Chapter Text
Nova was grateful for a lot of things.
She was grateful for obvious things. That she had a family who loved her, a house to live in, a free education. Things that every person deserves, even if they don’t all have them.
And then, there were the smaller things she was grateful for. The smell of candles in the early morning, when the sun just barely peaks into the dark sky, or the soft feeling of the fall mornings where leaves adorned her path to school.
A bunch of little things that made her life so much happier.
When she was in 6th grade, Victor used to do this thing where he would sketch small things for her, and then leave them. He would claim it was an accident, but there was always a shy glint in his eye when she would find his little pencil drawings in her notebooks, or her novels.
She would smile, and would always say
“Thank you Victor.”
And he would always smile, and say back.
“For what, Nova?”
It was their little thing. And after 6th grade, it had taken a while for her to realize that he wasn’t doing that anymore. That he wouldn't be leaving her pictures. Even now, she would catch herself checking the inside of her books for slips of paper, before remembering they wouldn’t be there.
It was possibly the saddest part of the whole process. The fact that something that had once been so integral to her life was gone, was… jarring to say the least.
So, imagine her surprise, after getting home from a long game, and showering the glitter off her face and hair, that she pulled out her notebook to do homework, and a folded up piece of notebook paper slid out.
Her heart nearly stopped, as she stared at the small scrap of paper. Her heart thumped in her chest, and an overwhelming sense of Déjà vu overcame her.
Hesitantly, she picked it up. And slowly, as if scared to do so, she unfolded it.
What she saw made her breath catch.
It was a sketch of… her. In their science class. She had one hand propped against her chin, and the other writing on a paper, her brows furrowed slightly in concentration. She looked… real. Not perfect. Not without flaws. But still… beautiful.
She swallowed thickly, feeling tears form in her eyes. Was that really how he saw her? Was she really like that through his eyes?
Slowly, she pulled out her phone, and scrolled down for a contact that she hadn’t used in years. But, not for the first time, she stared at the last messages she had ever exchanged with him.
Nova: Of course! Love you too <3
She swallowed, and typed out a quick message, sending it before she could regret it, pretending that they wouldn’t both see the remnants of their friendship when they looked at that text string.
Nova: My dad will be on a work trip, so mom said the house is free for us tomorrow. Come over at like 6:30?
She sat at the table, her anxiousness overtaking her, wondering what he would say. But before she even had the time to worry, her phone dinged.
Victor: I'll be there :)
She tried to pretend that her heart didn't jump, and that she did not smile at his contact appearing at the top of hers. And the question from earlier would infect her brain again, as she looked down at the drawing. Was that how he really saw her?
And even though she would try to move on, the question would follow her all night as she worked. As she got ready for bed. And even as she was dreaming, brown eyes and shy smiles would infect her dreams.
What if?
What if?
———————————————————————
It was late afternoon on a Saturday, and she was sitting on her couch with Ray beside her. He was there, because her father had wanted him around for some kind of campaign reason. After all, beating out Victoria Barton back in 6th grade only lasted so long, and the reelection was soon.
She looked over at her curly haired friend, her wired brain running through all of their recent interactions.
Things between them had been… interesting the last two years. Certainly better, but… even though she and Victor weren't close anymore, the memory of his cruelty rang like a bell in her mind. She couldn't forget Victor's heartbroken expression if she tried, and she didn't want to.
She could be mad at Victor for a lot of things, but what Ray did to his painting? That, she could never be mad about.
That had been cruel. Nova knew it. Victor knew it. Hell, Ray probably even knew it. Not that he'd ever admit it, but still. They had never discussed it after that day. With him, some things were better left in the past. At least that's what she thought.
Now? She wasn't so sure.
“So,” Ray said, his feet propped up on the coffee table.
“How's cheer?”
She shrugged, sipping her sprite can as she read over her homework assignment.
“Oh, you know, it’s cheer. Lots of copies of the same girl, and lots of shouting and flips.” she said, smiling lazily at him. He rolled his eyes.
“You hate when I describe it like that.” he said with a laugh, and she smiled.
“Yup. That's why I still say it. Because I am never going to let you live that down.” she said with a smug grin. He threw a throw pillow at her, and she laughed, catching it and throwing it back. It was nice when he wasn't being an asshole, and was just being her best friend.
Just then, her mom entered the room, her gold hair pulled back, and an amused smile on her face.
“Ray,” she said, looking fondly at him.
“Youre mother is here to get you.” she said. He groaned, falling backwards dramatically. She giggled, kicking his head, and he grumbled sitting up.
“Rude.” he mumbled. She smiled sweetly at him. He sighed, collecting his things and slinging his bag over his shoulder.
“Dont do anything fun without me!” he called over his shoulder as he left.
“I never do!” she said back, hardly looking up from her phone. Her mom let out an amused sigh, and leaned against the entry to the living room,as the front door shut.
“You know Nova, I wish you would find a boy like that. He's so… respectful.” she said thoughtfully. Nova snorted.
“I’d rather marry Shrek. Seriously, ew mom.” she said, sitting up to stack her papers. Her mom smiled, lifting her hands up in a mock-surrender gesture.
“Hey, all I'm saying is that you don't find a real friendship like that every day.” she said with a laugh. Nova sighed, looking out the window, as all the problems with their friendship, ones that her mom was blissfully unaware of, passed through her mind's eye. And against her will, memories of a boy with glasses and dark brown eyes passed through as well.
“Yeah I suppose you don't." she mumbled, eyes still staring out the window, unfocused. And even though her mom smiled, she didn't know. Didn't know that her daughter was thinking of a whole other friendship entirely.
