Orange Soda Palm Readings

The convenience store AC was barely fighting the July heat, but that didn't stop Maya from pressing her melting **orange** soda against her forehead like it was some kind of emergency coolant.

"You're being dramatic," Jordan said, even though they were literally dripping sweat onto the linoleum floor. "It's just one party."

"One party where everyone expects me to be Normal Maya," she groaned. "The Maya who doesn't panic when her crush shows up. The Maya whose hands don't sweat enough to actually **palm** a basketball, which I definitely can't do anyway because I have zero hand-eye coordination."

Jordan cracked open their own soda — grape, because they were literally incapable of making good life choices. "Okay first, that was the worst transition ever. Second, since when is Liam your crush? I thought we agreed he was mid."

"That was BEFORE I noticed his hair. It's got that whole effortless-curly-situation going on. Don't pretend you didn't see it."

"I was too busy being literally the only **friend** who showed up to your pre-game meltdown session," Jordan deadpanned, but their eyes softened. "Look, you don't have to be anyone. Just show up, drink the questionable punch, and leave when it gets awkward. Which will be approximately seven minutes in, if we're being realistic."

Maya smiled despite herself. Jordan always knew exactly what to say, which was annoying and also the reason they'd been inseparable since sixth grade.

"What if I just stayed here?" Maya gestured at the glowing aisles of snacks. "We could live in the cereal aisle. I've always wanted to sleep inside a giant box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch."

"Hard pass. I'm not spending my freshman year cohabiting with processed grains." Jordan checked their phone. "But we CAN spend the next hour consuming questionable snacks and roasting everyone who's going to be at that party. Starting with Liam's hair."

Maya finally took a sip of her orange soda, sticky sweet and perfect. "Deal. But you have to promise me something."

"What?"

"If I accidentally palm-sweat all over someone while trying to look cool, you're not allowed to abandon me."

Jordan laughed, the kind that crinkled their eyes. "Maya, I literally followed you into a grocery store at 3 PM to watch you have a crisis. I'm not going anywhere."