didnt want her to be on the committee for some dumb reason.” She said to Zed and Addison.
But Nova sat up, crossing her legs under her, still reading the email with fast eyes.
“Yeah but that's the thing. She said that a student volunteered for photography, and I have my spot back.” she said in disbelief. The other three whipped their heads to her in shock.
“What?” they said in unison. Nova nodded in disbelief, still reading the email.
“She says that a photography student volunteered, not long after our conversation, and that I have my spot on the board back.”
Zoey shook her head in disbelief. Zed leaned over, a curious look on his face.
“Who was it?” he asked. Nova looked back at the email but just shook her head.
“It doesn't say.”
Zoey leaned forward for a minute, a strange look of confusion on her face.
“Better question.” she started, glancing over at Nova.
“What photography student would change their elective, right when Nova needed it?”
They all went quiet, but none of them could come up with an answer. Well. most of them. Nova had one idea, in the back of her mind. But she pushed it away immediately.
There was no chance…
They all tried to go back to normal conversation after that, but the question wouldn't leave her mind. Who was it? Why did they help her? And most interestingly, how did they know she needed their help?
After a bit, her phone buzzed again. She glanced down, to see a text on her screen.
“Ray?” Zoey asked. Nova shook her head, standing up.
“My dad. He says I need to go home, and that he's coming to get me.”
Zoey groaned, as Nova gathered up her things, and slung her bag over her shoulder.
“God forbid that man let you spend more than 3 hours in Zombietown. What does he think we are going to do, infect you?” she asked incredulously. Nova laughed, zipping up her sweater.
“Honestly? He might.”
She gave Zed and Addison another hug each, thanking Addiso again for the cheer opportunity, and hugged Zoey goodbye.
After promising to call her in the morning, she stepped out of the house and down the driveway, a variation of goodbyes following her.
She walked out, just as her dads white BMW pulled up, contrasting greatly in the slightly beat up suburbs of Zombietown.
She wordlessly opened the backdoor, and set her bag down, and told the driver to take her home. After all, it was extremely rare for her dad to actually come get her himself nowadays.
She sat there, looking out the window, her arm propped up on the sill, thinking of the email again.
Her theory popped back into her head, but she did her best to push it away again.
There wasn't a chance it was him. He didn't care about her like that, and she didn't even know if he still did photography. Besides, how would he have known? It didn't make any sense.
Still, the thought wouldn't leave her head, as she gazed out her window, looking up at the moon.
What if?
What if?
And as she looked up she wondered, not for the first time, if he was looking at the same moon as her, as she drove home in silence.
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Victor sat up in his room that night, the quiet sound of the fan and the scratching of his pencil the only sounds to be heard.
He was sketching her. Again. He had done this a lot in his life, even when they weren't friends, but especially when they were. Still, he kept doing it, and never felt completely satisfied with the results. Somehow, they never even came close to the real thing.
He sighed, looking out his window. He was waiting for something, and he just didn't know when it would happen. Any minute now.
As if reading his mind, the bedroom door creaked open, and the quiet sound of his aunt leaning against the wall could be heard. Still, he didn't look over.
“Auntie.” he said simply, studying the cars passing below.
“Victor,” she responded, her tone sounding tired.
“Can you explain to me why I got a call from the school, telling me that you changed your elective?” she asked, faux calm in her voice. Victor didn't even flinch.
“Because I changed my elective. They really needed a photographer for the yearbook, and it sounded fun. Besides, I can take economics next year.” he said, his pencil scratching slightly harder against the paper.
His aunt sighed heavily, adjusting her weight on her tired feet.
“Victor, I know you are prone to making rash decisions, but… can you please just talk to me? Did you really drop out of it, because I wanted you to take it?” she asked, her voice weary. He snorted.
“Auntie, I think that if there is one thing we have established, it's that I never do anything because you tell me to.”
That made her go silent. They sat there for a minute, in near perfect quiet. Still, she did not leave.
Victor sighed, snapping his book shut, and looking over at his aunt.
“Can we talk about this tomorrow? I'm tired, I know you are too, and I don't want to discuss this right now.” he said. She stood there, clearly wanting to argue.
But, in the end she moved to leave the room, her feet padding softly.
“Thank you.” he said quietly.
But before she fully left the room, she stopped, and called back in.
“Victor?”
He looked up, seeing her face dimly lit by his bedside lamp.
“Yeah?” he answered softly.
“You know I love you, right?” she asked. And despite his tired and frazzled state, Victor gave her a tired smile back.
“I love you too Auntie.”
She smiled at him softly, then seemed to hesitate before leaving and shutting the door.
He sighed, leaning his head against the wall from where he sat on his window ledge. He looked out, and up at the moon, and for the hundredth time that day, thought of Nova.
He thought of her eyes. Her smile. And, as it always did, the aching hole in his heart of all the people he had lost was soothed, if only slightly.
He sighed, opening his eyes and looking up at the moon.
Maybe he didn't believe in wishing on stars, but he did believe in the power of a new day. So, this boy closed his eyes, and he wished. For a new dawn, and a better day.
And across two sides of town, a peaceful silence would fall, as a blonde girl would hesitate on the threshold of her house, looking out into the night. And just then a lamp would go out in a window, as the night fell.