Palm Lines & Chlorine Dreams

Maya's palms were sweating, which was ironic considering she was sitting in front of Madame Zora's crystal ball at the spring carnival.

"Your lifeline shows unexpected journeys," the fortune teller said, tracing Maya's hand with surprisingly dry fingers. "And your heart line... someone's about to make waves."

Maya rolled her eyes, but her stomach did that thing it always did when she thought about him. Lucas, whose hair fell across his forehead in that perfect, messy way that made geometry class basically impossible to focus on.

"That'll be five dollars," Madame Zora said.

Whatever. Maya had wasted five bucks on worse things. Like the time she bought those "vintage" mom jeans that made her look like she was trying too hard to be aesthetic. Her friends still roasted her about that.

The real test was coming up though—swimming trials for the summer relay team. Maya had been a competitive swimmer since middle school, but this year felt different. Maybe because Lucas had definitely signed up, and maybe because she'd overheard Jessica telling the cheer squad that Maya's flip turn looked like a "drowning squirrel."

Rude.

At practice on Tuesday, Coach Miller blew the whistle. "Alright, 50 meters freestyle. Fastest times make the relay."

Maya positioned herself on the block, heart hammering. She adjusted her cap, trying to tame her baby hairs that kept escaping. Lucas was in lane 3, looking unfairly calm. His wet hair was plastered to his head, and she tried not to stare.

"Take your marks... GO!"

The water hit her like cold reality. Stroke, breathe, stroke, breathe. Maya's arms burned, but she pushed harder, imagining Jessica's face when she made the team. She touched the wall, gasping, and looked up at the scoreboard.

Third. She'd made it.

Lucas leaned against the lane rope, water dripping from his hair. "Nice finish,"he said. "Your flip turn's getting better."

Maya's palms actually tingled. "Thanks," she managed, hoping her cap was hiding how red her face was.

"Hey," Lucas said, pushing his hair back. "Want to practice starts together tomorrow? I could use the competition."

Maya grinned. Madame Zora might've been onto something with those waves after all.