The Cat Who Crashed Lunch

Maya felt like a zombie by third period. Summer had been a blur of TikTok and空调 and absolutely nothing else, and now sophomore year hit with the energy of a freight train. Her vitamin gummies sat untouched in her backpack because honestly, what good was immunity against social awkwardness?

Then lightning struck—literally. The sky turned bruised purple during lunch, thunder rattled the cafeteria windows, and everyone screamed. Including Maya. Including everyone at the popular table where she'd accidentally dropped her tray two days prior.

That's when the cat bolted in.

Not a stray. A sleek, calico cat with a collar that had definitely seen better days. It leaped onto a table, sent a tray flying, and locked eyes with Maya like *you're my person now.*

The room went silent. Then someone yelled, "ZOOOOMBIE CAT!" because high schoolers will absolutely shout anything.

Maya's body moved before her brain could panic. She scooped up the cat—soft, warm, vibrating with purrs—and looked for an exit. That's when she saw Her. The girl everyone called Zombie Girl because she wore the same black hoodie every day and never spoke.

Zombie Girl was already holding the door open.

They ducked into the band room corridor, lungs burning. The cat burrowed into Maya's arms like it owned her.

"His name is Bart," Zombie Girl said. First words Maya had ever heard her say. "He's my neighbor's cat. He escapes during storms."

Maya stared. "You—wait, you know him?"

"I've been trying to catch him for weeks." The girl cracked a tiny smile. "You're faster than me. I'm Riley."

"Maya." The cat nipped her finger. "Ow. And I think he likes me better."

"Deal." Riley pulled a treat from her pocket. "We split custody. He gets double snacks, we both get to not look like cat ladies in public."

Maya laughed. For real. The kind that crinkled your eyes and made your chest light.

"Also," Riley added, "you dropped that tray on Monday and didn't even cry. That's legendary levels of unbothered."

Maya felt it then. A zap, brighter than lightning outside. Not friendship yet, but something starting.

"My mom says I need more vitamin D," Maya said. "Pretty sure she meant sunlight and not whatever this is."

Riley's smile widened. "Pretty sure this is better."

The cat purred like a tiny engine. Thunder shook the building again.

"Yeah," Maya said, and meant it. "Way better."