Mascot Mishap

Maya's first mistake was wearing the bear costume. Her second mistake was thinking she could survive Homecoming without her iPhone.

"You got this, Bear!" someone yelled, slapping the fuzzy brown mascot head. Maya adjusted the giant foam paws, sweating inside the polyester suit. Being the school mascot had seemed like a good way to be visible without actually being seen—perfect for someone who'd spent freshman year invisible.

Then her iPhone died.

Right before halftime. Right before the big mascot dance she'd practiced for weeks.

"No, no, NO," she whispered, tapping the dark screen. Her playlist was gone. Her backup plan was gone. Her lifeline to the outside world, gone.

"Hey bear-y cute guy!" A cheerleader waved. Maya's crush, Leo, was standing right there. Looking at her. Not through her.

She froze. The band started playing. She was supposed to dance.

Then she saw it—Leo's hat. That ridiculous pom-pom beanie he always wore. The one she'd secretly wanted to steal since September.

He wasn't wearing it.

It was sitting on the bench behind him.

Maya did the unthinkable. She lumbered over in her giant bear feet and snatched the hat.

"WHAT ARE YOU—" Leo started.

She put it on the bear head. The pom-pom bounced ridiculous and perfect.

Then she danced. No music. Just her, the bear suit, Leo's hat, and zero coordination.

Everyone stared. Then everyone laughed. Then everyone cheered.

By the time she wobbled off the field, she was sweating through everything, her fur was matted, and there was definitely spinach in her teeth from the nachos she'd inhaled earlier.

Leo was waiting.

"That," he said, "was the weirdest, coolest thing I've ever seen."

He pointed at the hat. "Keep it. You wear it better."

Maya's iPhone stayed dead all night. But for the first time, she didn't need it to feel connected.