Electric Storm Surge

Maya pulled the beanie down to her eyebrows, trying to disappear. It was her uncle's vintage running hat—grossly oversized, weirdly textured, and perfect for hiding behind. The house party thumped around her, bass vibrating through the floorboards as seniors clustered in their impenetrable social orbits. She'd only come because Jace said he'd be here.

"Yo, you good?" A girl with glitter on her eyelids leaned against the wall beside Maya. "You look like you're mentally calculating exit strategies."

Maya's face burned. "That obvious?"

"Same," the girl—Aria, apparently—grinned. "I've been pretending to check nonexistent texts for twenty minutes. Your hat's giving cool mysterious vibes though. Not gonna lie."

Before Maya could respond, a crack of thunder shook the windows. Then it hit—the party's power went dark.

"Everybody outside!" someone yelled. "Lightning hit the transformer!"

The crowd surged toward the back door, and in the chaos, Maya spotted Jace across the room. He was laughing with some juniors, totally in his element. Her stomach did that thing where it felt simultaneously hollow and full of lead. She'd been running toward this moment all week, practicing exactly what to say, and now she was frozen.

"You gonna go talk to him?" Aria asked, like she could see directly into Maya's brain.

"I don't know," Maya whispered. "What if he's not—what if I'm not—"

"What if you ARE?" Aria nudged her. "You're literally hiding in a giant hat. That's chaotic energy. Lean into it."

Another lightning flash illuminated the room, and for a split second, Jace looked right at her. Actually at her.

Maya's feet moved before her brain could overthink it. She was running—not away, but toward.

"Hey," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Cool party."

Jace's smile was genuine. "Maya! You made it. I was hoping you would." He gestured to her hat. "Love the vibe, by the way. Very mysterious."

The power flickered back on, flooding the room with light. But Maya didn't want to hide anymore.

"Thanks," she said, pushing the hat back. "It's growing on me."