Neon Hair, Electric Hearts

The lightning flashing outside the gym windows matched the electricity in my stomach. I'd done it — finally gone through with it. My hair, previously the same boring brown as literally everyone else in my sophomore class, was now electric orange.

"Whoa," whispered Maya, staring at me from the locker next to mine. "You actually did it."

I ran a hand through my new neon locks. "My mom's gonna freak, but whatever."

The truth was, I'd done it for him. Ethan, the swim team captain who'd never noticed me existed until last week when he'd helped me pick up my dropped books in the hallway and said, "Nice backpack." That was it. That was everything.

Now here I was at the regional swim finals, sitting in the stands with my orange hair and my orange Gatorade, watching him slice through the water like he was part of it. He was beautiful in that way that makes your chest tight. Fast, focused, completely in his element.

Then the storm really hit. The sky turned this weird purple-green color, and actual lightning struck somewhere close enough that the whole pool complex shook. The meet was postponed. Everyone was rushing toward the exit, chaos and laughter and the smell of wet towels and chlorine.

And then Ethan was there. Standing in front of me. Noticing me. REALLY noticing me.

"Your hair," he said. Grinning. "It's... awesome."

My brain short-circuited like something struck by lightning. "Thanks. I mean, yeah. It's new."

"I like it," he said. "It's brave. I'd never have the guts to do something like that."

We stood there as the crowd surged around us, two people in a sea of movement, while outside the lightning kept flashing like paparazzi taking photos of this moment — this tiny, perfect moment where the guy I'd been crushing on forever thought I was brave.

"Want to get pizza?" he asked. "Since swimming's off."

My heart did this little flip that had nothing to do with anxiety. "Yeah," I said. "I'd like that."

Sometimes you have to dye your hair orange. Sometimes you have to wait for a storm. Sometimes the universe finally throws you a lightning strike you don't have to dodge.