Neon Nights & Sweaty Palms

The orange glow of the basement neon signs reflected in Maya's phone screen as she stood outside Jake's house, heart hammering against her ribs like it was trying to break out. This was it. The first party of sophomore year, and somehow she'd actually been invited. Jake had called her "cool" in homeroom yesterday, which was either the best or worst thing that had ever happened to her.

She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans for the third time and checked her reflection in the darkened window. Her new orange Converse were maybe trying too hard, but whatever. Fashion is pain, or whatever the TikTok influencers said.

"You coming in or what?"

Maya jumped. Jake's older brother leaned against the doorframe, holding a red cup and looking unimpressed.

"Yeah. Just... yeah." She pushed past him into the chaos.

The basement was already packed. People she'd known since middle school were suddenly strangers in their own skin—Jordan with new highlights, Sam wearing a backwards hat like he owned the place. Maya grabbed some suspicious-looking punch and posted up against the wall, doing her best impression of someone who definitely belonged here.

That's when she saw the dog.

A golden retriever had somehow slipped past the party blockade and was now wandering through the crowd, tail wagging like this was the best night of his life. Someone had put an empty solo cup on his head like a party hat.

Maya snorted. The dog locked eyes with her and trotted over, immediately demanding pets like they were best friends who'd known each other for years.

"That's Buster," said a voice behind her.

Maya turned to find Jake standing there, looking somehow taller and more confident than he had in homeroom. "He's the real VIP of this party. The orange soda on his snout is from earlier, if you were wondering."

"I wasn't," Maya said, scratching behind Buster's ears. "But good to know."

"So," Jake leaned against the wall beside her, close enough that she could smell his cologne. "Having fun?"

"Honestly? I was two seconds from bailing until this guy showed up." She nudged Buster with her foot.

"Yeah, parties can be... a lot." Jake shrugged. "I mostly just wanted an excuse to talk to you."

Maya's palms stopped sweating. "Oh."

"Oh?" Jake grinned, and okay, maybe this night wasn't going to be so terrible after all.

Buster barked in agreement, orange soda mustache and all.