The Friday Night Stakeout

Maya's thumbs were cramping. Three hours of scrolling through Tyler's instagram posts—from that blurry concert pic last November to the sunset beach photo from literally yesterday—and she was no closer to understanding how to exist in the same room as him without forgetting how to form sentences.

"You're literally lurking," her best friend Jade said, snatching the iphone from Maya's hand. "This is embarrassing behavior."

"I'm not lurking! I'm conducting research."

"You're being a creep. Just talk to him at the party tonight."

Right. The party. The one happening at Dylan's house, where Dylan's older brother was allegedly supplying beverages that definitely weren't soda. Maya wasn't even sure she wanted to go, but apparently her social survival depended on it.

Then came the obstacle: Jordan. The junior who'd made it his personal mission to remind everyone that freshmen were basically human bacteria. Earlier that week, he'd "accidentally" knocked Maya's tray out of her hands in the cafeteria, then loud-whispered, "Cleanup in aisle loser."

"He's such a bull," Maya muttered.

"He's a what now?"

"You know. Like. Aggressive. Charging at people. Being terrible."

"Okay, whatever you say, Shakespeare."

They reached Dylan's street. That's when Maya saw it—a scrawny calico cat crouched beneath a parked car, eyes glowing in the streetlamp.

"Oh my god. Look at her."

"That's a random stray cat, Maya. We're going to a party."

"She looks hungry though!" Maya crouched down, offering her hand. The cat cautiously approached, then—butted her head against Maya's palm. "She's so sweet. Someone needs to take care of her."

"And that someone is... you? Tonight? When Tyler's three houses away?"

"What if she doesn't have a home? What if she's out here alone and scared and—"

"Maya. You cannot rescue every living thing that crosses your path."

Maya stood up, conflicted. The cat meowed, a tiny, desperate sound.

"Fine," she said, pulling a protein bar from her backpack. "But I'm coming back tomorrow."

As they finally approached the house, Maya's phone buzzed. Tyler had posted a story. *Thought you were coming?* followed by a sad face.

"NO," Maya practically shouted, causing Jordan, who was standing on the porch, to turn and stare.

"Everything okay there, freshman?"

"Actually? No. There's a hungry cat down the street and you're standing here looking like you own the place, so."

The porch went quiet. Jordan looked confused. Maya's face burned. This was it. Social suicide.

Then Tyler appeared behind Jordan. "Wait, what cat?"

"Calico. Under the silver Ford. Super friendly."

Tyler's eyes lit up. "That's been hanging around my neighborhood for weeks. I've been trying to get close enough to—" He stopped himself. "Wait, you got her to come to you?"

"Yeah? She's super chill."

"Show me."

As they walked back toward the cat, Maya heard Jade whisper, "You're literally a wizard."

And as Tyler bent down next to her, their shoulders brushing, while the cat purred between them, Maya realized something: Sometimes the thing you think is ruining your social life might actually be exactly what you need.

"So," Tyler said, not looking at the cat but at her. "I was gonna ask if you wanted to get food tomorrow, but now I'm thinking maybe we should bring some back for her?"

Maya's heart did something complicated. "Yeah. I'd like that."

Later, as she collapsed onto her bed, iphone buzzing with texts from both Tyler and Jade, Maya smiled at the ceiling. Sometimes the best moments aren't the ones you plan for—they're the ones you almost missed because you were too busy being a spy in your own life.