Orange Crush Hour

Maya's iphone buzzed in her pocket during third period English. Again. The group chat was going absolutely feral over Jason's party Friday night, and she still hadn't RSVP'd. Her thumbs hovered over the screen, heart doing that weird fluttery thing it always did when Jason's name popped up.

"Earth to Maya," her best friend Chloe whispered, sliding a note across her desk. "You good? You've been staring at your lock screen for like five minutes straight."

Maya shoved her phone deep into her backpack. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

By seventh period, she couldn't take it anymore. The pressure. The expectations. The way everyone assumed she'd be there with the perfect outfit and the perfect vibe. Instead of heading to the gym for volleyball practice, she found herself walking out the back doors, past the tennis courts, just... walking.

Then running.

Her legs carried her through neighborhoods she'd never explored, past houses with perfect manicured lawns and families having dinner. Her lungs burned but she didn't stop. The autumn air was crisp, golden hour painting everything in shades of amber and rust.

She slowed to a stop at a convenience store three miles from school, breath hitching, phone in her hand. Thirty-two unread messages. Her thumb hovered over Jason's contact.

Then she saw it — the absolute monstrosity of a sports car parked by the curb. Bright orange. Hideous. Impossible.

Maya's phone buzzed. Unknown number.

"Hey, it's Jason. I see you admiring my car. It's hideous, right? My uncle's midlife crisis mobile that I'm borrowing for the week."

She spun around. Jason was leaning against the store's entrance, an orange soda in hand, looking completely different without his varsity jacket and perfect posture.

"I was... running," she managed, still breathless. "From school. Not from anything specific. Just."

"Running from the party texts too?" He cracked the soda open. "I've been avoiding them all day. Parties aren't really my thing. I'd rather be... anywhere else."

Maya stared at him. The most popular guy in sophomore year. The one everyone assumed lived for this stuff.

"I have this orange soda," Jason continued, "and zero plans for Friday except maybe driving this ridiculous car around until the gas runs out. You want to come?"

Maya looked at her phone, still blowing up with party expectations. Then at the orange monstrosity of a car. Then at Jason, who looked just as relieved as she felt.

"Actually," she said, "that sounds perfect."