Fox in the Flashlight

Maya's iPhone was practically glued to her hand at Jenna's party. Fifth time checking Instagram in ten minutes—nobody had posted. Great. Everyone inside was having the time of their lives while she stood by the sliding glass door like a decoration.

"You okay?" appearing. Her palms were suddenly super sweaty against the phone case.

"Yeah," she squeaked. "Just needed air."

"Cool, cool." He looked back at the party. "Tyler told everyone he hooked up with Sarah at summer camp."

Maya's brain processed this. Sarah, who'd been literally obsessed with Tyler all semester? The same Tyler who once cried during a horror movie?

"That's such bull," Maya said before she could stop herself.

Kyle's eyes widened. "Right? That's what I said!"

Something shifted in Maya's chest. "He's literally lying. Sarah was at band camp all summer. My cousin was there with her."

Kyle burst out laughing. "Oh my GOD, thank you. Someone needed to call it out."

The fox yipped again, like it was laughing with them.

"Is that..." Kyle pointed.

"Yeah. A fox. Just showed up."

"Dude." Kyle pulled out his phone. "This is the most random thing that's ever happened."

They stood there watching the fox together, phones out but not actually using them, just two people sharing a completely absurd moment. The fox did a little hop and vanished into the darkness like it had never been there at all.

"We should go back inside," Maya said, but she didn't move immediately.

"Yeah. Hey, you're cool, Maya."

She felt something warm unfold in her stomach that had nothing to do with the party lights inside. Maybe tonight wasn't going to be so terrible after all.

"You too, Kyle."

The fox was gone, but whatever it had done—whether it was magic or just the universe being weird—something had changed. Maya wiped her hands on her jeans and followed Kyle back to the party, leaving her phone in her pocket for the first time all night.