Bad Hair, Good Luck

Maya's hair had decided to stage a rebellion. The humidity was doing that thing where it made her normally manageable curls explode into a frizzy halo around her head. Great. Just in time for lunch with HIM.

Cameron had been sitting at her usual table for three weeks now, ever since the seating chart changed. Maya had spent approximately 87% of her brainpower trying to look casual whenever he glanced her way, which was roughly never.

"Your mom pack you another salad?" asked Renee, sliding into the seat across from her.

Maya nodded, opening her Tupperware to reveal—yup—another spinach salad. Because apparently her mother believed leafy greens were the key to academic success.

She was mid-mouthful, mid-laugh at something Renee said, when Cameron actually looked over. Their eyes met. He smiled. MAYA PANICKED.

In her attempt to smile back and swallow simultaneously, she managed to do neither well. Something felt wrong. Something felt VERY wrong.

"You got a little..." Renee winced.

Maya bolted to the bathroom, spinach visibly wedged between her front teeth like a tiny green betrayal. She spent five minutes aggressively brushing, staring at her reflection, which now also featured the world's worst frizz situation thanks to the storm raging outside.

When she emerged, Cameron was waiting by the door.

"Hey," he said. "I was gonna ask—" CRACK. Lightning flashed so bright it left spots in her vision. The school lights flickered and died.

They stood there in the semi-darkness, rain hammering against the windows, and Maya's hair was apparently so charged with static that a piece literally stuck to his jacket when he moved closer.

"Sorry," she muttered, reaching to pull it away.

"No, it's—" Cameron laughed. "Your hair. It's kind of amazing right now."

"It's a disaster."

"It's fearless." He shrugged, that tiny smile back. "Anyway, I was gonna ask if you wanted to study for bio together? Since we're stuck here until the power comes back?"

Maya's heart did that thing where it forgot how to beat normally. The spinach was gone. The hair was "fearless." And somehow, thanks to a lightning storm and her own awkwardness, she'd gotten exactly what she wanted.

"Yeah," she said, grinning. "I'd like that."