The Cat in My Palm

The party at Tyler's house was supposed to be lit, but Maya stood in the corner, phone in hand, heart pounding like a bass drop. This was it — her chance to finally talk to him, after months of watching from across AP English like some total creep.

She spotted Tyler by the makeshift dance floor, laughing with his friends, palm trees nodding in the background through the sliding glass doors. Everything about him screamed effortless cool — the way he leaned against the wall, that confident grin, how he made everything look so easy. Maya adjusted her crop top for the millionth time. Why did socializing have to feel like a bear attack on her nerves?

'Hey,' said a voice behind her. Maya jumped. It was Riley, her lab partner from chemistry, holding a red solo cup. 'You look like you're about to puke.'

'Thanks,' Maya muttered. 'Just working up my courage.'

Riley followed her gaze toward Tyler. 'Oh, him? Yeah, total player. But also —' she lowered her voice ' — that's his cat wrapped around his arm.'

Maya squinted. Sure enough, a tiny gray kitten was clinging to Tyler's forearm like a fuzzy accessory, tail swishing. He was trying to gently extract himself while his friends laughed.

The absurdity of it hit Maya. This guy she'd put on such a pedestal was currently being held hostage by a kitten. Something about the image — his attempt at cool completely undermined by a small creature — made the knot in her stomach loosen.

'Bet you five bucks he can't get it off without using both hands,' Riley said.

'You're on.'

They watched as Tyler's friends offered increasingly terrible suggestions. 'Just shake it!' 'Dangle it!' 'Bribe with treats!' Tyler was turning pinker by the second.

'Maybe I should help,' Maya said, surprising herself.

Riley grinned. 'Do it. Save him from himself.'

Before she could overthink it, Maya walked across the room. The cat's yellow eyes locked onto hers as she approached. She knelt down and extended one hand, palm open and steady. The kitten immediately released Tyler's arm and scrambled over to rub its cheek against her fingers.

'That was insane,' Tyler said, staring at her like she'd just performed magic. 'I've been trying to get her down for like ten minutes.'

'Maybe she just knows who the cool ones are,' Maya said, and surprised herself by not stuttering even a little bit.

Tyler's friends erupted into 'Ooooooh.' He actually laughed. 'I'm Tyler.'

'Maya. And this is —' she checked ' — Buttons?'

'That's what my sister named her. I just call her The Demon.' He gestured toward the backyard. 'Wanna get some air? Away from all this?'

Maya glanced back at Riley, who gave her two thumbs up. 'Yeah,' she said. 'Yeah, I'd love that.'