Static & Goldfish

The cable TV went dead five minutes before the biggest episode of the summer, and honestly? That was the least of Maya's problems.

She was hiding in her basement while her swim team—the actual sharks, not the cool kind—partied at Jordan's house. The same Jordan who'd liked her Instagram story two hours ago but hadn't replied to her text since Tuesday.

"You coming tonight?" Jordan had asked after practice, dripping pool water, smelling like chlorine and confidence.

Maya had panicked. "Maybe. I'll see."

Classic Maya. The girl who'd gotten a goldfish from the carnival last summer and named it Phoenix because she was "going to be brave this time." Phoenix lasted three days before Maya forgot to feed it during finals week. Some rebirth.

Now lightning flashed through the basement window, illumining the space where she'd been scrolling through Jordan's profile for twenty minutes like some certified creep. Thunder shook the floorboards. Perfect. The universe was literally judging her.

Her phone buzzed.

Jordan: practice got cancelled bc storm. u okay?

Maya's heart did that embarrassing flippy thing. She stared at the screen. She could type "yeah fine" and stay here alone, or she could—

Another lightning strike. The power flickered and died.

Fine. Message received.

She grabbed her raincoat and headed out, walking three blocks in the pouring rain because her mom had the car. When she finally reached Jordan's house, soaking wet and questioning every life choice that led here, the front door opened before she could knock.

"Maya?" Jordan stood there in sweatpants, looking surprised. "I thought you'd be—"

"Hiding?" Maya laughed bitterly. "Yeah, I was. But then the cable died and the power went out and I figured I might as well be pathetic somewhere else."

Jordan didn't laugh. Instead, they stepped aside. "My mom made hot cocoa before the power went. There's still some left in the thermos."

They ended up on the covered porch, watching the lightning illuminate the backyard pool.

"I never learned to swim," Jordan admitted quietly. "Everyone thinks I'm amazing at it because I always hang out at meets, but I'm actually terrified."

Maya blinked. "Wait, seriously?"

"Yeah. It's why I never join in." Jordan shrugged. "Easier to be the supportive friend than the person everyone's watching fail."

Something in Maya's chest loosened. "I had a goldfish named Phoenix once," she said. "Died in three days because I overthought everything. Even feeding a fish."

Jordan laughed, and the sound was better than any episode Maya had missed tonight.

"You know," Jordan said, "there's a beginner swim class on Tuesdays. You wanna... not know how swim together?"

Maya smiled, and for the first time in forever, it felt real. "Yeah. Yeah, I think I'd like that."