The Day I Woke Up

I was basically a zombie by third period. Not the cool brain-eating kind from movies, but the real-life teenage version: operating on three hours of sleep and three iced coffees, doomscrolling through Snapchat during AP History while my teacher droned on about the Industrial Revolution. My nickname at school was literally Zombie Maya - though nobody said it to my face, just in group chats I definitely wasn't supposed to be screenshotting.

The worst part? I knew exactly why I was dead inside. Every night I'd become a low-key spy, stalking Kai's Instagram stories until my eyes burned. We'd been lab partners since September, and somehow I still hadn't managed to say anything beyond "pass the beaker" or "your turn to wash up." He was everything I wasn't: vibed with everyone, actually funny without trying, and had this effortless confidence that made me want to simultaneously evaporate and be his best friend.

Tuesday changed everything. Thunderstorm warnings had everyone buzzing, but I was still scrolling through Kai's profile from three weeks ago (cringe behavior, I know) when the classroom lights flickered and died. Teacher shrugs, "power's out, hang tight."

Then - BAM. Lightning hit right outside our window, close enough that the whole room flared purple-white. My phone died instantly. No backup charge. RIP.

That's when I felt it. Something warm and fuzzy pressed against my leg under my desk. I yelped, jumped half a foot, and suddenly everyone's staring at me like I'd grown a second head.

"You okay, Maya?" Kai's voice from two desks over. Actual words. Directed at me.

"Yeah, just -" I reached down and pulled out the most enormous orange cat I'd ever seen. It looked like a loaf of bread with legs and zero regrets. "Where did you even come from?"

The class lost it. Even the teacher was laughing. And Kai - Kai was grinning at me like I'd just performed magic.

"That's Mrs. Whitman's cat," he said, sliding his desk closer. "Mittens keeps escaping. You're like, the only person brave enough to grab him."

"I didn't grab him, he was -" I stopped. Why was I explaining?

We spent the rest of the hour in the dark, just talking. Nothing deep, just normal stuff. Favorite bands (we both liked the same obscure indie group), why school cafeteria pizza should be classified as a weapon, how we both felt like zombies most days but were too tired to do anything about it.

The power came back on during lunch. Kai helped me carry Mittens back to the main office, and somehow my phone number ended up in his contacts. "For lab partners," he said, but the way he smiled said something else.

That night I didn't stalk his socials. I just texted him: "Your turn to wash up tomorrow 😉"

He replied instantly: "Bet."

I fell asleep with my phone in my hand, actually excited for school tomorrow. For the first time in months, I didn't feel like a zombie going through the motions. I felt awake.