Electric at Palm Terrace

Maya's sweat had nothing to do with the ninety-degree heat blazing through Palm Terrace. No, it was definitely because Jake Chen had just looked at her for the third time tonight.

"Your palm says you're going to have a really interesting summer," Sophia whispered, tracing the lines on Maya's hand with exaggerated seriousness. The patio party around them hummed with music and laughter, but Maya's focus had narrowed to Jake by the pool edge, laughing at something his stupidly perfect friends said.

"You're just making that up," Maya said, pulling her hand back.

"I'm literally psychic, Maya. Also, Jake's looking over here again."

Maya's stomach did that annoying fluttery thing. She'd been crushing on him since seventh period English, when they'd both reached for the same copy of "The Outsiders" and he'd smiled at her like she was actually worth noticing.

A massive crack of thunder rattled the patio furniture. The sky above the palm trees turned that weird purple-green color that meant serious business.

"Everyone out of the pool!" someone yelled.

Then came the lightning — a jagged scar across the sky, bright enough to turn everything negative for one blinding second. The party scattered toward the house.

Except Jake. He was still standing there, staring at something by the pool's edge.

A cat. Some scrawny calico thing, hissing and backed into a corner, trapped between the water and the storm.

"Hey, it's okay," Jake said, crouching down slow and careful, hands open. The cat wasn't buying it. Another lightning flash, and the cat launched itself — straight at Maya.

"Whoa!" She stumbled back, tripped over a lounge chair, and splash.

Pool water rushed everywhere. She came up sputtering, hair plastered to her face, while half the party stared and the other half pretended not to.

Then Jake was laughing, but not in a mean way. He held out his hand.

"You okay?"

She took it. He pulled her up, dripping and embarrassed and somehow okay with it.

"Cat got you good," he said, eyes crinkling.

"Shut up."

"Want to get out of here? My sister's got those coconut popsicles."

"Only if you promise never to mention this again."

"Deal."

Sophia caught her eye from the doorway and pointed dramatically at Maya's palm. Maya rolled her eyes, but as she and Jake walked toward the house, she secretly wondered if maybe Sophia was right about this summer after all.