Fox Emoji Summer

Maya's palms were sweating. Again. She wiped them on her shorts, staring at the invite: beach party @ tylers. tonight.

'This is gonna be cringe,' she muttered.

Her best friend Chloe rolled her eyes. 'Maya, stop overthinking. Everyone's gonna be there.'

'Exactly. Including Tyler. And you KNOW what happened last time.'

Last time involved Maya accidentally calling Tyler 'bro' approximately six thousand times. The memory still haunted her.

The party was already lit when they arrived. Palm trees towered over the backyard, fairy lights wrapped around their trunks. Bass thumped as people danced near the pool.

'There he is,' Chloe whispered. 'Fox hoodie gang.'

Tyler wore a black hoodie with a fox emoji—same one from his Instagram. He was laughing with friends, completely effortless.

'Your palms are sweating again,' Chloe said. 'You're not gonna flop. Just be chill.'

But anxiety crept up like bad takeout. What if she said something awkward? What if—

'Yo, Maya!'

She jumped. Tyler walked toward her, smiling. 'Glad you came. Want to get some air? It's mad loud.'

'Yeah.'

They sat on the grass near the garden wall. Maya waited to feel awkward, but Tyler seemed... normal.

'So,' he said, 'Chloe told me you've been bingeing that new show.'

Maya blinked. 'You talked about me?'

'Don't make it weird.' He laughed. 'I just wanted to know what you're into.'

'Oh.' Maya relaxed. 'It's mid, but I'm invested.'

'Thank you.' Tyler groaned. 'Everyone's hyping it and I'm like, am I the only one who thinks it's doing too much?'

They fell into an easy rhythm. Maya's palms dried up somewhere around minute seven. She forgot to be nervous.

'Maya,' he said after a while, turning to face her. 'I've been trying to talk to you for, like, ever. But every time I see you, I get all in my head.' He smiled, softer. 'You're different. In a good way.'

Maya stared. Tyler got nervous around HER?

'Really?'

'Really.' His shoulder brushed hers. 'When you called me bro all those times? I didn't care. I was just hyped you were talking to me at all.'

Maya laughed, loud and genuine. 'I thought I was going to have to move to another country.'

'Nah.' He shifted closer. 'Stay here. With me.'

Later, Maya would debrief with her friend, lay awake replaying every moment. But right now, with palm trees swaying above and Tyler's warmth beside her, she let herself just exist.

'You good?' he asked softly.

Maya looked at him—the fox hoodie, the messy hair, the way he actually listened.

'Yeah,' she said. 'I'm good.'

And for the first time in forever, it wasn't a lie.