Lightning at Tyler's Pool Party

Maya stood at the edge of Tyler's massive pool, clutching her red solo cup like it was a lifeline. This was it—the top of the freshman social pyramid. Actually, the sophomore pyramid now. Whatever. The point was, she'd finally been invited to one of THE parties, and she was currently hyperventilating behind a potted plant.

"You okay?" someone asked. She turned to see Leo, the quiet guy from her English class. His golden retriever, Buster, sat beside him, tongue lolling out like he hadn't a care in the world.

"Just working on my breathing," Maya said. "You know, normal human stuff."

Buster chose that moment to shake himself off, spraying pool water all over Maya's white dress. Perfect. Now she looked like a goldfish that had been flopping around on dry land for way too long.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Leo was already pulling towels out of his bag like some kind of boy scout miracle worker. But it was too late. The popular crew had noticed. Tyler and his friends were literally forming a human pyramid in the shallow end, and now they were ALL staring at her.

Then the sky opened up. Not rain—LIGHTNING, crackling across the darkening sky like something out of a movie. The pool lights flickered ominously.

"Everyone out!" Tyler's mom shouted from the back door. "NOW!"

The next thirty seconds were chaos. Wet teenagers grabbing phones, towels, dignity. Maya found herself squeezed under the back porch overhang with Leo, both of them completely soaked, watching the storm light up the sky.

"So," Leo said, as a particularly dramatic fork of lightning split a tree down the street. "This is definitely better than being inside with Tyler, right?"

Maya looked at him—really looked at him. His hair was plastered to his forehead. His glasses were fogged up. He was grinning like this was the best thing that had happened all week.

"Actually," she said, feeling something warm and un-pool-party-related blooming in her chest, "it kind of is."

Buster chose that moment to sneeze, spraying both of them with dog snot.

"Yep," Maya laughed. "Definitely better."