Smash Point Anxiety

Maya's padel racquet felt slippery. Against her.

"You up?" Jake called from the other side of the court, grinning like he already knew the answer.

"Yeah," Maya lied, swiping sweaty hair out of her eyes. "Just... resetting."

Her curls had transformed into a frizzy halo during third period PE. Now, after school padel club? Disaster level: maximum. And Jake was watching. Jake, who had somehow maintained perfect hair throughout three sets.

The iPhone in her backpack buzzed. Probably Chloe demanding to know if Jake had talked to her yet. Maya had been ghosting Chloe's texts all afternoon.

"Maya! Serve!"

She tossed the ball, swung—

WHAM.

The ball ricocheted off the glass wall, sailed straight toward Jake's face. He dodged, barely.

"Whoa," he laughed, shaking his head. "You're really trying to take me out today, aren't you?"

"Sorry!" Heat flooded her cheeks. "My grip—"

"It's chill." He motioned toward the water fountain. "Break?"

They walked over in silence. Maya's heart hammered against her ribs.

"So," Jake said as water filled his bottle. "There's this party at Brianna's Saturday."

Maya's throat went dry. She swallowed.

"Cool."

"You should come."

Her iPhone lit up in her peripheral vision. Chloe's name on screen.

"Yeah," Maya heard herself say. "Maybe."

"Just maybe?" Jake leaned against the wall, water droplets clinging to his temples. "I'm gonna be there."

Oh.

OH.

"I'll... check my schedule," she managed.

Jake laughed. "Your schedule? What, got a busy week of TikTok management?"

Maya cracked a smile. "Something like that."

"Well." He pushed off the wall. "Let me know. After you consult your people."

Back on court, Maya's racquet felt lighter. Her hair was still a disaster. Her phone was still blowing up. But as Jake served, calling out the score, Maya swung.

Perfect shot.

"Okay then," he said, eyebrow raised. "Guess that hair's working for you after all."

Maya laughed, genuine this time.

Maybe this game wasn't so rigged against her after all.