The Accidental Live Stream

Maya's thumbs hovered over her screen, heart racing like she'd just chugged three energy drinks. She was livestreaming from Sarah's birthday party—her first time going live, and honestly? She was lowkey freaking out.

"You guys see this?" she whispered to her iphone, panning across the crowded basement. Kids were grinding against each other to music that vibrated through the floor. Maya felt like a fraud, broadcasting this cool-kid life when she'd rather be home watching Netflix.

Then she spotted him: Jason, leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone like he was above it all. The guy she'd been crushing on since September. Maya's breath caught. This was it—her moment to finally catch his attention, maybe even get him to wave at the camera.

She started weaving through the crowd, phone held high like a dumb trophy. "Hey everyone!" she called out, trying to sound confident but coming off way too loud. "Who wants to say hi to the livestream?"

A sophomore with way too much foundation grabbed her arm. "Omg, put me on!"

Maya's palm went sweaty. In that split second of distraction, her phone slipped. Time stretched like elastic. She watched it tumble in slow motion, Jason's face coming into frame right as—

CRASH.

The phone landed directly in a massive bowl of orange punch. Maya froze. The entire room went silent. Her livestream comments were probably blowing up, but she couldn't look.

"My phone!" she gasped, reaching in. Orange liquid dripped everywhere, staining her favorite white sneakers. But the worst part? Jason was looking right at her, finally giving her his attention—while she was wrist-deep in punch.

His lips curved. "Smooth."

Maya's face burned hotter than the sun. She wanted to dissolve into the floor.

Then she felt it: wet, cold, orange-sticky fur brushing against her leg. Sarah's dog, Buster, had snuck in and was happily licking punch off her ankle. Great. Now she was the girl who drowned her phone and got mauled by a dog at the same time.

But then Jason actually laughed. Not mean-laughed. Really laughed. He stepped closer, pulling his own phone from his pocket. "Want me to call yours? Maybe we can hear it ringing from the punch bowl?"

Maya stared at him. Was this... was he actually joking with her?

"You're literally the worst," she said, but she was grinning now. "Help me fish it out, you monster."

By the end of the night, Maya's phone was toast, her shoes were ruined, and she'd accidentally livestreamed the most embarrassing moment of her life. But somehow, someway, Jason had texted her on the backup phone she'd borrowed from Sarah.

"Worst party ever?" he'd written. "Or worst party ever. Next time, maybe try the chips bowl."

Maya fell asleep smiling. Some disasters were totally worth it.