Fox Court Goldfish

The bull stood six-foot-two in the middle of the padel court, his serve smashing into the glass wall like he'd personally invented violence.

"Yo, freshman," Marcus sneered, wiping sweat from his forehead. "You gonna return that or just stare at it?"

My face burned. Being a fifteen-year-old sophomore trying to make varsity was already lowkey embarrassing. Marcus had made it his mission to remind me every practice.

"She's just... focused," someone said behind me.

I turned. It was Riley, leaning against the fence with this half-smile that made my stomach do weird things. Her red hair was pulled back in a messy bun, wearing a faded baseball jersey that used to belong to someone's older brother.

A fox. That's what my older sister Jordan had called her last week. "She's a fox, Maya. And she thinks you're cute."

I'd nearly choked on my cereal. Riley Chen? The junior who'd basically invented being effortlessly cool? Yeah, right.

"Whatever," Marcus muttered, missing his next serve. The ball ricocheted off the frame and nailed him in the shoulder.

Riley's laugh was this bright, unexpected thing that cut through everything.

"Served you right," she said.

After practice, I found her sitting on the bench outside the locker room. She was scrolling through her phone, but looked up when I approached.

"Hey, padel prodigy," she grinned. "Wanted to ask you something."

"Oh?"

"Jordan's party Friday. You going?"

"Maybe?"

"Good." She stood up, stretching. "Save me a dance. Unless Marcus is your date."

I laughed, actual sound coming out before I could overthink it.

"Hard pass."

"Good answer." She started walking away, then turned back. "Oh, and your sister told me about your goldfish funeral last year. That was... honestly kind of adorable."

My face burned AGAIN. "That was necessary closure. Bubbles deserved better."

"Sure, Maya." Her smile softened. "See you Friday."

I watched her walk away, the baseball jersey fluttering behind her. Maybe freshman year wasn't going to be completely terrible after all.

At least, until Marcus's next serve.