Palm Springs Confidential

Maya's palms were sweating — like, actually dripping — as she clutched her iPhone 13 under the cafeteria table. This was it. The moment she'd been overthinking for approximately forever.

"You're literally shaking," said Jax, sliding into the seat across from her and stealing an orange slice from her tray. "Chill. It's just Tyler."

"Just Tyler?" Maya hissed. "Tyler who _looked at me_ in AP Bio yesterday? Tyler whose Story I've been stalking like a creep since September?" She gestured with her phone. "I've basically been cyber-spying on this guy for months, Jax. I know his coffee order, his dog's birthday, and that he still sleeps with a childhood stuffed animal. That's not normal behavior."

Jax rolled their eyes so hard it looked painful. "First of all, that's called being on social media. Second, you're not a spy, you're just a girl with a crush and way too much free time. Third —" they pointed a Cheeto at her "—he's walking over here right now."

Maya's stomach did that thing where it feels like it's trying to escape her body. Through her peripheral vision, she saw it: the orange backpack, the messy curls, the effortless swagger that made everyone want to be him or be with him.

"Hey," said Tyler, sliding into the seat next to hers. Close. His arm brushed against hers, and her nervous system short-circuited. "You're Maya, right? From Bio?"

She managed something that sounded like "Yeh-uh-maybe?"

"Cool." He pulled out his own phone, cracked the screen. "So, random question — I noticed you're always drawing in that notebook? The palm trees?"

Maya froze. She'd been sketching palm trees since seventh grade, when her family went to Palm Springs and she decided California was her aesthetic. No one had ever noticed. "You... noticed?"

Tyler shrugged, and there was something weirdly genuine about it. "Yeah. They're actually really good. I was gonna ask if you'd maybe want to, like, hang out sometime? I'm trying to learn to draw, and..." He rubbed the back of his neck, actually nervous. "Whatever. Never mind. That was weird."

"No!" Maya said too loudly. Half the cafeteria turned to look. She lowered her voice. "I mean, no, it's not weird. I'd — yeah. I'd like that."

Tyler's smile was different from his usual one. Smaller. Realer. "Cool. Cool, cool, cool." He stood up, then paused. "Also, I know you stalk my Instagram. I stalk yours too. Your art is actually insane."

He walked away before she could respond.

Jax stared at her with wide eyes. "Did that just happen?"

Maya looked down at her sweaty palms, then at her phone lighting up with a notification: _tyler.reyes started following you_.

"I think," she said, slowly grinning, "I think my spy days might actually pay off."