Operation Crush Watch

Maya crouched behind the library shelves, her phone clutched like a tactical device. Another failed mission in Operation Crush Watch—aka, her weekly stalking of Jamie's Instagram stories from the safety of periodicals. But when Jamie posted a story featuring some golden retriever puppy at the park, Maya knew she had to level up. Her dog Lola, a chaotic chihuahua-terrier mix with zero chill and maximum attitude, was about to become her wingman. "You're literally going to spy on my crush with a dog that barks at leaves," said Zara, her best friend since seventh grade, when Maya outlined Plan B at lunch. "This isn't a rom-com, Maya." But Maya was desperate. Junior year was feeling like one giant exercise in bearing witness to everyone else's glow-ups while she remained awkwardly stalled between childhood who-was-she and adult who-was-she-becoming. Her room still housed Mr. Puff—her childhood teddy bear with the missing eye—on her bed, right next to college prep books she was definitely avoiding. That afternoon, Maya marched Lola to the park where Jamie walked his dog. Lola proceeded to embarrass Maya thoroughly by barking at a squirrel, getting her leash tangled around Maya's legs, and nearly causing a collision with Jamie and his golden retriever. Jamie laughed, helping untangle the leash disaster. "I see you've met Bear," he said, gesturing to his dog. "And Lola apparently has no survival instincts," Maya groaned. They walked together for twenty minutes, their dogs doing the actual bonding while Maya stammered through conversation and accidentally mentioned she'd been "reading up" on golden retrievers (social media research, but he didn't need to know). Later that night, Maya's phone buzzed. Jamie had posted a photo of their dogs together. Caption: "Bear says Lola is chaotic but we vibe with it." Zara texted immediately: "IT'S HAPPENING. Operation Crush Watch: SUCCESS." Maya grinned at her phone, then glanced at Mr. Puff on her bed. Maybe she was still figuring out who she was becoming, but at least for now, she was the girl with the chaotic dog who caught the cute boy's attention. And honestly? That was enough.