Lightning in a Zombie World

Maya stood in the corner of Jordan's basement, clutching her phone like a lifeline. The bass from the speakers thumped against her ribs, matching the nervous rhythm of her heart. This was it — her first actual high school party. And she was failing. Miserably.

"You look like you're about to star in a zombie movie," someone said beside her.

Maya jumped. It was Alex, the cute junior from her bio class. She felt her face heat up. "Ha, yeah. Just haven't slept much this week. Finals are killing me."

"Same." Alex leaned against the wall, effortless in that way Maya could never pull off. "I've been running on pure desperation and whatever energy drinks I can steal from my brother's stash."

Maya's pocket buzzed. Her mom. Again. Probably checking if she'd taken her vitamin D gummy like she'd made Maya promise. Because nothing says cool teenager like your mom texting about supplements during a party.

"Your mom?" Alex guessed.

"Yeah. She's... intense about wellness stuff." Maya shoved her phone deeper into her pocket. "I'm supposed to call her if it starts storming. Weather app said lightning possible."

"That's actually kind of cute though? Like, she cares."

A crash came from the kitchen. Someone yelled, and then streak of gray fur bolted through the basement — a cat, chasing something invisible, knocking into a tower of red solo cups. The cups cascaded everywhere. The music cut.

For a second, everyone froze. Then someone started laughing. Soon the whole basement was cracking up, the tension dissolving like fog. Even Maya found herself giggling.

"Was that your cat?" Maya asked Jordan.

"No clue whose cat that was," Jordan said, shaking their head. "But honestly? Best thing that's happened all night."

Alex looked at Maya, grinning. "See? Parties aren't so scary when cats attack."

"Yeah," Maya said, feeling something loosen in her chest. "Yeah, they're actually kind of... nice."

Outside, thunder rumbled. Maya's pocket buzzed again, but she ignored it. For once, she didn't need a safety net. She was exactly where she was supposed to be.