Electric Fruit

Maya stood by the snack table, clutching her red solo cup like it was a lifeline. The papaya punch tasted weirdly tropical, like someone had liquefified a beach vacation, but she kept sipping anyway. Anything to look busy.

"You're spacing out again," Lily said, appearing beside her. "Total goldfish moment."

"Shut up," Maya laughed, but her best friend knew her too well. Maya's attention span had been shot since finals week turned her brain into mush.

Outside, lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the packed basement. Someone had drawn the blinds, but you could still see the storm brewing through the gaps. Perfect weather for Jordan's party, honestly.

"He's looking at you," Lily whispered.

Maya's stomach did that annoying flutter thing. "No he's not."

"Literally right now. By the papaya bowl."

Maya risked a glance. Sure enough, Jordan was across the room, actually smiling at her instead of his usual half-nod acknowledgment. They'd been in bio together all year, bonding over shared misery during fetal pig dissection. But tonight, in this crowded basement with tropical punch and thunder rumbling through the floorboards, something felt different.

Another flash of lightning. The lights flickered.

"Go talk to him," Lily pushed her. "What's the worst that happens?"

"He could think I'm weird."

"You ARE weird. He already knows this."

Fair point.

Maya crossed the room, heart hammering. Jordan met her halfway, and suddenly they were standing there together while bass thumped through the speakers and papaya punch sloshed in their cups.

"Hey," he said. "I was hoping you'd come over."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." His smile was shy, genuine. "I like your outfit."

Lightning cracked overhead, dramatic and perfect. In that split second of brightness, Maya saw him clearly—not just the bio partner, not just the cute guy, but someone who'd noticed her. Really noticed her.

"Thanks," she said. "I like... your hair."

Smooth, Maya. Real smooth.

But Jordan just laughed. "Thanks. I grew it out for summer."

They talked for twenty minutes while the storm raged outside. About bio, about summer plans, about nothing and everything. When the power finally went out, everyone cheered, but Maya just stood there in the dark, feeling electric.

Maybe papaya punch wasn't so bad after all.