Goldfish at the Orange Party

Maya stood in the corner of Tyler's basement, clutching a red plastic cup like it was a lifeline. The orange Christmas lights strung across the ceiling gave everything a weird, underwater glow. She shouldn't have come. Sophomore year parties were basically social minefields, and she was definitely not ready to navigate them drunk.

"You look like you're plotting everyone's murder," said a voice behind her.

Maya turned to see Jake—the guy from her English class who always wore flannel even in May. He held a plastic bag with a goldfish swimming inside. A literal, swimming goldfish.

"Won it in the kitchen," he said, following her gaze. "Tyler's older brother set up this whole carnival thing. Very random energy."

"That's the most accurate description of this party," Maya found herself saying. "Random energy."

Jake laughed, and something in her chest did that stupid fluttery thing. The same thing that happened when she'd catch him looking at her during third period, when he'd tuck his hair behind his ear and bite his lip while reading.

"My cat would absolutely lose her mind over this fish," Jake said. "She's a rescue. Thinks she's a bear. Swipes at everything like she's hunting in the wild."

"A bear?"

"A tiny, orange bear with trust issues and a serious attitude problem. Her name is Pumpkin."

Maya smiled. "I had a goldfish freshman year. Named him Galaxy. He lasted two weeks before my little sister fed him Cheerios."

"The circle of life," Jake said solemnly. "Or something."

They stood there as people filtered past, someone's phone lighting up with notifications, bass thumping from somewhere deeper in the house. And suddenly the basement didn't feel so suffocating anymore.

"Want to help me find this guy a bowl?" Jake asked, gesturing to the fish. "Before someone accidentally knocks over the bag and we have a literal fish out of water situation."

"Sure," Maya said. "Let's save the goldfish."

As they walked toward the kitchen, their shoulders brushed, and Jake didn't pull away. The orange lights flickered overhead, and for the first time all night, Maya wasn't counting the minutes until she could leave.

Sometimes the best things happened when you weren't looking for them. Like a goldfish at a high school party. Or a boy who loved cats with bear-like tendencies.

Or finally, finally feeling like you belonged.