Fox Hair and Palm Readings

Maya's phone buzzed on her nightstand at 11:47 PM. A text from Kai:

r u coming to jess's party??? everyone's gonna be there

She wasn't. She'd spent the whole week overthinking it, imagining herself standing alone in Jess's crowded basement while people played beer pong and acted like being sixteen was the most important thing that would ever happen to them.

But then she thought about Lucas. Lucas with his messy dark hair and the way he smiled with his whole face. Lucas who'd definitely be there.

So Maya found herself standing in Jess's bathroom, staring at her reflection. Someone had left bright orange hair dye on the counter — probably a failed attempt at matching that TikTok trend everyone was doing. Her palms were literally sweating. Like, actual sweat.

're You gonna spy on Lucas all night or actually talk to him?' Chloe appeared behind her in the mirror, adjusting her crop top. 'You're being so weird about it.'

'I'm not spying,' Maya lied. 'I'm observing. There's a difference.'

Chloe rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful. 'Sure, spy girl. Whatever helps you sleep at night.' She dug in her pocket and pulled out a temporary tattoo — a little fox face. 'My mom would literally kill me if she saw this. Wanna put it somewhere she won't notice?'

Maya laughed and they spent twenty minutes covering each other's arms with tiny fox tattoos, right where long sleeves would hide them. Friendship vibes were hitting different tonight.

When they finally left the bathroom, Lucas was standing by the snack table, looking unfairly good in a hoodie that was probably expensive. Maya's heart did that embarrassing flutter thing it always did when he was around.

Then he saw her and actually smiled. 'Hey! You came.'

'Yeah,' she managed. 'I came.'

They talked for like, thirty minutes straight. About music and how their English teacher was literally obsessed with symbolism and whether pineapple belonged on pizza (it didn't). And when Jess's younger sister started reading palms for five bucks in the corner, Lucas paid for both of them.

You're gonna meet someone important this year,' the sister told Maya, squinting at her hand. 'Someone who changes everything.'

Lucas caught her eye across the tiny table and smiled again.

Maya thought about the fox tattoos hidden under her sleeves. About her sweaty palms and how she'd almost stayed home. About how sometimes the scariest things — parties and boys and being seen — turned out to be the best things.

'Yeah,' she said. 'I think I already have.'