Palm Readings and Poolside Courage

Maya's palms were sweating. Literally sweating. Which was unfortunate, considering she was currently hiding behind a lounge chair at the biggest party of the summer, clutching a solo cup like it contained the antidote to social death.

"You're being dramatic," whispered Jaz, her best friend since sixth grade, currently failing at looking casual while squatting next to her. "Just go talk to him."

"I can't. Look at him." Maya gestured vaguely toward the pool, where Kai—the varsity swim team captain, owner of the perfect smile that had been haunting her dreams since freshman orientation—was currently doing a cannonball that sprayed half the party. "He's out of my league. Like, completely different solar system."

Jaz rolled her eyes so hard it looked painful. "Okay, new plan. I'm reading your palm. This is scientific."

"Palm readings aren't scientific, Jaz."

"Shut up, give me your hand." Jaz grabbed Maya's hand and squinted at it like she was deciphering ancient texts instead of the creases in a nervous teenager's palm. "Hmm. Interesting. Very interesting."

"What? What's interesting? Is it bad? Do you see my early death?"

"No, I see..." Jaz paused dramatically. "I see you talking to Kai within the next ten minutes. Or you owe me twenty bucks."

"That's not how palm readings work!"

"It's how THIS one works. Go." Jaz shoved her.

Maya stumbled forward, directly into Kai's path as he climbed out of the pool. Water dripped from his hair. His skin glistened. Time seemed to slow down in the most embarrassing way possible.

"Hey!" he said, smiling. "Maya, right? You're in my history class."

She nodded. She forgot how to speak. She might have forgotten how to breathe.

"Cool," he said. "Hey, have you seen my—"

Suddenly, something furry and orange launched itself from the nearby bushes, landed directly on Kai's head, and screeched.

"WHAT THE—" Kai flailed as the cat (WHERE DID A CAT COME FROM) dug its claws into his shoulders for balance. "GET IT OFF!"

The entire pool party stopped. Even the music seemed to pause.

Maya didn't think. She just moved. She scooped up the orange cat—which turned out to be surprisingly chill about being manhandled—and stepped back as Kai stood there, shirtless, wet, and utterly bewildered, with scratch marks on his shoulders.

"That's... that's Mrs. Henderson's cat," Maya said, finally remembering words. "I think. It's been missing all week."

Kai stared at her. Then at the cat. Then back at her. And then he laughed—an actual, genuine laugh that made his eyes crinkle.

"You just saved me from being mauled by a house cat," he said. "That was... honestly kind of heroic."

"I just picked up a cat," Maya said, but she was smiling now too.

"Want to help me return it?" Kai asked. "And also, maybe later, want to get food? There's this taco place—"

"Yes," Maya said, way too quickly. "I mean, sure. That sounds... yeah."

Later, as they walked toward Mrs. Henderson's house with the orange cat purring in Maya's arms (HER arms, this was actually happening), she caught Jaz's eye across the pool. Her best friend gave her a thumbs-up and mouthed: TOLD YOU.

Maya looked down at her palm, still damp from pool water and nervous sweat. Maybe Jaz was onto something with that whole palm-reading thing after all.