Goldfish Memory, Palm Sweats

Maya's palms were sweating so bad she could practically water plants with them. She clutched her red solo cup like it was a lifeline, watching Jordan—the hottest junior in school—hold court across the basement. His laugh echoed off the concrete walls, and every girl within a ten-foot radius was basically vibrating.

"You good?" her best friend Ren whispered. "You look like you're about to puke."

Maya wiped her palms on her jeans—again. "Just nervous. Jordan's been looking at me like, three times tonight."

"That's because you're staring at him like he's a goldfish in a tank and you're debating if he remembers anything from five seconds ago."

Ren wasn't wrong. Maya had been crushing on Jordan since homecoming, when he'd helped her pick up dropped streamers and said 'nice work' like she wasn't invisible. But tonight? Tonight felt different.

Jordan's cat—that's what people called him, the way he moved smooth and untouchable through parties—was actually making his way over. Maya's heart did something embarrassing and gymnastic.

"Hey," he said, all casual confidence. "You're Maya, right?"

She nodded, words suddenly very optional.

"Cool party," he continued. "But honestly? I'm kinda over it." He leaned against the wall beside her, close enough that she could smell his cologne—something woodsy and expensive. "You wanna get out of here?"

Maya's brain short-circuited. Was this happening? Jordan—the guy who'd made varsity soccer, whose family owned that massive house on the hill—was asking HER to leave with him?

Ren shot her a look from across the room that said DON'T DO IT, MAYA, THIS IS SOME BULL.

But Jordan was already moving toward the door, glancing back like he expected her to follow. Maya hesitated, her palm-slick hands gripping her cup.

"Actually," she found herself saying, "I think I'm good here."

Jordan raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

"Yeah." Some surge of confidence she didn't know she had. "Plus, my friend's waiting for me."

Jordan shrugged like it was nothing and walked away, already scanning for someone else.

Ren appeared at her elbow, practically vibrating with smugness. "That was some bull, right? He was totally gonna hook up with you and then never speak to you again."

Maya's palms were finally dry. "Yeah. But for a second? I really wanted to take the bait."

"That's cause you're human," Ren said. "But you know what they say about goldfish—they only remember stuff for five seconds. Jordan's got even less than that."

They both laughed, and Maya realized she didn't need Jordan's attention to feel seen. She had Ren, she had herself, and honestly? That was enough.