Dead Girl Walking

Maya's arms felt like lead weights as she dragged herself out of the pool at 5:30 AM. Another two hours of swimming laps before school even started. Coach Torres kept shouting something about states regionals, but honestly? Maya was basically a zombie at this point.

"You're slipping, Rodriguez!" Coach bellowed, pacing the deck like an angry bull. "That last set was garbage."

Maya just nodded, too exhausted to explain that she'd gotten maybe four hours of sleep. Junior year was absolutely killing her.

First period was brutal. She collapsed into her usual seat next to Leo, who was already halfway through a disturbingly green smoothie.

"Want some?" he asked, grinning. "It's spinach, banana, and mango. My mom's new health kick."

Maya made a face. "I'd rather literally die."

"Your loss." Leo chugged the rest. "So, still coming to my place tonight? Zombie movie marathon?"

Heat rose to Maya's cheeks. Leo's place. Just the two of them. They'd been flirting back and forth for weeks, but something always got in the way of making it official.

"Yeah," she managed, casual as possible. "Wouldn't miss it."

That afternoon, though, everything went sideways. Her ex-best-friend-turned-enemy, Jenna, cornered her by the lockers.

"So you and Leo, huh?" Jenna's voice dripped poison. "You know he only invited you because I turned him down, right?"

Maya's stomach twisted. Was that true? Leo had mentioned Jenna had blown him off, but that was months ago...

By the time she got to Leo's house that evening, Maya was a wreck. The swimming practice had been brutal, Jenna's words were echoing in her head, and she'd barely touched dinner.

"You okay?" Leo asked as they settled onto his couch with a giant bowl of popcorn. The first zombie movie—something classic and terrible—already played on the screen.

Maya hesitated. Then she just let it spill: Jenna, the doubt, the insecurity.

Leo's expression softened. "Maya, I asked Jenna out in September. She said no. I got over it literally immediately because the whole time I was wishing I was asking you instead."

She blinked. "Really?"

""Really." He paused the movie. "I like you. Not as a backup, not as a rebound. Just you. Even your weird chlorine smell from swimming all the time."

Maya laughed, surprised. When Leo leaned in and kissed her, it felt like waking up for the first time in months. The zombie fog lifted. Everything could wait—states regionals, Junior year stress, even Jenna's drama.

"So," Leo said, pulling back slightly. "My mom made this spinach dip if you're hungry..."

Maya grinned. "Actually? That sounds perfect."