The Fox at the Padel Court

Maya stood at the edge of the padel court, clutching her racket like a shield. Summer camp week one, and everyone else already had their squads. The popular kids dominated the courts, laughing loudly, while she hovered near the fence like a ghost.

"You gonna play or just spectate?"

She jumped. A guy with copper hair and mischievous hazel eyes stood behind her. Liam. He'd gotten the nickname Fox last summer for "always being sneaky around the snack bar," which he'd never confirmed or denied.

"I'm just... observing."

"Observing's boring." He tossed her a ball. "Join us. We need one more for doubles."

Her stomach did that awful flip thing. "I've literally never played. I'll be embarrassing."

"So? We suck too." Fox nodded toward his friends—Jamie, with curly hair down to their shoulders, and quiet, glasses-wearing Sam. "We're the mediocrity squad. No pressure."

Something about the way he said it—no performance, no trying to be cool—made her say yes.

Two hours later, Maya's arms felt like jelly, her face hurt from smiling, and she'd accidentally hit three balls into the swimming pool next to the courts. Each time, everyone had laughed with her, not at her.

"You're actually not terrible," Jamie said as they all sat on the edge of the pool, legs dangling in the water. "For someone who started the day 'observing.'"

"Maya the Observer," Fox announced grandly. "Has a nice ring to it."

She kicked water at him. He splashed back, and suddenly they were all shrieking and drenched, and for the first time all summer, Maya didn't feel like she was watching life through a window.

Later, in the cafeteria, Fox slid a vitamin C packet onto her tray. "For tomorrow's match. We're not letting you quit now."

"Who said I'm quitting?"

"Your face said it. The 'I'm-an-outsider' face." His expression softened. "But you're not. You're one of us now. Welcome to the mediocrity squad."

Maya looked at her new friend, at the vitamin packet, at the spot at their table. Something warm expanded in her chest—like stepping into sunlight after being cold for way too long.

"Same time tomorrow?" she asked.

"Same time," Fox said. "Don't be late, Observer."