Static Charge

Maya's palms were sweating so much she thought they might actually conduct electricity. That would be convenient, considering the lightning storm happening outside—and inside her chest. She'd been *running* through possible conversations with Leo for exactly three weeks, and now here she was, at Sarah's party, watching him laugh across the room while she held a red solo cup like it was some kind of shield.

"You're doing that thing again," said Jules, appearing at her elbow with knowing eyes. "Where you look like you're calculating escape routes."

"I'm not," Maya lied. "I'm just... observing the social dynamics. From a tactical position."

"Mhm. Says the girl who's been 'tactically positioned' by the snack table for forty-five minutes." Jules nudged her. "Go talk to him. Or don't. But stop running scenarios in your head until you actually, you know, live one."

Lightning flashed through the sliding glass doors, making everyone flinch. Maya jumped so hard she nearly spilled her drink. Leo glanced over at the commotion and their eyes caught—just for a second, but her stomach dropped like she'd missed a step on stairs.

"Oh my god," Jules whispered. "That was it. That was the moment. Go. NOW."

"I can't just—"

"I'll distract Tyler," Jules was already moving. "You're welcome."

And suddenly Maya was walking across the room without a plan, her pulse loud in her ears. She was *running* toward something real instead of away from it.

"Hey," she said, and her voice didn't even shake. "Cool party."

Leo smiled. It was better than she'd imagined. "Yeah, Sarah goes all out. You're Maya, right? From English?"

She nodded, not trusting her voice. Her palm was sweating again but she didn't wipe it on her dress like she normally would. She just let it be sweaty and real and terrified.

"I liked your presentation on Gatsby," he said, like it was the most normal thing in the world. "How nobody actually gets what they want, they just get really good at wanting it."

Lightning cracked outside, closer this time, and the party collectively screamed then laughed.

"Yeah," Maya said, her heart lightning-fast and certain. "Exactly that."