The Feline Files

Maya's cat, Luna, had zero chill. The orange tabby kept jumping onto the windowsill every time Tyler from AP Calc walked past their house. Maya would die if he knew she spent her weekends watching his Instagram stories like they were classified documents.

"You're being creepy," her best friend Chloe texted. "Just slide into his DMs already."

Easier said than done when your entire personality was 'quiet girl who reads in the back of class.' But Maya had a plan — a terrible, desperate plan that involved her neighbor's golden retriever, Buster.

Here's the thing: Tyler dog-sat Buster every afternoon. Maya had noticed this during her 'accidental' spying sessions from behind her living room curtains. If she could 'accidentally' run into him while walking Luna... except Luna hated the outside world. Last time they'd tried, Luna had screamed like a dying banshee and refused to leave the porch.

"Fine," Maya muttered. "We're doing this the hard way."

She grabbed the cat carrier, ignoring Luna's betrayed expression. This was it — her chance to finally talk to Tyler without looking like a total weirdo. Maybe.

Buster went absolutely feral when they stepped outside. The dog spotted Luna through the carrier mesh and started howling like someone was stealing his bone. Tyler rushed out of his house, breathless, hair still damp from what must've been a shower.

"Everything cool?" He asked Maya, and her brain short-circuited.

"Yeah, Buster just... really loves cats, I guess?"

And then it happened — Tyler laughed. Not a polite laugh, but actual amusement.

"He's a terrible spy," Tyler said. "I swear he's been obsessed with your cat since you moved in."

Maya froze. "You noticed?"

"I mean, yeah." Tyler scratched the back of his neck, suddenly looking vulnerable. "I've been trying to figure out how to talk to you for, like, two months. I was hoping the dog would help break the ice."

Luna chose that moment to poke her paw through the carrier and smack Buster's nose.

"I think they're in love," Maya said.

"Clearly," Tyler agreed. "So, hypothetically, would it be weird if I asked for your number? For dog-walking coordination purposes, obviously."

"Obviously," Maya said, grinning so hard her face hurt.

Later that night, Chloe texted: "Well??"

Maya sent back a screenshot of Tyler's contact info. "Mission accomplished. Though the cat and dog deserve most of the credit."