Lightning at the Pyramid

Maya's mom didn't get it. "It's just hair," she said, eyeing Maya's new purple pixie cut in the rearview mirror. "It'll grow back."

That was the problem. Maya didn't want it to grow back. She wanted to be someone else—someone who didn't spend every Friday night spying on Tyler's Instagram stories from the comfort of her bed.

"Whatever," Maya mumbled, grabbing her phone as her mom pulled up to the community center. "See you at midnight."

The annual end-of-school pool party. The social pyramid of sophomore year would be on full display tonight, and Maya was determined to finally climb out of the basement level she'd occupied since elementary school.

The water reflected the tiki lights as she stepped inside. There he was—Tyler, cannonballing off the diving board while his friends cheered. Maya's heart did that stupid fluttery thing it always did when he was near.

"Maya?"

She jumped. It was Jen, Tyler's ex-girlfriend and current queen of the pyramid. Jen's curly hair was perfect, her bikini expensive. "I love your hair!" Jen said, and for once, she actually sounded sincere.

"Thanks," Maya managed, waiting for the sarcasm that never came.

"Seriously. I wish I had the guts to cut mine." Jen flopped onto the lounge chair next to her. "Being at the top of the pyramid is exhausting, you know? Everyone's always watching, expecting you to be perfect."

Maya blinked. This was not in the script.

Jen continued, "I saw you watching Tyler earlier. You don't have to spy, you know. He talks about you all the time in chemistry. He thinks you're smart and funny."

Before Maya could process this information, the sky opened up. Lightning cracked across the darkness, and suddenly everyone was screaming and running for cover. Sheets of rain poured down as the party evacuated to the covered pavilion.

Maya found herself squeezed next to Tyler under the narrow overhang, their shoulders touching. The rain was deafening, the lightning illuminating everything in flashes.

"Your hair looks amazing," Tyler shouted over the thunder. "Really matches your vibe."

Her vibe. She had a vibe now.

"Thanks," she yelled back, and for the first time in forever, she didn't feel like she was spying on her own life from the outside. She was right here in it, lightning and all.