Serve and Volley

Maya's cat Rasputin watched from the windowsill, judging her as she practiced padel serves against the garage wall. The 16-year-old had exactly two weeks to make the varsity team, which was approximately two weeks more experience than she'd had when she signed up at lunch because Jordan said it would be "lowkey chill."

"You're thinking about spinach again, aren't you?" her best friend Leo had asked when they were grabbing smoothies after practice. "Still traumatized from Homecoming?"

Maya had nodded. "Between my teeth. In every single photo. Jordan's mom posted them on Facebook and tagged my grandparents."

"Aurora borealis," Leo said, dramatically. "Northern lights of dental embarrassment."

Now, three days before tryouts, Maya stood on the padel court at the community center. Her opponent was Chloe—the girl who'd started the spinach rumor in the first place, claiming Maya's green smile was some kind of statement.

The match tied at deuce. Lightning cracked across the sky, weirdly prescient like something out of a coming-of-age movie. Rain started falling as Maya's phone buzzed in her bag—probably Jordan, probably canceling their study session again.

Chloe served. Maya returned, somehow, with perfect form. They volleyed back and forth, the ball spinning green against the gray sky. Then it happened—Maya's cat somehow escaped the house and dashed across the court, tripping Chloe at the exact moment she swung.

"Your cat!" Chloe yelped, laughing despite herself.

"Rasputin, NO!" Maya yelled, but she was already laughing too.

They sat on the bench as the storm passed, sharing Chloe's emergency protein bar (chocolate spinach, because the universe has jokes). "Look," Chloe said, "I was being a jerk about the spinach thing. I was threatened because you're actually good at this."

Maya blinked. "You were intimidated by my braces-stuck spinach situation?"

"Lowkey, yeah." Chloe grinned. "Also, your cat is iconic."

That night, Maya texted Jordan: "Study session's off. Got cat drama." She didn't mention making varsity, or that Chloe had invited her to hit again tomorrow. Some things were worth keeping to herself—like the lightning realization that she didn't need to perform for anyone anymore. Rasputin purred from the foot of her bed, absolutely taking credit.