Goldfish in the Storm

Maya's throat felt like it had been scrubbed with sandpaper. House parties weren't really her thing—too many people, too much noise, way too much chances of saying something absolutely cringe. But Chloe had sworn this one would be chill.

"You'll be fine," Chloe had promised earlier, adjusting Maya's hair in the bathroom mirror. "Just act natural. Maybe don't mention that time you accidentally called your teacher 'mom' in seventh grade."

Thanks, Chloe. Really helpful.

The party was already in full swing when they arrived. Someone's basement rec room had been transformed into a teenage wasteland of strobe lights and spilled soda. Maya gravitated toward the snacks table, because at least chips couldn't judge her.

"Hey."

She turned to find Marcus standing there, looking unfairly good in a hoodie that definitely cost more than her entire wardrobe. Marcus, who she'd had a hopeless crush on since September. Marcus, who was currently holding a red plastic cup and watching her with those annoyingly perceptive eyes.

"Hey," Maya squeaked. Smooth. Really smooth.

His cat—an actual orange tabby named Nacho—wove between his legs, and Maya remembered that Marcus's family had a whole menagerie of pets. She'd overheard him talking about it in English class once.

"You okay?" Marcus asked. "You look like you're calculating your escape route."

"That obvious, huh?" Maya relaxed a little. "Is it that bad?"

"Nah." He grinned. "I'm just observant. Also, Nacho keeps trying to eat the string lights, so I'm distracted."

A crash of thunder made everyone jump. The power flickered and died, plunging the basement into darkness except for the storm's flash through the narrow windows. Lightning illuminated Marcus's face in stark relief—embarrassment, amusement, something else.

"Great," someone groaned. "Now what?"

"Truth or dare?" suggested a voice from the darkness. "Old school."

Twenty minutes later, Maya found herself sitting in a circle illuminated by phone flashlights. Marcus was beside her, their knees occasionally brushing. The game had escalated from innocent truths to increasingly questionable dares.

"Okay, Maya," said Jenna, who was apparently the self-appointed leader of this chaos. "Goldfish. You have to eat one without chewing. Whole."

The group erupted in encouraging groans and cheers.

"Seriously?" Maya protested, but she was laughing now. The darkness and the storm outside made everything feel suspended, unreal. Safe.

"Do it, do it, do it!" chanted the circle.

Marcus leaned in close. "You don't have to," he murmured. "Jenna's just flexing because she chickened out on her dare."

Their faces were inches apart. Maya could see the tiny gold flecks in his eyes, like the goldfish crackers scattered across the coffee table. Outside, lightning flashed again, painting everything in ghostly blue-white for a heartbeat.

"I'll do it," Maya said, suddenly bold. "But only if Marcus does it too."

"Wait, what—" Marcus started, but the circle was already chanting his name.

They both swallowed the stupid crackers whole while everyone cheered. It was disgusting and ridiculous and absolutely the most fun Maya had had in months.

Later, as the storm passed and people started trickling home, Marcus found her by the snacks table again.

"So," he said, rocking back on his heels. "That was... unexpected."

"Yeah," Maya smiled. "Thanks for having my back. With the goldfish thing."

"Anytime." He paused. "Hey, my friends are going to the arcade tomorrow. You should come. Nacho's not invited, obviously."

Maya felt something bright and electric expand in her chest. "Yeah? I'd like that."