The Bear Incident

Maya's **palm**s were sweating. Like, actually dripping. She wiped them on her denim shorts for the third time as Kai's front door loomed ahead. This was it—her first real party without adult supervision since freshman year. No offense to her mom's awkward wine-and-cheese nights, but this was different.

"You good, Maya?" Jordan asked, already halfway up the driveway. Her rainbow hair caught the streetlight like she was practically glowing. Jordan was never nervous. Jordan probably didn't even know what nerves felt like.

"Yeah, just—my mom made me take these massive **vitamin** D supplements before I left," Maya lied smoothly. "Feeling kinda queasy."

Jordan rolled her eyes so hard it probably hurt. "Your mom and her wellness phase, I swear. Whatever, let's go. Kai's got this new **dog**—a husky puppy—and it's literally the cutest thing ever."

Inside, the bass hit Maya's chest like a physical thing. At least fifty people were crammed into a house that comfortably fit fifteen. The air smelled like cheap body spray, tropical punch, and something that might have been desperation. Maya spotted Kai immediately—tall, lopsided grin, currently explaining something wildly with his hands.

Then she saw Lucas.

Lucas, who'd sat behind her in English since September and whose handwriting looked like actual art. Lucas, who she'd lowkey been texting for two weeks but had never actually hung out with in person.

Lucas, who was currently challenging some senior to a push-up contest in the middle of the living room.

"You got this," Jordan whispered, shoving her forward. "Go say hi."

Maya's brain went completely blank. What do people say at parties? Hi, I like your vibe? Nice push-ups? Cool house? She started toward him, palms sweating again, heart doing this weird flutter thing that was definitely not medical.

Then Lucas noticed her.

"Maya!" He grinned, stepping away from the push-up circle. "I didn't know you were coming!"

"Yeah, I—uh—I just got here," she managed. "Nice... push-ups?" OMG, could she BE more awkward?

He laughed, and it was this warm, genuine sound that made her chest feel weirdly tight. "Thanks. Hey, you should see Kai's dog—he's obsessed with my shoes."

They ended up on the back porch, shoulder to shoulder on the swing bench, watching the senior guy attempt to carry Kai's little sister around like he was a literal **bear**. The humidity was gross, someone had spilled something sticky on the railing, and Maya's phone kept buzzing with texts from her mom asking if she'd remembered her jacket.

She didn't care.

"So," Lucas said, knocking his knee against hers. "English homework this weekend is gonna be actual death."

"Same," Maya said, and she smiled so wide her face hurt. "Same."