Static Signal

Maya's dad called her new hobby a phase, which was basically parent code for 'this too shall pass.' But the squishy **bear** ear headband perched on her purple hair wasn't going anywhere.

'You look ridiculous,' said Liam, her brother, from the doorway. He held up his phone. 'This is going on my story.'

'Shoot your shot,' Maya said, adjusting her recording equipment. 'This livestream is lit and you know it.'

The truth was, Maya had been **bearing** a lot lately. Junior year was hitting different — AP classes were basically psychological warfare, her friend group had imploded over something Maya still didn't fully understand, and her crush on Sam had graduated to 'down bad' status. The bear ears were her armor now.

She fumbled with the audio **cable**, cursing under her breath. Why did technology have to be so complicated?

'Need help?' Liam leaned against the doorframe, surprisingly not being annoying for once.

'Maybe.' Maya sighed. 'I'm just trying to find my sound, you know? Like, everyone else has their thing. Jordan has volleyball, Alexis has art, Sam has that perfect smile and probably a reserved spot in heaven—'

'Sam doesn't have a reserved spot in heaven,' Liam deadpanned. 'Also, you have a thing. You're literally about to stream music to forty people. That's not nothing.'

'Thirty-eight,' Maya corrected. 'Two people left when I posted that pic of the bear ears.'

'Their loss.' Liam reached over and fixed the cable connection. 'There. You're live in three, two, one...'

Maya's heart hammered. She pressed the button.

'Yo, what's up everyone, it's your girl Maya coming at you live with some indie vibes and questionable choices in accessories...' She gestured to the bear ears and cracked a genuine smile.

And somehow, in that moment, squished between piles of homework and emotional baggage and ridiculous headwear, she felt real. The static in her head finally cleared, replaced by something louder than her doubts — her own voice, amplified.