Chapter 8: The Protest Plan

Chapter 8: The Protest Plan

Over the next few days, Liam couldn't shake his growing awareness of Maya. The way she absentmindedly tapped her pencil when she was deep in thought. The way her nose crinkled slightly when she laughed. The way her excitement about something—anything—was utterly contagious.

And now, he had somehow agreed to go to an environmental protest with her.

"Okay, so here's the plan," Maya said as they sat together at their usual lunch table. She spread out a flyer on the table, her enthusiasm palpable. "The protest is on Saturday. We'll meet at the train station at nine, take the 9:30 into the city, and get there just in time for the opening speeches. Then we march. It's going to be incredible."

Liam eyed the flyer. "Sounds... intense."

"In the best way!" Maya grinned. "You're going to love it, I promise."

Chloe smirked at them from across the table. "Maya, are you sure this is about the protest? Or is this just an excuse to drag Liam on a date?"

Liam nearly choked on his soda, and Maya let out an exasperated sigh. "Chloe, not everything is about romance. I just think Liam should get involved in something bigger than himself."

Chloe waggled her eyebrows. "Suuuure."

Ethan clapped Liam on the shoulder. "Dude, you should totally go. Expand your horizons. And who knows? Maybe you'll have an epiphany about saving the planet."

Liam rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help smiling. "Fine. I already said I was going."

Maya beamed. "Awesome! We'll make a sign together before we go. I have a ton of supplies."

As the conversation moved on, Liam felt a strange mixture of excitement and nervousness settle in his chest. The idea of spending a whole day with Maya, just the two of them, made his heart race in a way he wasn't ready to analyze.

That night, as he practiced guitar in his room, he found himself strumming a tune he hadn't played before. Something soft, something uncertain, something hopeful.

And, somehow, he knew exactly who had inspired it.