Fox in the Henhouse

Maya's golden retriever, Buster, was technically a **dog**, but he acted more like a co-pilot for her emotional crises. Which was exactly why she'd brought him to Tyler's party instead of leaving him home alone to chew the drywall again.

"Dude, why'd you bring the **dog**?" Sarah asked, sidling up with two red cups. "Trying to look deep?"

"He's my emotional support animal," Maya deadpanned, though they both knew she just couldn't handle parties sober and solo.

That's when she saw him. Caleb. The new junior who'd transferred from some fancy private school, already generating more buzz than the **papaya** punch bowl nobody was brave enough to try. He leaned against the back fence with that effortless cool, hair falling over one eye like he'd practiced it in a mirror for hours.

"Total **fox**," Sarah murmured, following Maya's gaze. "But don't get your hopes up. I heard he's got a girlfriend back in Connecticut."

"I'm not—" Maya started, but Sarah had already drifted toward the keg.

Then Maya caught Caleb's eye. And he actually smiled at her.

Her heart started **running** a marathon against her ribs. This was it. The moment every coming-of-age movie promised, where the awkward girl finally gets noticed by the mysterious new guy who definitely doesn't have a deep dark secret or a girlfriend in another state.

He pushed off the fence and walked over. Buster immediately flopped onto his back, belly exposed, betraying Maya completely.

"Cute **dog**," Caleb said, crouching down. "What's his name?"

"Buster," Maya managed, though her voice came out three octaves higher than usual. "He, uh, he likes belly rubs."

"Cool." Caleb stood up, and suddenly he was too close, all woodsy cologne and electric tension. "So I heard you're the one who called out Jason earlier. About that story with his uncle's recording studio?"

Maya froze. Jason had been spinning some tale about how his uncle recorded with Drake, and she'd called **bull** in front of everyone because Jason's uncle worked at a Subaru dealership and they both knew it.

"Yeah," she said, lifting her chin. "It was obviously BS."

Caleb's grin widened, genuine and crooked. "That was sick. Everyone else just lets him run his mouth." He gestured toward the back door. "Wanna get out of here? I think I saw someone spike the **papaya** stuff with Everclear and I'm not trying to get alcohol poisoning tonight."

Maya glanced at Buster, who was already thumping his tail against the deck boards, totally on board with this development.

"Yeah," she said, and for the first time all night, her heart stopped **running** and actually slowed down. "Yeah, I'd love that."