Summer of Second Chances

Maya's palms were sweating — actually sweating, which was gross and also exactly what happened whenever she thought about talking to him. Caleb, who sat two rows ahead in AP Bio and somehow made running track look effortless while Maya could barely survive a lap without feeling like her lungs were staging a protest.

"You're staring again," Sofia whispered, sliding into the cafeteria seat next to her. Maya jumped, nearly knocking over her tray.

"I was not."

"You absolutely were. Your face does this thing where you look like a startled owl."

Maya groaned and buried her face in her hands. The object of her suffering sat nearby, laughing at something his friends said. His iPhone sat on the table, lit up with notifications she'd never get.

Summer break had changed everything. Maya had decided to reinvent herself — new wardrobe, new confidence, new Maya who didn't get nervous around boys. She'd spent weeks meal prepping, forcing herself to eat spinach salads because TikTok said clear skin came from within. She'd even tried papaya face masks, which smelled suspiciously like tropical regret but supposedly made you glow.

Now, three weeks into junior year, New Maya was exactly as awkward as Old Maya.

"Just talk to him," Sofia said, stealing a tater tot from Maya's tray. "What's the worst that happens?"

"He laughs at me? Or worse, he's nice about it and I still die of embarrassment?"

"Or he talks back and you live happily ever after."

Caleb stood up, heading toward their table. Maya's heart did something complicated and painful against her ribs. He wasn't walking toward them. He was walking past them. Until he stopped.

"Hey," he said, looking directly at Maya. "You still running for student council secretary?"

She blinked. "What? Oh — yeah. I mean, I'm thinking about it."

"Cool. I'm running for president. Thought maybe we could coordinate campaigns?"

Maya's palms were sweating again. But for the first time, she didn't mind.

"Yeah," she said, and her voice didn't shake. "I'd like that."