Bear Market, Bull Heart

My dad calls it a bear market—everything's down, including his mood since the layoff. Me? I'm just trying to survive junior year without completely embarrassing myself.

"Cable's out again," Maya says, tossing the remote onto my bed. "Storm's rolling in fast."

Outside my window, the sky has that weird purple-green color that means business. Thunder rumbles low in my chest, like the earth is clearing its throat. Perfect timing—tonight was supposed to be movie night with James, the cute guy from AP Bio who'd finally agreed to come over. Now we're stuck in my basement with nothing but flickering emergency lights and awkward silence.

James sits on the edge of the beanbag chair, all knees and elbows. "So... this sucks."

"Story of my life," I say, then immediately want to die. Why am I like this?

Then—a flash so bright it turns everything white, followed by a CRACK that shakes the house. Lightning struck somewhere close. The power goes completely dead.

Maya pulls out her phone, flashlight mode cutting through the darkness. "Okay, truth or dare. But like, for real this time."

Three rounds in, James chooses truth. Maya's eyes gleam like she's been waiting her whole life for this moment. "Who do you like?"

My heart hammers harder than the thunder outside. James's face is half in shadow, half in light, looking nervous and perfect and annoyingly unpredictable.

He looks right at me. "There's this girl... she's smart. Funny. She doesn't see it, though."

The basement air feels suddenly charged, like all that static electricity found a new target. My hands are shaking and I can't stop smiling and I might throw up.

"You're so bull-headed about everything," Maya groans, rolling her eyes. "Just tell her already."

James takes this breath, like he's steeling himself. "So, Bri..."

Another lightning flash illuminates his hopeful expression. And in that moment, I realize: bear market or not, some things are definitely going up.