Smash Point

Maya's fingers hovered over the screen, the glow of her iPhone illuminating the dark corner of her bedroom where she'd been hiding for twenty minutes. The group chat was blowing up—Elena's birthday padel party was in full swing, and according to the spam of stories and photos, everyone was having the time of their lives.

"You coming?" The message from Jenna popped up, followed by a crying emoji.

Maya groaned and buried her face in her pillow. She didn't know how to play padel. She didn't even own a racquet. But somehow Elena—queen of the social hierarchy, Maya's former best friend turned stranger—had invited her.

Her golden retriever, Barnaby, nudged her hand with his wet nose, whining softly.

"I know, buddy," she sighed, scratching behind his ears. "But sometimes you just can't."

Her phone buzzed again. Another notification from the chat. Something about a prize for the worst player. Something about everyone laughing so hard they couldn't breathe.

Maya sat up. Barnaby's brown eyes watched her, tail thumping hopefully against the bedframe. Her phone sat there like a dare. Tomorrow, she'd be the only one who wasn't there. The only one who didn't understand the inside jokes that would ripple through the cafeteria on Monday.

"Fine," she whispered, grabbing her hoodie.

The courts were bathed in light when she arrived, laughter echoing across the pavement. Elena spotted her first, racket still raised mid-swing.

"Maya! Finally!" She waved her over, grinning. "We were just about to start the tournament. You're on my team."

The old inside joke hung between them—Elena always claimed they worked better together anyway. Maya's chest tightened as she stepped onto the court, clutching a borrowed racket like it was a foreign object.

Her phone pinged from the bench. A text from her mom: "Have fun! Love you."

For the first time all night, Maya believed she might.

"You ready?" Elena asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet like she used to in gymnastics class, back when they were inseparable.

Maya tightened her ponytail. "Born ready."

The ball sailed through the air. Maya swung. And missed. Epicly.

But Elena was already laughing, and somehow, so was Maya. The sound felt like coming home.