Static in the Palm

Maya's palms were sweating. Like, actually dripping. Which was ridiculous considering it was sixty degrees at Jensen's beach party and everyone else was wearing hoodies.

"You good?" Tasha asked, looking concerned.

"Yeah. Just nerves," Maya lied. "You know Jake's gonna be here."

"Ugh, forget Jake," Tasha rolled her eyes. "Guy's a total player. He tried to slide into my DMs last week."

Maya's stomach did that thing where it felt like someone was squeezing it. "Seriously?"

"Bullshit. I'm kidding. But you're obsessing over him and it's weird." Tasha laughed, but something about it felt off.

The bonfire crackled. Someone was playing acoustic guitar badly. Seagulls screamed overhead even though it was nighttime. Maya kept checking her phone like it might somehow materialize Jake into existence.

Then she saw him. Walking down the beach with his friends. Heart doing that stupid flutter thing. Palms sweating even worse now.

She started to head toward him, but Tasha grabbed her arm. "Don't."

"What? Why?"

"I heard stuff," Tasha said, looking away. "About him and Chelsea."

Maya froze. "Chelsea who hates me?"

"They were at Jake's house yesterday. Alone."

Something cracked inside Maya's chest. "You're a liar."

"I'm your friend, I'm trying to help—"

"You're jealous!" Maya shouted, louder than she meant. A few people turned to look. "You've been weird since I started liking him. You're bullshitting me so I won't make a move."

Tasha's face went red. "Fine. Go make a fool of yourself then."

Maya marched toward Jake, pulse thundering in her ears. She didn't even know what she was going to say. Something smooth? Something cool? Instead she tripped over a piece of driftwood and nearly faceplanted.

Jake caught her arm. "Whoa, you okay?"

Up close, he smelled like ocean and Axe body spray. Her brain short-circuited.

"I—I wanted to talk to you," she managed.

"Yeah?" He smiled. Like, actually smiled. Not that fake polite one.

They ended up sitting by the water, talking about nothing and everything for an hour. He didn't mention Chelsea. He didn't seem to know who Chelsea was. When lightning started forking across the sky, nobody moved. The storm was still miles out, painting the clouds purple, making the ocean glitter electric.

"This is kind of perfect," Jake said quietly.

Maya looked at him, really looked at him, and realized she didn't care what Tasha said anymore. She was done letting other people's doubts script her life.

"Yeah," she said. "It kind of is."

Her palm found his in the sand. He squeezed back. Behind them, the bonfire hissed as raindrops started to fall. Nobody moved. Some moments you don't run from, even when you should.