Chapter 17: Pushing Boundaries

Chapter 17: Pushing Boundaries

Maya found Liam after school, leaning against his locker, deep in thought.

"Hey, rock star," she teased, nudging him.

Liam groaned. "I'm rethinking everything. What if I mess up? What if people laugh?"

Maya took his hand. "What if they love it? What if this is the moment you realize how incredible you are?"

He swallowed hard. "What if I freeze up?"

She smiled. "Then I'll be right there, cheering you on."

Liam exhaled, the tightness in his chest easing slightly. Maybe, just maybe, he could do this.

At the same time, Maya threw herself into her activism. She launched a petition and began gathering signatures, making sure students and teachers alike knew how much change was needed. The administration started to take notice, but not all responses were positive.

"Maya, the principal wants to talk to you," one of her club members informed her one afternoon.

Maya squared her shoulders. "Good. Maybe now they'll actually listen."

She had no idea how much this meeting would change everything.

---

Maya sat in the principal's office, her hands clasped tightly together. The principal, Mrs. Holloway, peered at her over her glasses.

"Maya, I appreciate your passion, but you have to understand that change takes time. You can't expect the school to overhaul its policies overnight."

Maya held back a sigh. "But we've already done the research. Other schools have better recycling programs in place. Why can't we?"

Mrs. Holloway leaned forward. "We are considering it, but disrupting school operations with protests and petitions isn't the right way."

Maya knew this was their way of brushing her off. She bit her tongue and nodded, realizing she needed a new approach.

As she left the office, she saw Liam waiting for her. "How'd it go?"

She shook her head. "Same excuses. They don't take me seriously."

Liam hesitated. "Maybe there's another way. Something less… confrontational?"

Maya sighed. "I don't want to fight them, Liam. I just want them to care."

He reached for her hand. "Then let's find a way to make them care. Together."

Their fingers intertwined, a silent promise between them.