Orange Peel at Sunset - Every Minute a Story

Maya's legs burned like she'd been running through actual fire, not just the last quarter mile of the cross-country meet. She bent over, hands on knees, gulping water from the fountain someone'd dragged to the finish line. The water tasted like metal and desperation.

'You got smoked, Pierce,' called Derrick from behind, already changed into his street clothes. The absolute audacity of this boy.

She flipped him off weakly. 'I was pacing myself. Strategy.'

'Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night, zombie.' He grinned, all perfect teeth and easy confidence. Maya hated how much she didn't hate him.

They walked to the parking lot together, because the universe enjoyed its little tortures. The October sunset painted everything in this crazy orange glow, like someone had dipped the whole world in Cheeto dust right before it went down. Maya couldn't stop stealing glances at Derrick's profile against all that burning sky, which was pathetic, honestly. She was supposed to be focused on college apps and maintaining her carefully curated I-don't-care-what-anyone-thinks vibe.

'You going to Chloe's party?' he asked.

'Maybe.' She shrugged. 'Probably not. Studying.'

'Lame.' He bumped her shoulder with his. 'You should come. I'll be there.'

Her stomach did this embarrassing little flip thing. 'I'll think about it.'

'Cool.' He stopped at his car, that ancient Honda that somehow still ran. 'Hey Maya?'

'Yeah?'

'You looked good out there today. For a zombie.' He winked and got in before she could respond.

Maya walked home in the deepening twilight, peeling the orange she'd grabbed from the snack table. The citrus smell cut through everything—sweat and exhaustion and the weird electric feeling that hummed under her skin whenever Derrick looked at her a little too long. She ate the orange in messy, desperate bites, letting the juice drip down her chin, not caring who saw.

Maybe she would go to the party. Maybe she wouldn't. But for the first time in forever, Maya thought she might actually be ready to find out what happened next.