Sweaty Palms & Tropical Vibes

Maya's palms were literally sweating through her phone case. Again.

"You good?" Chloe asked, popping a piece of papaya into her mouth. They were at Tyler's pool party—well, more like his backyard with a blow-up pool and way too many tropical decorations from Party City.

"Just checking something," Maya mumbled, frantically refreshing her iPhone screen. The message she'd sent to Tyler twenty minutes ago still sat there, delivered but not read. 'This party is flame btw'—could she BE any more awkward?

Chloe rolled her. "Girl, he's not gonna reply. He's literally over there playing beer pong with his 'bros.'"

The worst part? Tyler had actually invited her. Like, specifically her. But then he'd proceeded to ignore her existence for two hours.

Maya's phone buzzed. Her heart did that embarrassing little flip. But it was just her mom asking if she needed a ride home later.

She groaned and shoved her phone in her pocket, nearly knocking over a cup of fruit punch. Sticky pink liquid splashed onto her white converse. Great. Now she looked like she'd stepped in a murder scene.

"You're spiraling," Chloe said, handing her a napkin. "Just go talk to him. He invited you, remember?"

"What if I say something dumb? What if my voice cracks? What if—"

"Maya." Chloe grabbed her shoulders. "You're overthinking it. You're that girl who made the entire debate team lose it when you roasted the captain's dad. You've got rizz for days. Just be yourself."

Before Maya could overthink it again, Tyler actually walked over. His hair was wet from the pool, and he was wearing that stupid black tank top that made his arms look stupidly good.

"Hey," he said. "I didn't think you'd actually come."

Maya's palms started sweating again. She resisted the urge to wipe them on her shorts. "Yeah, well. I heard there was papaya."

Tyler laughed. It was a genuine laugh, not his fake party one. "That's literally the most random reason anyone's ever given for coming to my party." He paused. "I'm glad you're here though."

They talked for twenty minutes. About nothing and everything. About how debate team was stressing her out, about his soccer scholarship drama, about how both their parents were being weird about college applications.

When Chloe drove her home later, Maya couldn't stop smiling.

"Told you," Chloe said. "No need to stress. He's actually chill."

Maya looked at her phone. No new messages from Tyler, but somehow that was okay. Sometimes the best moments happened when you finally put the phone down and let your sweaty palms just be sweaty palms.

"He asked for my Insta," Maya said. "Like, actually asked."

"And you gave it to him?"

"Duh. I'm not stupid."

Chloe snorted. "We'll see about that."

But falling asleep that night, Maya couldn't help checking her phone one last time. Still no new notifications. But for once, that didn't feel like a bad thing.