Palm Lines and Water Wings

Maya's crush, Leo, stood by the carnival's prize booth wearing that flannel that screamed 'I'm in a band' even though he definitely wasn't. The universe had conspired to trap her there, holding a plastic bag containing possibly the saddest goldfish in existence, while her so-called bestie Priya ditched her for some sophomore with a driver's license.

"You going to name him?" Leo leaned against the booth, close enough that Maya could smell his weirdly comforting sandalwood soap situation.

Maya's palm sweat actually activated. The goldfish — currently unnamed and frankly judging her — swam in tiny, desperate circles. "I'm not keeping him. My mom will kill me."

"That's what they all say." Leo grinned, and Maya felt that specific teenage feeling where your stomach does a full gymnastics routine. "I'll take him. My little sister's been begging for one."

He reached for the bag, their fingers brushing. Maya's heart went ham. This was it. The moment. She should say something smooth, something chill.

Then her foot caught on the uneven pavement.

The bag went airborne. The goldfish experienced zero gravity. Maya watched in horrifying slow motion as the water — and the fish — arced toward the pavement.

Leo moved faster than she'd ever seen anyone move. He didn't catch the fish. Nobody catches a fish with their bare hands like some sort of anime protagonist. But he caught the bag before it hit the ground, water splashing everywhere, soaking his precious band flannel.

They stood there, dripping. The goldfish swam on, oblivious to having almost met its doom.

Leo looked at his wet shirt. Then at Maya. Then he started laughing. Not mean laughing. The real kind.

"You're terrible at this," he said, but his eyes were crinkling in that way that made Maya forget how to speak.

"I was distracted," Maya managed, which was technically true. "By your... presence."

Kill her now.

But Leo just shook his head, water droplets flying from his hair. "Same time next week? I'll bring the goldfish back. We can practice not almost murdering pets together."

Maya walked away from the carnival alone, still wearing half the fish's water, Priya having ghosted her completely. But her phone buzzed in her pocket with a new contact: "Leo (Fish Rescue)."

Sometimes, she thought, the universe works in mysterious, slightly damp ways.