Papaya Palm Readings

The humidity hit Maya like a wall the second she stepped into Kai's backyard. Tropical Paradise Theme Night. Because apparently nothing screams "we're cool fifteen-year-olds" like tiki torches and fake palm trees strung with LED lights.

She adjusted her linen shirt, already regretting everything. Her palms were sweating. Like, actually sweating. Why did her body have to be so extra right now?

"Maya! You made it!" Kai materialized, wearing a lei that looked like it came from a dollar store. "You have to try this papaya stuff. My cousin got it from some specialty market in the city."

She followed him to the drink table, where a bowl of cubed orange fruit sat next to a container of mysterious liquid.

"It's supposed to be, like, super exotic," Kai said, scooping some onto a plate. "Try it."

Maya took a piece. It was sweet but weird—kind of musky, almost peppery. She forced herself to swallow. "It's... interesting."

"Right?" Kai's cousin Tyler appeared out of nowhere, holding a crystal on a chain. "I bet I can guess more about you than you think. Give me your hand."

Before she could protest, Tyler grabbed her hand, palm up. The crystal swung dramatically over her skin.

"Ooh, interesting," Tyler intoned, clearly full of it. "Your palm says you're hiding something. A secret?"

Maya pulled her hand back. "That's such bull."

"Maybe," Tyler grinned. "Or maybe you're just scared I'll figure out your secret crush."

Her face burned. Because Tyler wasn't wrong. She'd been crushing on Kai for months, and no one knew. Not even Kai, who was currently oblivious as ever, animatedly explaining the virtues of tropical fruit to someone else.

The papaya sat in her stomach like a lie. The fake palm trees flickered with their cheap lights. This whole night was performative—everyone trying so hard to be interesting, to be cool, to be anything other than awkward fifteen-year-olds figuring it out.

"Actually," Maya said, surprising herself, "you're right about the secret. But not the way you think."

She walked over to Kai. "This party is weirdly intense, and I hate papaya. Can we just go sit on your roof and talk about how much high school sucks instead?"

Kai blinked, then smiled. "Thank god. I've been wanting to bail for an hour."

Her palms were still sweaty. But somehow, that didn't matter anymore.