Midnight Padel at the End of the World

Maya felt like a walking zombie. Three days of finals, two all-nighters, and approximately zero percent of her brain still functioning. Which explained why she was at Tyler's end-of-summer party at midnight when she had zero social battery left.

The padel court in his backyard glowed with string lights. Someone had cranked Reggaeton at volume levels that definitely violated noise ordinances. Maya found herself leaning against a palm tree, sipping from a red Solo cup, watching Tyler—the guy she'd been lowkey crushing on all semester—dominating the court.

"You look like you're about to pass out," said a voice behind her.

Maya jumped. It was Tyler, sweat-drenched and grinning, holding a padel racket like an extension of his arm. Up close, she could see the freckles scattered across his nose, the way his curls stuck to his forehead.

"That's because I might actually die," Maya admitted. "Finals week broke me."

Tyler laughed, and something in her chest did that annoying flutter thing. "Want to play? I promise not to annihilate you."

"I've literally never played padel in my life."

"Perfect. I'll teach you."

Twenty minutes later, Maya was somehow laughing so hard her sides hurt as she whiffed every serve, tripped over her own feet, and accidentally hit the ball into the neighbor's yard. Tyler kept making these ridiculous commentary voices like he was narrating a pro match.

"And here comes Maya with the most ambitious swing of the century—"

"Shut UP, Tyler."

He stepped close, too close, to adjust her grip on the racket. His fingers brushed her palm and the contact sent electricity through her entire arm. Suddenly Maya wasn't tired anymore.

"You're actually not terrible," he said softly, looking at her with something like wonder. "Like, genuinely not bad for a beginner."

The moment stretched. The music faded. The zombie feeling evaporated.

"Thanks," she managed. "I had a good teacher."

Later, they sat side by side against the palm tree, watching the party wind down. Tyler's knee pressed against hers, neither of them moving away.

"Hey," he said. "Next time we play, maybe I'll actually try."

Maya smiled into the darkness. "Looking forward to it."

Her social battery was somehow full again. Funny how that worked.