Electric Current

Maya's palms were sweating against her phone case as she stared at the pool party invite. *You coming?* asked Jake, the text glowing on her screen like it was radioactive. Jake. The same Jake who'd been her lab partner since freshman year, who somehow hadn't noticed she was basically obsessed with him.

She'd been swimming in a sea of anxiety all week, ever since Chelsea—the literal queen bee of their junior class—had started flirting with Jake right in front of everyone. Chelsea, who had zero chill and treated guys like they were Pokémon to be collected.

The air felt heavy, the kind of thick humidity that meant a storm was coming. Perfect.

"You're overthinking this," her best friend Sami said, stealing a glance at Maya's phone as they walked to Jake's house. "Just go. Have fun. Don't be a loser about it."

"Says the girl who's not in love with the host," Maya muttered.

Jake's backyard was already packed when they arrived. The pool was chaos—people cannonballing, music blasting, someone's little brother doing something absolutely wild with a giant inflatable bull. Jake was by the deep end, shirt wet, hair dripping, looking like every rom-com protagonist ever.

Then the first crack of lightning split the sky. Everyone screamed like they were in a horror movie, scattering toward the covered patio. Maya's heart hammered as Jake grabbed her arm to pull her under the shelter.

"You okay?" he asked, way too close.

She nearly fainted. "Fine. Totally fine. Lightning's chill. I mean, not chill, but like, whatever."

He laughed, and Maya felt like she might dissolve into pure electricity. But then Chelsea appeared, linking her arm through Jake's like she owned him.

"Jakey, save me from this weather," she whined, pressing against him.

Maya's stomach dropped. She was done. This was it. She turned to leave—

"Hey, Maya, wait," Jake said, stepping away from Chelsea. "I wanted to ask you something."

Chelsea's face fell. The air between them crackled like the sky above.

"You know how we're doing that physics project next week?" Jake continued. "I was thinking maybe we could study together. Like, actually study. At my place."

Maya's brain short-circuited. "Study? Physics?"

"Unless you have other plans," he said, almost nervous.

"No," she managed. "I mean yes. I mean—no other plans. Study. Physics. Cool."

Jake grinned, and Maya felt like she'd been struck by lightning, but the good kind. The kind that changes everything.

Outside, the rain started falling. Chelsea stalked off, the inflatable bull floated forgotten in the pool, and Maya stood there with Jake, her palm still tingling where he'd touched her arm, feeling like maybe, just maybe, her luck had finally turned.