Fox in the Flashlight

I stood by the Solo cups, desperately trying to look like I belonged at Jessica's party. My phone buzzed — Mom asking when I'd be home. Cringe. I shoved it deep in my pocket before anyone could see.

"That's Maverick," someone said behind me. "My friend's dog. He's basically the mascot tonight."

I turned to see this golden retriever puppy wobbling through the crowd like he owned the place. People were literally losing their minds over him. Girls kneeling, guys posing, phones out everywhere. And there I was, still the new kid who'd moved to Oakhaven three weeks ago and hadn't managed to make a single real conversation.

I slipped out the back door, needing air. The screened porch led to the yard, and that's when I saw it — a real fox, just beyond the pool's glow. Red coat practically glowing in the moonlight. We locked eyes for this whole microsecond that felt like forever. Then it bolted toward the woods with something in its mouth.

"Did you see that?" I whispered, mostly to myself.

"Yeah," said a voice from the porch steps. Maya, the girl from my English class, sat there with this intense energy. "That fox has been coming around lately. Stealing pizza from the garbage, apparently."

We ended up talking for an hour about everything — how weird high school hierarchies were, how she felt pressured to join every club, how I missed my old friends but was trying not to be that person who wouldn't shut up about "back where I used to live."

Maverick waddled out, sniffed both of us, then curled up between us like a tiny, furry mediator. The fox appeared again at the edge of the yard, watching us with what I swore was curiosity.

Inside, the bass was thumping. People were probably doing TikToks or whatever. But out here? I realized I'd found my first real friend in this town, and honestly, the evening turned out way better than I could have imagined.