Tangled

The first day of freshman year and I'm already drowning. Not literally—though the water from the drinking fountain did miss my mouth completely and soak my vintage band tee. I'm talking about the hallway stampede, the seniors looking like they own the place, and me, clutching my schedule like it's a classified document.

"Hey, watch it!" Some guy in a basketball jersey shoulder-checks me. My phone goes flying, skidding across the linoleum.

Great. Perfect start.

I scramble to grab it, but the charging cable's still plugged in, yanking it from my backpack. The whole class watches as I become That Girl Who Tripped Over Her Own Cable. My face burns hotter than a fever.

Then I see him. Leo. From middle school. The guy who sat behind me in seventh-grade math and made those ridiculous paper footballs. He's leaning against his locker, orange Vans scuffing the floor, grinning like he knows exactly how much I want to disappear.

"Smooth," he says, pushing off the locker. "Need help with that?"

I shove everything into my bag. "I'm good. Totally under control."

His eyes crinkle. "Right. Because holding your breath until you pass out is definitely a solid strategy."

Something about his tone—playful but not mean—makes the knot in my stomach loosen. Just a little.

"I was testing my lung capacity," I shoot back. "For... swimming season."

"Swimming season?" He raises an eyebrow. "In October?"

"I'm planning ahead. Very committed." I gesture vaguely. "What's your excuse?"

Leo holds up his phone, the cable still attached. "Battery's at 3%. I was racing to the charger before I lost consciousness from lack of TikTok. That's a legitimate medical emergency."

I snort before I can stop myself.

"See?" He points at me. "You laughed. I'm growing on you already."

"Don't push your luck."

"Hey, Maya?" He calls as I turn away. "Save me a seat at lunch?"

I don't look back, but I can feel myself smiling. Maybe high school won't be completely terrible. Maybe, just maybe, I won't drown after all.