Poolside Epiphany

Maya's **hair** frizzed in the July humidity as she stood at the edge of the **pool**, clutching her **iPhone** like a lifeline. This was it—Jake Morrison's end-of-summer party, and she was finally going to talk to him. After three years of existing in the same orbit, saying nothing more than "nice backpack" or "you dropped this," tonight was different.

Her best friend Chloe nudged her. "You're overthinking it. Again."

"I'm not overthinking," Maya protested, though they both knew she was absolutely spiraling. "I just want to make sure I don't say something weird. Or do something weird. Or exist weirdly."

Chloe rolled her eyes and handed her a slice of **papaya** from the fruit tray. "Eat. You always get extra dramatic when you're hungry."

Maya took it but couldn't eat. Her stomach was doing full gymnastics routines. Across the pool, Jake emerged from the water, droplets clinging to his shoulders. He laughed at something his friends said, and Maya's heart did this embarrassing flutter thing she'd read about in books but never actually believed happened until now.

She raised her iPhone, opening and closing Instagram seventeen times like that would somehow summon courage.

Just then, movement caught her eye near the fence. A **fox**—actual, real-life fox—slipped through the bushes, its russet coat glowing in the string lights. Maya froze. The fox paused, regarding the party with what looked suspiciously like judgment, then snatched a abandoned papaya slice from a table and vanished into the night.

"Did you see that?" Maya whispered.

"See what?" Jake was suddenly beside her, dripping pool water everywhere.

Everything Maya had rehearsed vanished. Instead, she blurted, "A fox just stole papaya from your party."

Jake stared at her for a second, then laughed. "No way. That's literally the most random thing that's ever happened here." He moved closer. "I'm Jake, by the way."

"Maya."

"Maya," he repeated, like he was testing how it felt. "Cool hair."

She realized her frizz had gone completely wild in the humidity. But somehow, with Jake smiling at her like she was the most interesting person at the party, she didn't care.

Her phone buzzed—Chloe from across the pool: *STOP PANICKING AND TALK TO HIM OMG*

Maya slipped the phone into her pocket. The fox had taken something it wanted. Tonight, she was going to do the same.