Palm Lines & Orange Soda

Maya's palms were sweating. Again. She wiped them on her denim shorts for the third time, watching Liam laugh across the bonfire. His orange soda can crinkled in his hand, and she wished she could be that chill.

"Hey, wanna get your palm read?" Chloe appeared beside her, holding a flashlight under Maya's hand. "I've been watching YouTube tutorials."

Maya hesitated, then nodded. Why not? It's not like she had any dignity left to lose at this party.

"Ooh," Chloe squinted dramatically. "Your life line is super deep. That means... you'll live forever? Or something?"

"Sounds exhausting," Maya muttered, but she was smiling.

"Your love line though..." Chloe tapped Maya's palm. "It's complicated. Like, branching in two directions."

"Great. Thanks for that analysis, Professor Chloe."

Maya escaped toward the house, needing a break from social interaction. She pushed open her bedroom door and froze.

There it was. Mr. Bearypants. Her childhood bear, sitting on her bed because she'd forgotten to hide it before the party. And Liam was walking down the hall right toward her open door.

"Hey Maya, have you seen—" He stopped. Looked at the bear. Looked at her.

Maya considered spontaneous combustion. "That's... that's my emotional support bear."

Liam picked up Mr. Bearypants. "I had one exactly like this. Mine was named Sir Fluffington."

"No way."

"Way. Still have him. He lives on my bed. My mom says I need to outgrow him eventually, but honestly?" Liam shrugged, that easy smile on his face. "Sometimes you need that comfort, you know?"

"Yeah," Maya breathed out. "Exactly."

"Plus," Liam continued, "my little sister says emotional support is basically a vitamin. You know, for your brain."

Maya laughed. For real this time, palms dry.

"Vitamin L," Liam suggested. "For love. Or Liam. Either way."

The orange sunset glowed through her window as Maya's heart did something completely uncool and wonderful. Sometimes the most embarrassing moments turned into the best ones. And maybe, just maybe, her complicated love line was about to get a little less complicated.