Court Side Fox

The backward hat was Maya's armor. Pulled low over her forehead, it said don't mess with me even though her stomach was doing somersaults. First week at the new country club, and she'd already managed to make exactly zero friends. Unless you counted the lifeguard who'd told her to stop doing cannonballs off the diving board.

Then she saw them—the padel courts. Maya had played back at her old school, before her parents dragged her three states south for her dad's new job. Before she became the weird new girl who couldn't seem to make casual conversation without trying too hard.

She picked up a rental racquet from the pro shop and headed to Court 4, where a girl about her age was practicing serves against the glass wall. Alone.

"Need a partner?" The words slipped out before Maya could overthink them.

The girl caught the ball, flipping her sandy ponytail. "I'm Chloe. You any good?"

"Decent." Maya adjusted her hat. "Back home, anyway."

"Home being..." Chloe raised an eyebrow.

"Chicago. Three days ago."

"Ah." Chloe's expression softened. "Refugee. Got it. I'm from Seattle, moved here last summer."

Something shifted. Maya's shoulders dropped an inch.

They played for an hour. Maya's serve was rusty but serviceable. Chloe moved like she'd been born on a court, sneakers squeaking, predicting every angle. They were tied at deuce when a rustling noise came from the bushes beyond the fence.

A fox—actual fox, copper-red and impossibly bold—trotted out and sat by the court, watching them like a disappointed tennis coach.

"Okay," Chloe lowered her racquet, grinning. "That's not normal."

"Pretty sure he's critiquing your backhand," Maya said without thinking.

Chloe laughed. "Bold words for someone who just shanked that last volley."

Maya's face burned, but Chloe was still smiling. "You're cool. Also terrible, but cool."

The fox dipped its head, as if in agreement, then slipped away into the bushes.

"Same time tomorrow?" Chloe asked, bouncing the ball on her racquet.

"Yeah," Maya heard herself say. "Definitely."

On the walk home, she took off her hat and let the wind mess up her hair properly. Maybe this place wouldn't be so bad after all.