Palm Readings & Goldfish

The gym at Hamilton Middle School smelled like floor wax and expectations. I was watching Emma spin in lazy circles, her dark hair fanning out like she was underwater, when I realized I'd been staring at Leo for way too long.

"You're being creepy," Julia whispered, pulling me behind the bleachers. "Again."

"I'm not being creepy," I protested. "I'm being... observant."

Julia rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "You've been obsessed with him since sixth grade. Either talk to him or move on."

Emma materialized beside us, holding a glass bowl with a single orange goldfish swimming in nervous circles. "Check it out," she said, grinning like she'd just invented gravity. "I won him at the carnival. His name is Captain Fin."

"That's the worst name I've ever heard," Julia said.

"Shut up." Emma tilted the bowl, and Captain Fin swam faster, clearly stressed. "Hey, want me to read your palm? My cousin taught me."

"Sure," I said, mostly because anything was better than watching Leo talk to Jessica. I held out my hand, trying to look casual while my palm was probably sweating.

Emma traced the lines on my hand with her finger, pretending to know what she was doing. "You're going to fall in love," she announced dramatically. "With someone you've known for a long time. Someone with blonde hair and a dopey smile."

Julia snorted. Emma cackled. My face felt like it was on fire. "You're the worst palm reader in history," I said, pulling my hand back. "That's so specific it's not even a real prediction."

"It's totally real," Emma insisted, shifting the goldfish bowl to her other hand. "The spirits don't lie."

"The spirits aren't real either," Julia pointed out.

Emma stuck out her tongue, which was mature, and then suddenly the goldfish bowl was tilting. "Wait—" I started, but it was too late. The bowl slipped, water splashed everywhere, and Captain Fin was flopping on the gym floor.

We all screamed. I dropped to my knees, scooping up the poor fish with both hands, his scales slippery against my palms. Emma was already holding the bowl while Julia frantically looked for water. I dumped Captain Fin back in, and he swam in angry circles, clearly plotting his revenge.

"That was terrifying," Emma breathed. "I almost killed him."

"We almost killed him," Julia corrected. "I'm pretty sure I screamed the loudest."

We were all still catching our breath when someone cleared their throat behind us.

Leo.

Standing there with his stupid blonde hair and his dopey smile, holding a cup of water like he'd just casually obtained it from nowhere. "For the fish," he said, like that explained everything.

Emma took the cup and added it to the bowl, which was definitely better but not ideal. "Thanks," she said. "You're a lifesaver."

"No problem." Leo looked at me, and I realized I was still on my knees from the fish rescue, which was not my most dignified moment. "Need a hand?"

"I'm good," I said, standing up way too fast and nearly falling over. Smooth.

He laughed, but not in a mean way. "So," Leo said, rocking back on his heels. "I heard something about palm readings."

"Emma's fake-predicting the future," Julia said before I could stop her. "She thinks she knows who I'm going to fall in love with."

"Oh yeah?" Leo's eyes flicked to mine, just for a second. "Who's that supposed to be?"

Emma opened her mouth, probably to say something incredibly specific and embarrassing, but I jabbed her with my elbow. "Nobody," I said quickly. "It's nonsense. The spirits are confused."

"Right." Leo was still looking at me, and there was something in his expression that made my heart do this complicated little flip. "Well, if the spirits change their mind, let me know."

I stared at him. "What?"

"I'm just saying." Leo shrugged, but his ears were turning pink. "Maybe the spirits should give me a chance to make my own predictions."

Emma and Julia exchanged this look that was definitely going to result in them never letting me live this down. Captain Fin swam in peaceful circles, completely unaware that he'd just witnessed the most terrifying moment of my entire middle school experience.

"Okay," I managed to say, sounding mostly normal. "Sure. Let me know if you want your palm read."

"Maybe later," Leo said, and I could tell he was trying not to smile. "When there's less fish drama."

He walked back to the other side of the gym, and Emma and Julia immediately started whispering and elbowing me. But I just stood there, feeling like maybe the most embarrassing moment of my life might actually turn out to be the best one.

Sometimes the universe has a weird sense of timing. And sometimes, you get rescued by a boy holding a cup of water, and suddenly everything feels different.

"You're welcome," Emma whispered, like she could read my mind now too.

"Shut up," I whispered back, but I was smiling.

Outside, the gym was loud with music and people who didn't know anything was different. But everything was. Captain Fin swam in his bowl, safe and sound, and I had a feeling this was just the beginning.