Goldfish in the Storm

Maya's summer job at the county fair wasn't exactly #lifegoals material—stuck inside a cramped booth, handing out goldfish in plastic bags to kids who'd probably forget them by bedtime. The carnival lights flickered outside, and she could hear distant screams from the tilt-a-whirl, while she perfected the art of looking busy while literally doing nothing.

Then HE walked by. Cody from AP English, wearing that flannel shirt even though it was eighty-five degrees. Maya's heart did that thing where it forgot how to heart. She'd been lowkey crushing on him since he'd defended her against Mr. Harrison when she'd forgotten her homework again.

"Sup, Maya," he said, sliding into her booth. "Boring night?"

"Total snooze fest," she said, trying to sound chill instead of absolutely dying inside. "How's the bull riding going?"

"Got bucked off in three seconds. My dad's probably gonna roast me for weeks." He gestured toward the dark clouds gathering. "Looks like lightning's about to ruin everything anyway."

First drops of rain began to fall. Then the storm hit HARD—lightning cracking the sky like something out of a movie. The fair transformed into chaos: people running, rides shutting down, someone screaming about their car windows.

And then she saw it—a little girl, maybe seven, standing alone near the swirling rides, tears streaming down her face, clutching a goldfish bag like it was her only friend in the world.

Something in Maya snapped. Without thinking, she grabbed her raincoat and bolted from the booth, sliding through mud and dodging fleeing crowds. She reached the girl just as thunder rattled her teeth.

"I got you," Maya said, wrapping her coat around them both. "What's your fish's name?"

"Bubbles," the girl sniffled.

"Well, Bubbles needs shelter, and so do you."

They made it back to her booth, soaked to the bone but somehow victorious. Cody was there, holding the door open, looking at her like he'd never actually seen her before.

"That was... kinda epic, Maya," he said.

Lightning flashed again, illuminating everything—her wet hair, the plastic goldfish bag, the way he was smiling at her like she was the coolest person on earth.

"Just doing my job," she said, but she couldn't stop grinning. Maybe goldfish duty wasn't so terrible after all.