Dead Battery Social Anxiety

Maya's palms were sweating. Like, actually sweating, as she stood outside Jordan's house clutching her phone like it was a lifeline. Which it kinda was—3% battery and she'd forgotten her charging cable at home. Classic Maya move.

"You coming in?" Jordan's voice cut through the humid night air. Palm trees lined the driveway, their fronds casting shadowy fingers across the lawn.

"Yeah! Just... finishing a text," Maya lied. Her phone had died two seconds ago. She was now just tapping a black screen like a total fraud.

Inside, the party was already in full swing. Someone had Spotify blasting, people were scattered across the living room, and there was definitely pizza somewhere. Maya spotted her friend Chloe by the snack table and made a beeline, ignoring how her heart was doing gymnastics.

"You made it!" Chloe grabbed her arm. "This party's actually chill. Jordan's older brother bought us pizza and his parents are literally at a movie theater two towns over."

Maya nodded, trying to look like she belonged here. Like she wasn't the same girl who'd spent the last three Friday nights rewatching The Office and telling herself she was "choosing herself" instead of staying home alone because she was too anxious to text anyone back.

Then she heard it—a bark. A very familiar bark.

Everyone froze. Jordan's eyes went wide. "Did someone bring a dog?"

Maya's stomach dropped. Because that wasn't just any dog. That was Buster, her family's 80-pound golden retriever who'd somehow escaped their backyard and followed her here. Because of course he had. This was her life.

She rushed to the door just as Buster came barreling in, tail wagging like he owned the place, immediately heading straight for the pizza boxes on the counter.

"OH MY GOD HE'S SO CUTE," someone screamed.

"That's my dog," Maya said, mortified. "I'm so sorry, I'll—"

"No way," Jordan said, grinning. "Is that THE Buster? You've talked about him so much in homeroom, I feel like I already know him."

Buster was now getting petted by like five people at once, living his best life, while Maya stood there frozen. Her palms were definitely sweating again.

"Actually," Jordan continued, "I have an extra charging cable in my room if you need it. I saw your phone died when you walked in."

Maya blinked. "You noticed?"

"Your screen went black," Jordan shrugged. "Happens to me all the time. I'm, like, physically incapable of remembering cables."

For the first time all night, Maya's shoulders relaxed. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

"I'd love that cable," she said.

"Come on," Jordan said. "Buster seems entertained. Let's go charge your phone and you can tell me more about him."

As they walked away, Maya heard someone say, "Can someone get this dog a slice of pepperoni?" and Maya laughed. Actually laughed. Her palms were dry, her phone would be charged soon, and somehow, bringing her dog to a party had turned into the best social move she'd made all year.

Who knew being a disaster was sometimes exactly what you needed?