Palm Readings & Pool Tables

Jasmine's palms were sweating. Like, actually sweating, leaving damp spots on her favorite ripped jeans. She gripped her soda can harder, pretending to be chill while Maya laughed at something Tyler said. Tyler, who'd been her best friend since fourth grade, until two weeks ago when he suddenly became the funniest person at North Valley High and Maya became his new favorite person.

"Yo Jazz, you gonna play or what?" Tyler called from the pool table, grinning that effortless grin that used to be reserved for their inside jokes.

"In a minute." She turned back to the fortune teller booth behind her. Madam Zara's Mystical Palace, spelled wrong in glitter paint. The sign said PALM READINGS — $5. Jasmine's allowance was burning a hole in her pocket.

The old woman inside actually had kind eyes. She took Jasmine's hand, traced the lines with surprisingly soft fingers. "You're going to make a hard choice tonight, child. Something that's been building. A friendship that needs... clarity."

Jasmine pulled her hand back, suddenly sure this was total bull. But twenty minutes later, watching Tyler deliberately knock Maya's phone into the swimming pool while everyone laughed except Maya herself, something snapped.

"That's messed up, Tyler." The words came out before she could think them through. The whole backyard went silent.

"Chill, it's just a phone —"

"No, YOU chill." Jasmine's voice didn't shake. "Maya's been nothing but nice to you, and you treat her like entertainment? What is wrong with you?"

Later that night, walking home with Maya, who was surprisingly not crying about her destroyed phone, Jasmine checked her palm in the streetlight. The lines looked the same. But something felt different.

"Thanks for having my back," Maya said quietly.

"Always." Jasmine didn't mention the fortune teller. Some things were just better left mysterious.