Goldfish at the Party

Maya's palms were sweating. Again.

She was sixteen, why did her body still betray her like this? Leaning against Lucas's kitchen counter, she watched Jake from across the room. This was supposed to be the night she finally made a move, but her anxiety had other plans.

"You're staring again," Chloe whispered, appearing beside her with a red solo cup and knowing smirk. "Just go talk to him already."

"Easy for you to say," Maya muttered, wiping her hands on her dress. "You're not the one who face-planted swimming last weekend. I still can't believe I forgot I couldn't actually—"

"—swim?" Chloe finished, failing to suppress a laugh. "Maya, please. Jake probably thought you were being ironic. It's very on-trend."

Maya rolled her eyes so hard it hurt. "Yeah, because doggy-paddling in circles while everyone else is actually swimming is SO aesthetic."

"Whatever." Chloe pressed something bright orange into Maya's hand. "Try this. It's papaya. His mom went full fancy with the fruit spread this time."

Papaya. Since when did high school parties have papaya? Still, Maya took a bite. Sweet, tangy, unexpectedly good.

"Not bad," she admitted.

"And look who's noticed," Chloe said, nodding toward Jake.

Jake was walking over. Maya's heart did that stupid fluttery thing, her palms sweating all over again. She wiped her sticky hands on her dress—again. So smooth.

"Hey," Jake said, those dimples making an appearance. "Having fun?"

"Totally," Maya squeaked. "Great papaya."

What was wrong with her?

Jake laughed, and Maya felt her face heat up. "Yeah, my mom got carried away at Whole Foods. Hey, you doing okay after... you know, last weekend?"

Maya wanted the floor to swallow her whole. Of course he remembered. She'd flailed like a dying fish in his pool while everyone watched and pretended not to notice.

"Fine," she managed. "Just dealing with the ongoing trauma."

"You looked like a goldfish trying to escape its bowl," he said, but his tone was gentle, almost fond. "It was kind of adorable."

Adorable.

The word hung between them, heavy with possibility.

"Anyway," Jake continued, shifting his weight, "if you ever want actual swimming lessons, I could help. My cousin teaches at the community center. No judgment, obviously."

Maya looked at him—really looked at him. The genuine smile. The way he didn't make her feel small. The fact he remembered but didn't make it weird.

"That would be... actually amazing," she said, meaning every word.

Jake's smile widened, reaching his eyes. "Cool. I'll text you later?"

Maya nodded, suddenly unable to form words.

As Jake walked away, Maya caught Chloe's gaze. Her best friend raised both eyebrows, looking far too pleased with herself.

"See?" Chloe said. "Sometimes you just gotta embrace the goldfish moments."

Maya looked down at her papaya-stained fingers and smiled. Maybe Chloe was right. Maybe the messy, awkward moments—the ones that made her palms sweat and her face flush—were actually the ones that mattered.

She took another bite of papaya and watched Jake laugh with his friends across the room.

Yeah. Maybe these goldfish moments weren't so bad after all.