Palm Readings & Panic Texts

The carnival lights blurred into neon streaks as Mia squeezed through the crowd, her phone practically glued to her hand. Her iPhone screen showed three unsent texts to Jordan—the cute junior from AP Chem who'd actually laughed at her terrible joke about covalent bonds earlier that day.

"You're not gonna send those, are you?" Tyra raised an eyebrow, adjusting her backward baseball cap like it was a crown.

Mia's palms were sweating so bad she almost dropped her phone. "Maybe. If I don't overthink it. Which I definitely will."

The sign above the rickety booth promised MYSTERIOUS REVELATIONS and FUTURE INSIGHTS for just ten bucks. The fortune teller inside looked like she'd seen everything and wasn't impressed by any of it.

"Sit," the woman said, not looking up from her tarot cards. "Give me your palm."

Mia hesitated, then extended her hand. The woman's fingers were calloused and cool against Mia's skin. "You're worried about someone. A boy."

Mia's eyes widened. "How—"

"Your life line." The woman traced a line on Mia's palm. "And the fact that you keep checking your phone like it holds the meaning of life."

Tyra snorted. "She got you there."

The fortune teller paused. "Here's what I see: you're overthinking everything. This boy? He's not thinking twice about your texts. But he will think twice if you never send them."

Mia's heart hammered. "So I should..."

"Live a little." The woman waved her hand dismissively. "Also, your friend's hat is giving you both bad luck. Turn it around."

Tyra frowned but flipped her hat forward.

Outside, the ocean breeze carried the smell of funnel cake and saltwater. Mia looked at her phone, then at Jordan's contact name with the tiny flame emoji next to it. Her thumb hovered over the screen.

"Just send it, dude," Tyra said. "Or I'll do it for you."

Mia took a deep breath, hit send, and immediately shoved her phone into her pocket like it was radioactive. "I can't look. Tell me what happens in three to five business days."

Her phone buzzed almost immediately.

Tyra grabbed it first and shrieked. "HE SAID YES! THE PARTY! HE'S GOING!"

Mia's palms were still sweaty, but for the first time all night, she didn't care. Some fortune tellers really did know their stuff.