Goldfish Paddles at Sunset

Maya's palms were sweating so much she could barely grip her phone. Across the pool, Jake—the cute sophomore from AP Bio—was absolutely crushing it at padel, his laughter carrying over the splashing water and chatter.

"You're staring again," Chloe whispered, nudging her with an elbow. "Just talk to him already."

"I can't," Maya hissed. "Every time I try, my brain turns into one of those carnival goldfish with the three-second memory. I forget everything, including my name."

The end-of-summer party at the rec center had seemed like such a good idea three weeks ago. Now she was fifteen, still hadn't had her first real kiss, and spending most of her time hyperventilating near the snack bar while everyone else lived their best lives.

Jake looked over. Caught her watching. Oh no. Abort mission.

Maya spun around too fast and tripped over someone's abandoned sneakers, her phone clattering onto the decorative brickwork that surrounded the massive outdoor goldfish pond.

Her phone. In the water. Next to a bewildered-looking orange fish.

"You good?" A voice behind her. Jake. Of course it was Jake. He was shirtless, hair still wet from the pool, holding a padel racket like he was born with it attached to his hand.

"My phone," Maya croaked, gesturing helplessly at the shallow water. "It's... it's with the goldfish now."

Jake crouched beside her, palm resting on the brick edge, their faces inches apart. "So, fun fact," he said, his grin actually kind of lopsided and perfect. "I once dropped my mom's iPhone in the aquarium at this exact spot last summer. Had to wade in wearing my nice clothes."

"Seriously?"

"Swear on my life. The goldfish were not impressed." He reached into the water—gross but heroic—and fished out her phone. "Rice trick works, by the way. I can walk you to the convenience store?"

Maya's heart was doing that flippy thing that happened in romance novels she pretended not to read. "That would be... yeah. That would be nice."

"Cool." He stood up, offering his hand. "I'm Jake, by the way."

"Maya."

"Nice to almost meet you properly, Maya." His palm was warm and slightly calloused from the racket grip. "Next time, let's try not to sacrifice any technology, okay?"

She laughed, actual genuine laughter, and followed him toward the exit. The goldfish swam on, completely indifferent to the fact that they'd just witnessed the beginning of something.