Paws & Panic

Maya's palms were sweating. Like, actual dripping situation as she gripped the counter at Paws & Claws, her first-ever job. Mrs. Henderson had hired her yesterday after school, probably because Maya had nodded enthusiastically instead of admitting she'd never touched an animal that wasn't her grandma's declawed tabby.

"Just feed them, honey," Mrs. Henderson called from the back. "Don't overthink it."

Easy for her to say. The dog—a golden retriever mix named Barnaby who was currently giving Maya the judgy eyes—had already refused three different treats. Meanwhile, the cat in cage four was hissing at her iphone case like it had personally offended her entire bloodline.

Maya's pocket buzzed. Group chat blowing up about Jake's party tonight, the one everyone was going to be at. The one she'd been obsessing over all week. She couldn't even handle feeding animals; how was she supposed to handle Jake—aka sophomore year's most unattainable human—without doing something embarrassing?

Like falling. Or spilling something. Or existing too loudly.

Barnaby whined, nudging her hand with his wet nose.

"I know, buddy," Maya whispered. "I feel you."

She grabbed the papaya Mrs. Henderson had left out—something about the exotic animals needing variety—and tried to offer it to Barnaby. He sniffed it suspiciously, then—gross—licked her entire palm.

"Ew!" Maya jumped back, wiping her hand on her apron. Barnaby wagged his tail like he'd just won the lottery.

The front door chimed. Jake walked in. Actual Jake, in denim shorts and that faded concert tee he somehow made look intentional. He held a cat carrier.

"Hey," he said, like this was normal. Like Maya wasn't currently covered in papaya slobber and panic. "You're new."

"First day," Maya managed. Her voice squeaked. Cool.

"Nice." He set down the carrier. "This is Luna. She needs shots."

The cat inside meowed—this tiny, pathetic sound that made Maya's chest do something weird. Jake looked at her, really looked at her, and for once, Maya didn't overthink it.

"I got this," she said.

And somehow, she did.