Palm Readings & Vitamin Water

Maya's palms were sweating. Like, actual dripping sweat. She gripped the vitamin water bottle like her life depended on it, which honestly, it kinda did. First house party of sophomore year, and she was hiding in the kitchen.

"You gonna drink that or just marry it?"

Maya jumped. Fox—actual nickname, his hair was this ridiculous orange—leaned against the counter, looking annoyingly chill. He was one of those people who never seemed to care what anyone thought. Meanwhile, Maya had spent forty-five minutes picking her outfit.

"I'm good," she said, cracking open the bottle. "Just... hydrating."

"Cool." He held out his hand. "Gimme your hand."

"What? Why?"

"Palm reading. My aunt taught me. I'm practically a professional."

Maya stared at him. "That's the worst pickup line I've ever heard."

"Not a pickup line, I'm legitimately bored." He wiggled his fingers. "Humor me."

Against her better judgment—something she seemed to be doing a lot lately—she placed her hand in his. His fingers were warm, and suddenly her heart was doing this weird fluttery thing that had nothing to do with anxiety.

"Hmm," Fox said, squinting dramatically. "You're going to... survive high school. Maybe. If you stop overthinking everything."

Maya pulled her hand back. "Wow, such insight. You should charge money."

"I also see..." He paused, grinning. "That you're thinking about kissing me."

"I literally just met you."

"And yet, here we are."

Outside, someone screamed. Not like fun screaming. Maya's stomach dropped. She followed Fox into the backyard, where a tiny gray cat was stuck in the tree, yowling its head off. Everyone was standing around, filming.

"Seriously?" Maya muttered. She grabbed the vitamin water, poured a little into a bottle cap, and climbed onto the porch railing. "Hey kitty."

The cat stared down at her.

"Don't fall," Fox said behind her. "I didn't actually predict that in your future."

Maya's palms were sweating again, but she extended her arm, balancing carefully. The cat sniffed the vitamin water, then—slowly, cautiously—crept down branch by branch until it could reach her hand.

Everyone cheered. Maya climbed down, heart racing, tiny gray cat purring against her chest.

Fox high-fived her. "Okay, revised prediction: you're secretly awesome."

Maya smiled. Maybe parties weren't so bad after all.