Palm Readings & Party Fails

Maya's palms were sweating like crazy. Why had she agreed to come to Jake's party again? Oh right, because Chloe—her supposed best **friend** since seventh grade—had practically dragged her here, claiming Maya needed to "get out there" and "live a little."

"You good?" Chloe asked, already halfway across the room, heading toward some seniors Maya didn't recognize.

"Yeah, totally," Maya lied, pressing her back against the wall. She could **bear** with this for another hour. Maybe two. Max.

She ended up in the kitchen, where a group of juniors were building a **pyramid** of red solo cups on the island. They kept adding more levels, wobbling with every new cup, everyone holding their breath like this was the most important thing happening in the entire world.

"You're gonna knock that over in like, thirty seconds," Maya said without thinking.

One of the guys—a tall, lanky dude with messy hair—turned to her, grinning. "Wanna bet? This is art, my friend. Art."

Maya rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. "If you say so."

Suddenly, something brushed against her ankle. She looked down to see a calico **cat** weaving between her legs, meowing like it hadn't been fed in three days.

"That's Luna," a voice said. It was the tall guy again, abandoning his post at the pyramid. "She's basically the reason Jake's parents let him have parties. They think we're all here to 'socialize with the family pet.'"

Maya knelt down, letting Luna bump her head against her **palm**. The cat's purring was surprisingly loud, and honestly? More comforting than anyone she'd talked to all night.

"I'm Leo, by the way," he said, leaning against the counter. "And you look like you'd rather be literally anywhere else."

"Is it that obvious?"

"Only to someone else who's been hiding in the kitchen at their own share of parties." Leo shrugged. "What's your deal? You and Chloe having drama or something?"

How did he know Chloe's name? Maya opened her mouth to ask, but then she spotted Chloe across the room, laughing with those same seniors she'd abandoned Maya for. Some best friend.

"Something like that," Maya said, scratching Luna behind her ears. "I'm starting to realize Chloe and I might be... drifting apart."

"Oof. That sucks." Leo's expression was genuinely sympathetic. "Wanna help me sabotage this pyramid instead?"

Maya laughed, surprised by how much better she felt. "Absolutely."