Palm Readings and Dead Batteries

Maya's phone died at 9:47 PM — exactly when Jake finally looked her way. Of course. Because the universe had a personal vendetta against her social life.

"You're not actually going to do that, are you?" Chloe whispered, gesturing toward the setup in the corner.

"Shut up, yes I am." Maya clutched the charging cable like a lifeline. "It's either this or stand in the kitchen pretending I understand TikTok trends."

The party was already giving her major secondhand embarrassment energy. Someone's dog — a golden retriever with zero boundaries — had already knocked over a soda. The whole situation was giving awkward freshman energy, and Maya was technically a junior.

She spotted Jake across the room. He was that new guy from Seattle, the one everyone called "fox" because of his annoyingly perfect hair and the way he somehow made flannel look like high fashion. He was currently explaining something to a circle of nodding people, hands moving like he was conducting an invisible orchestra.

Maya took a breath and headed toward the only outlet in the room, accidentally locking eyes with Jake as she moved. He smiled — actually smiled — and Maya's brain short-circuited. She tripped over the dog, who had chosen that exact moment to sprawl across the floor like a sentient rug.

"You okay?" Jake appeared beside her, extending a hand to help her up.

"So okay," Maya said, despite her face burning. "Just, you know. Casual grace. That's my brand."

Jake laughed. A real laugh. "You're funny. I'm Jake."

"Maya." She took his hand — warm, with calluses on his palms like he played guitar or climbed things or did something cool with his hands.

"Want me to show you something cooler than standing behind the dog?" He nodded toward the back door.

Maya's stomach did that thing where it forgot how to organ. But then she remembered her dead phone, the cable still dangling from her pocket like a metaphor for everything holding her back.

"Actually," she said, standing up straighter, "I'm good. But you can come with me to charge this if you want."

Jake grinned. "Bet."

And that was the moment Maya realized the scariest thing wasn't rejection — it was accidentally living. The dog barked like it approved, and somewhere in the back of her mind, her future self started high-fiving her present self. Major glow-up incoming.