Static Electric

The county fair was supposed to be Maya's chance to finally talk to Jake—the guy who sat behind her in AP Bio and smelled like cinnamon gum and laundry detergent. Instead, she was stuck watching her little brother Leo at the petting zoo while her parents hit the beer tent.

"You're literally the worst sister ever," Leo said, petting some random cat that had wandered in from who knows where. "This cat is cooler than you."

"Shut up, Leo." Maya checked her phone. Jake had posted a story from the fair thirty minutes ago. He was at the bull riding event, obviously. Because of course Jake Hemingway would be at the bull riding event, looking all rugged and capable while she babysat.

Her friend Dana's text popped up: *where r u??? jake keeps asking about u*

Maya's stomach did that weird electric thing again—like lightning crackling through her nervous system, except somehow more terrifying because it was about a BOY.

"I'm leaving," she announced. "You can come with or stay here and get kidnapped by that cat."

Leo rolled his eyes but followed.

The bull riding arena was packed. Maya spotted Jake immediately—he was impossible to miss, tall in his flannel shirt, laughing with his friends near the front rail. The bull (a massive black monster named Tornado) was in the ring, bucking like his life depended on it. The rider lasted maybe three seconds before flying off into the dirt.

Everyone went wild.

Maya stood there, frozen. Social dynamics had never been her thing. She was the quiet one, the background character, the person who watched other people live their lives while she overthought everything.

Then Jake turned.

Their eyes locked and the air between them felt charged, like the atmosphere before a storm. His dog—a golden retriever she'd seen him walking around town sometimes—was nowhere to be found, but she imagined him here, the good boy who'd make this easier somehow.

"Maya!" Jake pushed through the crowd. "I was hoping you'd show. Dana said you might not come."

"I had to watch my brother," she said, gesturing to Leo, who was now trying to sneak into the roping area.

Jake laughed. "Classic parent move." He leaned closer. "Hey, I wanted to ask if you wanted to—"

Lightning struck somewhere beyond the fairgrounds. Thunder rolled through the air.

"—get out of here?" Jake finished. "Like, walk around? This storm's gonna hit hard."

Maya looked at him, really looked at him, and realized she'd been waiting for this moment since September. But what came out of her mouth was: "What about the bull riding?"

"Honestly?" Jake grinned. "I've seen enough dudes get thrown by angry bulls for one night."

They walked away from the arena, away from Leo (he'd be fine, he was annoyingly resilient), away from the fair lights and noise. The first raindrop hit Maya's arm as Jake's hand brushed hers—just barely, but the spark she felt was way better than lightning.

"So," Jake said. "AP Bio's gonna kill me tomorrow. Can I copy your notes?"

Maya smiled. "Only if you buy me funnel cake first."

"Deal."

The storm broke. They ran through the rain toward the food trucks, laughing like they'd known each other forever, and Maya thought maybe sometimes the universe did you a solid. Even if it took a chaotic fair, an annoying brother, and some literal lightning to get you there.