Spin Class Saturday

The crushed felt on the padel court smelled like middle school PE but with more expensive equipment. Lena tugged her hat lower over her eyebrows, trying to disappear into the brim. She'd agreed to this because Maya was practically her best friend now, even though they'd only met at the start of sophomore year, and apparently being a real friend meant letting Maya drag you into things you'd never signed up for.

"You're gripping it too tight," Maya called from the other side of the net. She bounced on her toes like this was the most natural thing in the world, like her neon yellow outfit wasn't screaming beginner's luck. "Relax your palm."

Lena looked at her hand. Her palm was slick with nervous sweat, the bright blue racket handle slipping. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be lying on her bed scrolling TikTok, her phone safely connected to its charging cable, not out here exposed under the fluorescent lights where everyone could see her miss every single ball.

A group of juniors stood by the fence watching. Lena's face burned.

"One more," Maya said, softer this time. "For me."

Lena adjusted her hat. Inhaled. The ball came sailing over the net — a perfect, lazy arc that seemed to hang there waiting for her. Something clicked. Her wrist snapped, palm followed through, and the ball cracked against the back wall, a clean winner that left everyone staring.

Maya shrieked. The juniors actually clapped. For a second, Lena didn't feel like the new girl trying too hard. She felt like someone who belonged.

"Again," Maya said, grinning. "We're literally playing this every Saturday now."

Lena adjusted her hat and smiled back. Yeah. Maybe they were.