Chasing Strays

Maya counted the gummy **vitamin** C bottles for the third time. Anything to avoid checking her phone.

"You're ignoring me again," said Jordan, her former best **friend** turned stranger since freshman year started. Jordan leaned against the supplement shop counter, spinning a baseball on one finger. "For real, are you coming to the game tonight?"

Maya's stomach did that thing where it felt twisted and hollow at the same time. Jordan had been distant since making varsity, like the new social circle came with a password Maya didn't know.

"I don't know," Maya said. "I have that history outline due."

"That's **bull** and you know it." Jordan's voice cracked, just slightly. "You've been avoiding me for weeks. Just tell me what I did."

The bell chimed. Mrs. Chen from next door rushed in, her usual frantic self. "Have you seen him? The orange one? He only comes to your shop."

The stray **cat** had been showing up behind the strip mall for weeks. Maya had been sneaking him tuna from her lunch, that dry, flaky stuff that smelled like compromise.

"He's around back," Maya said, already moving.

Jordan followed. They found the cat curled under the dumpster, nursing a hurt paw. His orange fur was matted with dirt and something that looked like motor oil.

"He needs a vet," Jordan said, dropping the baseball. It rolled away, forgotten. "My aunt works at that clinic on—"

"I can't afford that." Maya's face burned. Money talk was always the worst.

"So we'll split it. Like we used to." Jordan crouched down, making clicking sounds. The cat hissed but didn't run. "Hey, remember when we tried to build that treehouse and my dad said it was a liability? We did it anyway."

Maya did remember. The wood had warped and the roof leaked when it rained, but they'd sat up there for hours, eating stale Pop-Tarts and feeling invincible.

"I thought you were too cool for me now," Maya said, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. "With your varsity friends and—"

"Are you kidding?" Jordan's eyes went wide. "I thought YOU were too cool for ME. You're always reading in the courtyard now, looking all mysterious and—"

They stared at each other. The cat, exhausted from his own drama, limped over and head-butted Maya's sneaker.

"We're both idiots," Maya said.

"Agreed." Jordan held out a fist. "So, about that game..."

Maya bumped it. "I'll be there. But you owe me after. Help me with this guy?" She nodded at the cat, who was now purring like he'd just orchestrated the whole reconciliation.

"Deal." Jordan picked up the dirty baseball. "Same as it ever was."

The vitamin bottles could wait. Some things were actually worth counting.