Fox Summer Nights

Maya was definitely not built for this job. Six hours of her Saturday vanished into the fluorescent-lit void of Grocery Mart, stocking shelves while customers stared at her like she was an exhibit in a weird museum. Her sneakers squeaked against the linoleum as she was literally running down aisle four with a crate of papayas – who even bought these things? They looked like alien artifacts.

"Hey, new girl," said a voice behind her. Maya jumped and nearly sent three papayas rolling across the floor.

She spun around. It was Kai from AP English, wearing that faded black cable-knit sweater he never seemed to take off, even in June. He held a box of organic spinach like it was a peace offering.

"You're the new stocker, right?" Kai leaned against the shelf. "I'm the bagger who pretends to care about reusable bags."

Maya felt her face get hot. "Yeah. I'm Maya."

"Cool." Kai grinned. "You know, you dropped that papaya?"

A single papaya had escaped during their conversation and was now making a break for it down the aisle. They both went running after it, diving simultaneously. Kai's hand brushed hers as they grabbed it – his skin warm, hers suddenly freezing.

"Nice form," he said, still holding her gaze way longer than necessary. "Wanna sneak out back? There's something behind the dumpster I think you should see."

Outside, the sun painted the sky in streaks of coral and violet. A fox stood by the dumpster, watching them with curious amber eyes. It tilted its head, almost acknowledging them.

"He shows up every night," Kai said softly, like it was a secret just between them. "Like clockwork."

"He's beautiful," Maya breathed, forgetting to be nervous, forgetting she'd worked six hours, forgetting Kai was possibly the cutest person she'd ever talked to. "Wild, though. Untamed."

"Yeah," Kai said, looking at her instead of the fox. "Like that's a bad thing."

The fox flicked its tail and vanished into the shadows, leaving behind the smell of summer air and possibility. Maya stood there, suddenly not tired at all, ready for whatever might happen next.

"So," Kai said, "tomorrow, same fox-watching time?"

"Definitely," she said, and she meant it.