The sudden thought of Victor startled her out of her thoughts and she glanced down at her watch, trying not to panic when she saw the time.
“Hey mom,” she said, scrambling up from the couch as her mom left the room.
“I have a… classmate coming over for that science project I mentioned. He should be here in… about 20 minutes.” she said, grabbing all of her things and shoving them into her bag, refusing to meet her mothers eyes.
The mother in question leaned against the dooframe, her expression mischievous.
“He? You invited a boy over on a Saturday night?” she asked with a laugh. Nova sighed.
“Momm.” she said exasperated. Her mom laughed, and left towards the kitchen.
“Okay, okay, I won't say anything. Of course he is welcome. But maybe there is a reason you are so against Ray, if you are blushing this much.” she called out singsong. Nova groaned, burying her face in her hands. The heat of her cheeks was warm against her palms, and she sighed with annoyance, knowing her mom was right.
Still, not wanting to give her mom the satisfaction of her being right, she scrambled upstairs to her bedroom, dreading the moment when the doorbell rang.
—------------------------------------------------
Exactly 20 minutes later, a knock could be heard from the front door. Nova checked her watch, grumbling as she straightened her pillows once more, and nearly bolted down the stairs. The one time Victor decided to be punctual.
By the time she reached the bottom of the stairs, her mom was just barely opening the door.
“You must be Victor.” her mother said warmly, as she stood frozen at the bottom of the stairs.
“Yes ma'am," the figure in the door said, and… wow. She had not been expecting that.
It was Victor. But he looked… different.
He had on a black hoodie, the chilly fall afternoon making the wind flutter through his hair. And his hair. It wasn't gelled back as usual, but fell more casually into his eyes, curly slightly at the ends in the way she remembered it used to.
And sitting on his nose was a pair of thin framed glasses, the light barely hitting the edges, as the sun hung low in the sky. He was smiling. And god…
He looked good. He looked… like her Victor. But older. More mature, more sure of himself. And that was a version of him she wasn't sure how to handle.
“Well come on in, it's freezing outside.” her mother said warmly to him, snapping her out of her thoughts, and causing her to move forwards.
Victor saw her, and his face split into that wide grin..
“Nova.” he said simply, her own name in his mouth making her suppress a shiver. She gave a small smile back.
“Victor.”
He opened his mouth to say something more, but her mother ushered them both into the kitchen, bombarding Victor with questions about his life, school, sports. Anything she could think of. Nova had to force herself not to hide her face in embarrassment when Victor gave her an amused glance.
“So, are you in any extracurriculars?” her mom asked curiously. Victor smiled a little, nodding.
“Yes. I’m in Art, and Photography. And I recently switched over to Yearbook from economics.” he said, his voice steady. Nova felt her heart leap into her throat.
Did he just say that…
“Oh, you do yearbook? So does Nova! Have you two worked together?” her mom asked excitedly. Nova was about to say no, when Victor responded smoothly.
“I haven't been to a class yet, I've had some scheduling conflicts in switching my credits. But I think I may have taken some photos for her column.” he said simply. Nova felt the cloud of disbelief around this subject clear, and she sighed internally.
She had denied it. But deep down she had known. It was him. It was always… him.
“That is amazing.” her mom said, a grin on her face.
“So, how did you two meet?” she asked, her voice excited. But unbeknownst to her, the two of them froze slightly, glancing at one another.
“We… met a while ago actually. Back when I first moved here, in 6th grade.” Victor said simply. Nova's mom processed that slowly, then her eyes widened in realization.
“Wait… you're THAT Victor?” her mom asked. Nova gave her mom a pleading look, but her mom seemed to not notice, too excited to care.
“Oh my gosh, Nova would talk about you all the time when she first went to school! I was so happy she made a friend.”
Victor turned to Nova, a smile on his face.
“Did she now?” He asked amused, and Nova thought she might actually die from embarrassment.
“Oh yes. She would talk all about your projects, and your art. I thought you didn’t go to the same school anymore?” She asked confused. Victor laughed a little.
“Well, I think my aunt also got a little sick of me talking about her so much. And no, I haven’t moved schools until going to high school this year.” He asked calmly. Her mom tilted her head.
“Oh. Did you two not hang out after that? I heard her telling Zoey in 7th grade about how “victor left”. Is that not what happened?” She said innocently. Nova felt her stomach drop. Why did the universe hate her.
A slow sad smile crept onto Victors face, and he gave a nod.
“Yeah, time and new friends made us grow apart a bit. But I never left.” He said, his voice steady. But something about the way he said it, made her feel like he meant more.
I never left.
Her mom nodded, but then she glanced between the two of the with a smile.
“Well, it seems the two of you worked things out, and you’ve been spending more time together now.” She said with a smile.
“Sort of mom.” She mumbled. Her mom rolled her eyes, looking at her daughter.
“Oh hush, you’ve seemed happier for weeks now. This boy is doing you some good.” She said. Nova was fairly certain her face was going to burst into flames, but before she could say anything, Victors soft voice cut through her thoughts.
“I think that goes for both of us.” He said quietly. But he wasn’t looking at her mom. He was looking at her, his eyes that soft color that made her swoon. Good god.
She looked away, but not before a small smile graced her face. After all, when he was looking at her like that it was impossible not to.
The two teenagers barely noticed the mom that had turned a blind eye to them, silently doing dishes while they exchanged glances.
“Mom.” Nova said, standing up.
“We are gonna go to my room to work on the project, if you need us.” She said, distractedly. Her mom smiled and nodded, as the two teens left the room.
“Okay. Just crack the door open.”
“Mom!”