Electric Fish

The party was already mid-tier when Maya arrived, clutching her plastic bag like it contained the Crown Jewels. Inside, her carnival prize—a ridiculously large goldfish she'd named Neptune—swam in circles, probably questioning his life choices just like she was.

You came! Sasha yelled, materializing through the crowd of juniors. Oh my god, is that the fish?

Maya nodded, feeling the weirdness level spike to critical. Long story involving rigged carnival games and my dad refusing to let me win anything but the biggest prize.

She'd barely survived the first hour of fake-laughing at jokes that weren't funny and pretending to understand references to shows she didn't watch when it happened—the moment that would go down in Roosevelt High history as The Goldfish Incident.

A flash of lightning illuminated the backyard pool, turning the water momentarily silver. Someone had the genius idea to play Chicken Fight in the pool during a thunderstorm because apparently basic survival instincts took a backseat to impressing Jessica Martinez.

Everyone's going inside, Sasha said, grabbing Maya's arm. But then the unthinkable happened. In the chaos of twenty people trying to exit the pool area simultaneously, someone elbowed Maya's arm.

The bag flew. Neptune launched through the air like a majestic, doomed orange projectile, landing directly in the pool with a splash that nobody heard over the thunder.

NO! Maya screamed, but it was too late. The goldfish was now navigating chlorinated waters the size of a small lake, probably having an existential crisis.

Before she could process this disaster, a sophomore named Liam—who she'd been lowkey crushing on since he'd returned her lost AirPod last month—jumped fully clothed into the pool. Everyone froze.

I've got him! Liam surfaced, cupping a very confused Neptune in his hands. The lightning flashed again, and for a split second, Maya saw everything differently—the way the water droplets clung to Liam's eyelashes, how everyone was staring at them like they were the main characters in a movie they didn't remember auditioning for.

Your fish, bro, Liam said, carefully transferring Neptune back into the bag. He seemed different now. Stronger. A survivor.

Thanks, Maya managed, her face doing that hot thing it always did when she was embarrassed. That was... actually legendary.

Anytime, Liam said, grinning. Besides, nothing says bonding like nearly losing a pet together during a thunderstorm.

Maya glanced at Neptune, who was now swimming with newfound confidence. Maybe it took getting thrown into deep water to realize you could swim. Maybe it took a ridiculous chain of events involving bad decisions, lightning, and a terrified goldfish to find your people.

So, Sasha said, eyes darting between them. Are we gonna talk about how that was the most romantic thing that's ever happened at this party, or...

Maya's phone buzzed. A text from her mom: STORM'S BAD. STAYING AT DAD'S TONIGHT. HAVE FUN. BE SAFE.

Sometimes the universe just handed you plot twists. And maybe, just maybe, that was okay.