Sweaty Palms & Stalker Mode

Maya's palms were basically swimming pools as she stood across the cafeteria from him. Caleb. The guy whose Spotify playlists she'd been lowkey stalking since September. She'd spent so much time in digital detective mode that she practically knew his entire music taste better than her own — indie bands with names that sounded like expensive coffee drinks, and exactly three breakup songs on heavy rotation.

"You're literally in spy mode again,"said Jada, sliding onto the bench beside her. Maya's ride-or-die since kindergarten, and the only person who knew about her Caleb obsession. "Just go talk to him. It's not that deep."

"Easy for you to say,"Maya muttered, wiping her hands on her jeans. "My palms are sweating like I just ran a marathon. Also, he's literally sitting with Ava."

Ava, whose Instagram aesthetic was"golden hour goddess"while Maya was still figuring out if her vibe was more"artistic sad girl"or"tries too hard."

That afternoon, while hiding from the social minefield of the school courtyard, Maya found herself in the empty gym where the spring fair was being set up. Someone had abandoned a handwritten sign: PALM READING — KNOW YOUR FUTURE. Behind a folding table sat Chloe, the junior who always smelled like incense and owned a crystal collection.

"Want a reading?"Chloe asked, not looking up from arranging tarot cards.

Maya hesitated, then sat down and extended her trembling hand. Chloe traced the lines with practiced fingers.

"You're scared of something,"Chloe said suddenly. "But you're also brave. You spy on people's lives because you want to belong, but you forget that people are probably watching you too, wondering the same thing."

That hit different. Maya thought about all the times she'd felt invisible, watching from the edges while everyone else seemed to have their stuff figured out.

The next morning, she found Jada sitting on her front porch with something in her lap — a tiny calico cat with the biggest attitude Maya had ever seen.

"Her name's Spotify,"Jada deadpanned. "I'm cat-sitting for my aunt. Also, Caleb posted a story asking if anyone wanted to study at Blue Bottle today."

Maya's heart did that nervous flutter thing. But then she remembered Chloe's words. About how she was always watching, never living.

"Tell him I'll be there,"Maya said, her palms somehow not sweating for once. "And bring the cat. She's good luck."