Fox Summer

I never thought a fox would be the reason I finally talked to Jake, but that's exactly what happened.

It was 2 AM on a Saturday, the middle of July, and I was supposed to be sleeping. Instead, I was sprinting through my neighborhood in bare feet, clutching my iPhone like it held the secrets to the universe. Which, in a way, it did.

"You're going to get us caught," Jordan hissed, ducking behind a maple tree. Her eyes were wide, reflecting the streetlamp's glow.

"My mom will literally murder me if she finds out I snuck out," I whispered back, my heart hammering against my ribs. "This was supposed to be a quick in-and-out. Get the charger, go back home."

We were on a mission. My charging cable had mysteriously vanished earlier that day, and Jordan, in her infinite wisdom, had decided that instead of asking her parents for a spare, we should "borrow" one from her neighbor's garage. Which was currently being renovated. Which meant it was technically breaking and entering.

Okay, definitely breaking and entering.

"Did you hear that?" Jordan froze.

A rustle in the bushes. Then movement. Orange fur, pointed ears, a bushy tail. A fox.

It stood there, watching us with these intelligent amber eyes, like it was judging our life choices. Which, fair enough.

"Oh my god," Jordan breathed. "It's so beautiful."

The fox tilted its head, then trotted toward us, dropping something at our feet. A black cable. My cable.

"No way," I said, staring. "Did you just... did that fox just...

Before I could finish, headlights swept around the corner. Jordan's mom, returning early from her night shift.

"RUN!" Jordan grabbed my arm, and we took off like our lives depended on it, racing toward the only place we could think of: the community pool, just closing for the night.

We vaulted the fence, landing breathless on the concrete deck, the water reflecting the moonlight like liquid silver. And there, sitting on one of the lounge chairs with his own phone, was Jake.

Jake from my English class. Jake who I'd been crushing on since September. Jake who looked up, startled, as two disheveled girls tumbled into the pool area.

"What are you..." he started, then saw something behind us. "Is that a fox?"

We turned. The fox was sitting by the fence, watching us with what I swear was a smug expression.

"Yeah," I said, between gasps for air. "Long story."

Jake considered this for a moment. Then he patted the empty lounge chair beside him. "I've got time."

And that's how I ended up spending the rest of the night talking to Jake Anderson about foxes, and sneaking out, and how sometimes the worst decisions lead to the best moments. Also, I got my cable back.

Sometimes the universe works in mysterious ways. Sometimes it sends a fox.