Signal Lost

The cable guy was supposed to come between 8 and 12. It was 2:47 PM, and Maya had been rotting on the living room floor since breakfast, doomscrolling through her notifications like her life depended on it. Her mom's fault for cancelling the WiFi to save money—again.

Maya's phone buzzed. Jordan: *u alive???*

*no. died of boredom. funeral tomorrow. bring snacks,* Maya typed back, even though Jordan was literally the reason she couldn't focus on anything lately. Jordan, with their perfect hair and their ability to make Maya's brain do backflips. Jordan, who had invited Maya to the party on Friday and then proceeded to act like it was no big deal.

The doorbell rang.

Maya scrambled up, her phone clattering to the floor. She smoothed her oversized t-shirt and checked her reflection in the hallway mirror—messy bun, zero makeup, circles under her eyes from overthinking everything for 72 hours straight. Peak aesthetic.

She opened the door.

It wasn't the cable guy.

It was Jordan, holding Maya's missing hat—the vintage denim bucket hat she'd been looking for since Wednesday—and looking unfairly good in autumn light.

"Your sister said you were having a crisis," Jordan said, leaning against the doorframe like they belonged in a coming-of-age movie. "Figured I'd bring moral support. Also, this was on your porch."

Maya's brain short-circuited. "I—what? How did you even—"

"Your sister posted on your story that you were 'perishing.' Seemed serious." Jordan's grin did things to Maya's cardiac rhythm. "So. Party Friday. You still coming? Or are you gonna flake like last time?"

"I'm not flaking," Maya said, defensive. "I just—what if I don't fit in? What if everyone thinks I'm weird? What if—"

"Maya." Jordan stepped closer, suddenly serious. "You think I'd invite someone who's weird to the most important party of the semester?"

"I mean, I am kinda weird—"

"Weird is a vibe. It's called having a personality." Jordan held out the hat. "Also, you left this at my house last week. I've been keeping it hostage as collateral."

Maya took the hat, their fingers brushing for exactly one second that felt like a small eternity. "Collateral for what?"

"For you actually showing up this time." Jordan's eyes dropped to the hat, then back to Maya's face. "And maybe for something else. If you're into that."

The cable guy pulled into the driveway.

"That's my cue," Jordan said, backing away but still smiling. "Friday. 8 PM. Don't make me come back here with more moral support."

Maya watched them walk away, clutching the hat like it was some kind of cosmic sign. Her phone buzzed again. Jordan: *vitamin d deficiency who. u just got sunlight delivered to your door*

Maya laughed, actual laughter, and realized her hands had stopped shaking for the first time in three days.

The cable guy honked. She flipped him off through the window.

Some signals didn't need a router to come through clear.