Palm Reading Truth

Maya's palms were sweating. Literally. She wiped them on her ripped denim jeans for the third time, knowing damn well everyone at the party was watching. The new girl, Sky, with her perfect hair and effortless vibe, had just challenged her to read palms like she'd claimed she could on the first day of sophomore year.

"Okay, let me see," Sky said, extending her hand, palm up. The room went quiet. Even the music seemed to lower.

Maya's dog, Buster, was back home totally oblivious to the fact that his owner was about to be exposed as a fraud. She'd only said she could read palms because she wanted to seem interesting, different from the boring girl who'd moved from Ohio three months ago.

"Your life line is... long," Maya improvised, tracing a line across Sky's palm with a shaky finger. "That means you'll live forever. Obviously."

Someone snorted. Sky raised an eyebrow. "That's not how it works."

"Right. Sorry." Maya's face burned. Why had she lied? Why did she always feel like she had to be something she wasn't?

Just then, a cat streaked through the open sliding door — someone's orange tabby that had been prowling the neighborhood all week. It jumped onto a patio chair, knocking over a red solo cup and sending soda splashing everywhere.

"Dude!" someone yelled.

Everyone's attention shifted. Maya used the moment to slip away, cheeks still flaming, pulse hammering in her ears. She found herself on the front porch steps, alone with the cool October air.

"Hey."

Maya jumped. It was Sky.

"I don't actually know how to read palms," Maya said, before she could lose her nerve. "I made it up. I just wanted to seem... I don't know. Interesting."

Sky sat beside her. "I know."

"You know?"

"Your brother told my brother. He said you're the worst liar ever." Sky smiled. "But also that you're really funny. And that you saved that stray cat last week."

"That was my mom's idea," Maya mumbled.

"Still." Sky bumped her shoulder. "You don't need fake superpowers to be cool, Maya. You just have to be... you."

Maya let out a breath she'd been holding all night. The weight in her chest lightened.

"Wanna help me find that cat before someone's mom freaks about the soda?" Sky asked.

"Yeah," Maya said, finally wiping her palms on her jeans for the last time. "Yeah, I do."