Offline Mode

Maya's room smelled like vanilla candle and desperation. Her RGB lights cycled through purple and blue while she rearranged her gaming setup for the third time this week. The HDMI cable refused to cooperate, coiling like a snake that knew exactly how frustrated she was.

"You're still fixated on him?" Chloe's voice crackled through Discord. "Girl, he's been ghosting you since that party."

"He's not ghosting. He's just... processing." Maya shoved the cable behind her monitor. "Plus, his dog died last week. He needs space."

"His *cat* died, Maya. And that was like, a month ago." Chloe sighed. "You're in a situationship with a guy who literally posted 'single and thriving' yesterday."

The cable finally clicked into place. Perfect timing, because her phone buzzed—Jordan. Her stomach did that embarrassing flip thing, like she was twelve instead of seventeen.

*hey, u up?*

*clearly lol what's up*

*wanna come over? parents gone till sunday*

Maya's thumbs hovered. This was it. The moment she'd been overthinking for weeks. Jordan, the guy with the messy hair and the smile that made her forget how to form sentences. The guy who flirted with her in AP Bio but left her on read for three days afterward.

The guy who moved between girls like he was switching between Netflix profiles.

"Don't do it," Chloe warned, like she could somehow see through the screen. "He's total cat energy—acts all affectionate when he wants something, then disappears. You need someone with dog energy. Loyal. Consistent."

Maya stared at Jordan's message. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard. She could go over, spend the weekend being whatever he wanted her to be. Or she could stay here, finish her setup, play Minecraft with Chloe until 3 AM, and stop waiting for someone who treated her like an option instead of a priority.

She thought about her little brother's actual dog, Buster—how he waited by the door every day, how he'd rather cuddle than chase attention. Then she thought about her aunt's cat, Princess, who only showed up when she felt like it and left scratch marks on anyone who got too comfortable.

*actually already made plans sorry*

*aw. maybe next time*

*yeah maybe*

Maya tossed her phone onto her bean bag and grabbed her controller. The cable was secure. Her friends were waiting. And for the first time in weeks, her chest felt lighter instead of heavier.

"You proud of me?" she asked Chloe.

"Told you," Chloe laughed. "Dog energy always wins."