Surviving Maya's Party in Zombie Mode

I stared at my iPhone in the bathroom mirror, makeup barely hiding the panic in my eyes. My palms were sweating so much I could practically water plants with them.

"You good in there?" Maya's voice called through the door. "Everyone's asking about you!"

"Coming!"

I took a breath. This was it—my first real high school party. The social pyramid at Lincoln High had placed Maya firmly at the top, and me somewhere near the basement. Tonight was my chance to climb.

The bathroom door swung open, and I froze. A piece of spinach from the veggie tray was wedged between my front teeth. I'd been walking around with salad in my smile for twenty minutes.

I scrubbed it out like my life depended on it. Because it kind of did.

Back in the living room, the music hit me like a physical force. I spotted Maya holding court on the sofa, her laugh that perfect blend of genuine and calculated. People hung on her every word like she was dispensing wisdom instead of just gossip.

My phone buzzed. Best friend Lena: *how's it going?? are you dying??*

*no* I typed back, *just entered zombie mode*

The thing about zombie mode is you're technically present but your brain is definitely somewhere else. Like, processing the fact that Tyler—actual Tyler, who sat behind me in algebra and smelled like expensive cologne—was walking toward me.

"Hey," he said. "You're Lena's friend, right?"

I nodded. My palms had somehow found more sweat.

"Cool." He shifted. "So, what's your deal?"

My deal? What did that even mean? Was he asking about my interests? My personality? My entire existential crisis?

"I don't really have one," I managed.

"That's actually kind of badass," Tyler said, and then—because the universe loves comedy—he held out his hand. "I'm Tyler, by the way."

I stared at his palm. All the awkward moments of my life had led here.

"I know," I said, shaking it. "We have algebra together."

His face lit up. "Oh snap, right! You're the one who always draws those little zombies in your notebook."

I felt something shift inside me—like finding gold in a place you thought was just dirt.

"Yeah," I said, finally smiling for real. "That's me."