Storm Season Summer

Maya's phone buzzed. Third time from Jasmine. 'U coming?? D pool party starts in 15'

Maya stared at her reflection, then at the sliced papaya her mom had left on the counter. Try something new, her mom had said. Maya hated papaya. It smelled like feet. But she grabbed a piece anyway, because that's what you did when you were fifteen and trying to be brave.

The pool party was already lit. Everyone from school was there, including Tyler, who looked annoyingly good shirtless. Maya stood by the water's edge, clutching her papaya slice like a weird security blanket, feeling completely out of place.

'Sup, Maya.' Tyler materialized beside her. 'You eating... tropical fruit?' He sounded equal parts confused and impressed.

'It's papaya,' she said, then immediately wanted to die. 'My mom said I need vitamin C or whatever.' Smooth, Maya. Award-winning social skills.

Tyler laughed, but not in a mean way. 'That's actually kinda sick. I've never tried it.' Before she could process what was happening, he took the papaya from her hand and bit it. His face did something complicated. 'Tastes like... musky sunshine?'

They both laughed, and suddenly the pool party didn't feel so terrifying. Tyler offered her his phone. 'Wanna watch the storm roll in? There's lightning by the lake.'

They sat on the edge of the diving board, knees barely touching, watching purple lightning stitch itself across the darkening sky. The water rippled beneath them, reflecting each flash like a secret code.

'My grandma says lightning's just the atmosphere showing off,' Tyler said quietly.

'My dad says it's the universe trying to send us texts we can't decode,' Maya replied.

They sat there as the first raindrops fell, warm and sudden. Everyone else screamed and scattered toward the house, but Maya and Tyler stayed on the diving board, getting soaked, eating the rest of the papaya between them, lightning flashing above like the sky was taking pictures of them being brave.

'Best worst fruit ever,' Tyler said, rain dripping from his hair.

'Same,' Maya said, and for the first time, she actually believed it.