Goldfish Don't Forget

Maya's first high school house party was supposed to be life-changing. Instead, she was currently hiding in a downstairs bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror with absolute horror.

"You've got to be kidding me," she whispered, spotting the unmistakable green chunk of spinach wedged between her front teeth. Because apparently, the spinach dip she'd nervously scooped onto her plate twenty minutes ago was still haunting her.

Her iPhone buzzed in her hand — her best friend Riley, presumably wondering where she'd disappeared to. But Maya couldn't face anyone like this. Not when Tyler, the guy she'd been lowkey crushing on since September, had finally noticed her existence approximately forty-five seconds before the spinach incident.

A loud crash from somewhere upstairs made her jump. Then something that sounded suspiciously like a growl.

"YO, WHO LET A BEAR IN HERE?!" someone screamed.

Maya froze. Bear? Like, actual bear? At Jordan's house?

She burst out of the bathroom just as chaos erupted — people streaming down the stairs, someone yelling about calling animal control, Jordan's parents' expensive vase shattering on the floor. Maya's heart hammered as she shoved toward the back door with everyone else, her iPhone clutched tight like a lifeline.

Outside in the backyard, under the glow of string lights, the truth came out: Jordan's little brother had brought his "bear" — a massive, terrifying-looking dog that had somehow gotten loose and cornered someone's pet goldfish bowl.

"My goldfish!" some girl wailed as Nemo flopped desperately on the patio stones.

Without thinking, Maya grabbed a nearby solo cup, scooped up the goldfish, and sprinted to the pool. She dropped him in, watching as the tiny orange fish darted away, safe.

"Dude," Tyler said, appearing beside her. "That was actually pretty epic."

Maya felt her face burn. "Thanks. I, uh, had spinach in my teeth earlier, by the way. Just full disclosure."

Tyler laughed. "I know. I was gonna tell you, but then the bear situation happened."

"You knew?!" she groaned.

"I thought it was kind of... cute?" He grinned, and something in Maya's chest did this stupid fluttery thing. "So, you wanna get some food? Something that's not dip?"

"Yes," Maya said. "A thousand times yes."

Maybe tonight wasn't the disaster she thought. Maybe it was exactly what she needed — spinach, bear scares, and all.