Storm Season

The storm broke right as Maya's phone buzzed in her pocket. *Lightning* cracked the sky outside the roller rink windows, making the disco balls flicker like dying stars.

"Your turn," Chloe said, pointing at the mechanical bull in the corner. The one with the fading "Ride 'Em Cowboy" sign and the skeptical-looking operator.

Maya adjusted her thrifted cowboy *hat*—the one she'd bought to impress Jake, who was definitely not watching from the hockey arcade game. "No way. That thing humiliated me last month."

"Exactly." Chloe grinned, deliberately casual. "Which is why you have to do it again. Growth mindset, bestie."

Outside, rain drummed against the glass like nervous fingers. The bull operator—Gary, according to his name tag—winked at her. "Feeling lucky today?"

Maya's stomach did that thing it did before math tests and first kisses. But Jake was glancing over now, probably because of the actual lightning illuminating the whole rink in strobe-light flashes.

"Fine," Maya said, climbing onto the mechanical *bull*. "But if I die, you have to explain to my mom why my last Instagram story was so embarrassing."

The machine启动ed slow—too slow, actually. Gary winked again and cranked it up. Maya's hat flew off instantly, revealing her awkward growing-out bangs. Someone catcalled. Jake was definitely watching now.

She lasted seventeen seconds before the bull did its signature spin-and-dump combo. Maya hit the inflatable mat sideways, phone sliding from her pocket.

When she scrambled up, breathless and flushed, Jake was standing there. He held out her hat with this tiny smile.

"You lasted longer than I did my first time," he said.

Outside, the storm had passed. Something about the air felt different—like the moment after lightning strikes, when everything's quiet and you're just glad to be there to see it.

"Yeah?" Maya said, taking the hat back. "You should see me at math."