Sweating Bullets

My palms wouldn't stop sweating. Not cute, not mysterious, just straight-up embarrassing as I stood there gripping the serving tray like it was my only lifeline to dignity.

"You good, Maya?" Jace whispered, elbowing me in the ribs. "You look like you're about to pass the heck out."

"I'm zen," I lied. "Totally zen."

We were working Mrs. Chen's annual spring gala, which my mom had volunteered me for without actually consulting me first. The pyramid of champagne glasses on the center table glinted under the lights, mocking my very existence.

Then I saw him—Tyler, from AP History, looking unreasonably good in a suit that definitely cost more than my car. My brain short-circuited. My hand spasmed. The tray tilted.

Time moved in slow motion. I watched, horrified, as the entire structure of crystal began to slide toward disaster.

"Maya!" Jace hissed.

I lunged. I don't know what I was thinking—some desperate instinct to catch the whole thing like I had secret telekinetic powers or something. But physics had other plans. The glasses shattered everywhere.

The room went silent.

Mrs. Chen's cat, Pumpkin, who'd been sleeping under the buffet table, took that exact moment to dart out, getting tangled in the speaker cable. The whole sound system screeched like a dying robot.

I wanted to dissolve. Actually evaporate. Become one with the atmosphere and float away into space.

But then Tyler was there, kneeling beside me, carefully picking up the largest shards.

"Classic bull in a china shop moment," he said, grinning. "Happens to the best of us."

He helped me stand, and I could feel my face burning.

"I'm so sorry," I started, but Mrs. Chen was already waving it off.

"Children, accidents!" She laughed, scooping up Pumpkin. "Tyler, show Maya where the broom is."

As we walked to the kitchen, Tyler bumped my shoulder with his. "So," he said, "you doing anything after this?"

I looked at him, really looked at him, and realized something: the night wasn't ruined. It was just getting started.

"Actually," I said, finally smiling, "I think I might be free."