Court Side Glow

Maya pulled her dad's faded baseball cap down over her eyebrows, hoping it would somehow make her invisible at the new padel club. The oversized brim shadowed her face, which was exactly what she needed when your mom forces you to join summer sports camp and you've never held a racket in your life.

"You're holding it wrong," said a voice from the next court over. She peeked under her hat's brim to see a girl with bright orange hair tied in a messy knot, grinning like she'd just caught Maya doing something embarrassing. Which she technically had.

"I'm Luna," the girl said, abandoning her own game to wander over. "Also, you're gripping that thing like it's a snake that's about to bite you."

Maya's face burned. "I'm Maya. And this snake-heavy racket and I are not getting along."

"Here, let me show you." Luna's hands guided Maya's fingers into proper position, her touch light and confident. "Your mom signed you up for lessons, right?"

"Yeah. She says I need more vitamin D in my life. Apparently, sunlight is better when you're not just scrolling on your phone under a blanket."

Luna laughed, and suddenly the court didn't feel so huge and intimidating. "My parents said the same thing. Something about 'healthy habits' and 'social development.' Whatever that means."

They spent the next hour hitting balls back and forth, Maya missing more than she hit but actually enjoying herself for the first time all summer. The glass walls of the padel court caught the late afternoon sun, painting everything in gold.

Then it happened—a moment that felt like lightning, sudden and electrifying. Maya's racket connected perfectly with the ball, sending it arcing over the net in a beautiful parabola that landed exactly where she'd aimed.

"YES!" Luna screamed, high-fiving Maya so hard her hand stung. "Did you see that? That was actually fire!"

Maya grinned, sweat dripping down her forehead, the stupid hat forgotten somewhere on the sidelines. Maybe her mom was right about the whole vitamin D thing. Or maybe it was just finding someone who didn't make you want to disappear.

"Same time tomorrow?" Luna asked as they gathered their stuff.

"Yeah," Maya said, and for the first time in forever, she actually meant it.