Lightning at the Pyramid

Maya stared at the social **pyramid** of Cabin 7, mentally placing herself somewhere near the bottom—probably the dirt layer beneath the foundation. At fourteen, she'd already mastered the art of being invisible, which was basically a superpower when you had hair that refused to obey gravity.

"Your **hair** is giving electrical socket today," said Chloe, dropping onto the bunk beside Maya and offering a bag of gummy worms. "I'm into it. Very artistic chaos vibe."

Maya blinked. Chloe was exactly the kind of person who sat at the top of pyramids—confident, effortless, somehow shiny even in camp lighting. They'd been cabin mates for three days and Maya had successfully said approximately seven words to her.

"My mom made me take these," Maya admitted, pulling a bottle of gummy **vitamin** D from her bag. "She thinks camp sunshine requires supplementation. I'm basically a walking science experiment."

Chloe snorted. "Same. My mom packed me probiotics. I've been flushing them down the toilet for three days." She lowered her voice conspiratorially. "Wanna go to the dock? I heard there's going to be **lightning** over the lake later. Maximum dramatic effect."

Something shifted in Maya's chest—like a door opening she hadn't realized was locked.

"Let me grab my hoodie."

They sat on the dock for an hour, talking about everything and nothing. Maya realized Chloe wasn't actually at the top of any pyramid—she was just fully, shamelessly herself, which somehow looked like confidence from the outside. She confessed she was failing algebra. Maya admitted she still slept with a stuffed narwhal.

When the first flash of lightning finally tore across the sky—electric purple against bruised-gray clouds—Chloe grabbed Maya's hand.

"Best first day of summer ever," she said, and Maya felt something warm and unnameable bloom in her chest.

"Yeah," said Maya, watching the sky crack open. "It really is."

The social pyramid didn't matter anymore. She had a **friend**, a lightning show, and hair that could potentially conduct electricity. Honestly? Peak teen experience.