Palm Reading by the Pool

Maya's palms were sweating so much she thought they might actually short-circuit. Which would be ironic, considering the sky outside the community center was currently putting on a light show that made Fourth of July look like a child's nightlight.

"You're running from something," said Sasha, the girl with the electric blue hair who'd set up a folding table by the indoor pool. "I can see it in your lifeline."

Maya almost laughed. Sasha had been doing palm readings at Jacob's party for two hours, and so far she'd told three people they'd find true love, one person they'd become famous, and Jacob's little brother that he'd probably grow a foot by summer.

The pool behind them glowed with that weird underwater blue lighting, like something out of a sci-fi movie. Maya could feel everyone watching—Jacob, with his stupid perfect smile, and his friends who'd been polite but distant since she'd transferred in three weeks ago. She'd spent the first half of the party literally running to the bathroom every ten minutes to check her hair and compose herself.

"What am I running from?" Maya asked, trying to sound casual.

Sasha traced a line on Maya's palm with dramatic slowness. "You're swimming in doubt, but there's lightning ahead. A moment of clarity, but you have to choose to grab it."

A crash of thunder shook the building's windows like the sky was throwing a tantrum. Someone screamed-playfully, maybe? Maya couldn't tell.

"That's so deep," someone said from behind her. Jacob.

Maya turned to find him standing way too close, the chlorine smell from the pool mixing with whatever cologne he was wearing. He was looking at her like she was actually interesting, not just the new girl who sat three desks away in English.

"So," he said. "You believe in this stuff?"

Maya looked at Sasha, who was already motioning to the next person in line. The pool lights reflected in the water, making little lightning bolts dance across the surface. Her heart was doing something genuinely concerning in her chest.

"I don't know," Maya said, and then, surprising herself: "But I think I'm done running."

Jacob grinned. "Good. Because you owe me a race in the pool."

Maya looked at her damp palm, the lines Sasha had traced still tingling. Then she looked at Jacob, who was already backing toward the pool, removing his shirt with a confidence she didn't know existed.

"You're on," she said.

Sometimes lightning actually does strike. And sometimes, you just have to jump in the pool anyway.