Orange Lightning

Maya positioned herself in the corner of Jake's basement, iPhone clutched like a lifeline. This was her first real high school party, and she was absolutely failing at pretending to belong. Across the room, Jake—the golden boy of sophomore year—laughed at something Chloe said. Maya watched through her screen, like she was spying on another species.

Outside, thunder rattled the windowpanes. Someone cranked the music louder.

"You gonna actually talk to anyone, or just spy from back here?"

Maya jumped. It was Liam from her English class, holding a kitchen knife and something orange and round. An actual orange.

"I'm not spying," she lied.

"You're totally spying." He sliced into the orange, juice misting the air. "Want some? It's way better than whatever cheap beer they're serving."

Lightning flashed, revealing Maya's flushed face. She took the orange slice. Their fingers brushed—something electric that had nothing to do with the storm.

"I just don't know how to do this," Maya admitted, her voice barely audible above the bass.

"The party thing?"

"The people thing."

Liam nodded slowly. He gestured at the room with his half-peeled orange. "Everyone's pretending. Jake's terrified Chloe will notice his pit stains. Chloe's worried her eyeliner's smudging. That's why everyone's on their phones—safety blankets."

Maya looked around. He was right. The whole room was a sea of glowing iPhone screens, people hiding behind technology.

Another lightning strike, closer this time. The power died.

Complete darkness. Then someone used their phone flashlight, illuminating the sudden panic. Jake and Chloe were both illuminated, looking equally terrified, their eyes meeting across the sudden darkness.

"See?" Liam whispered, close to her ear. "No more hiding."

Maya laughed. She held up her iPhone, activating her flashlight too. "Bet you five bucks they kiss within five minutes."

"You're on."

They sat on the basement floor, sharing the rest of the orange in the sudden intimacy of flashlight shadows. The party transformed from something Maya needed to survive into something she was actually enjoying. She wasn't spying anymore. She was part of it—part of them.

"You know," Liam said, orange juice sticky on his fingers, "I never really liked parties either."

Maya smiled. "Me neither."

Outside, the storm raged. Inside, something was beginning—a friendship, maybe more, sparked by lightning and sealed by the strange, wonderful awkwardness of sharing fruit in the dark.