The Goldfish Theory of Everything

Maya's palms were sweating — like, actually dripping — as she stood outside Jake's house. The bass thumped through the door, and she could hear laughter that sounded way too confident for her first real party.

"You got this," she whispered, pressing her cold hands against her denim shorts.

Inside, the kitchen counter was covered in fruit platters. Someone had brought actual papayas — who even ate papayas in Ohio? Maya grabbed a slice, desperate to look busy. It tasted like tropical anxiety.

"You look like you're plotting something," a voice said.

Maya jumped. A girl with sharp features and mischievous eyes leaned against the counter. Fox. That was her name. Maya had seen her in honors English, always doodling in the margins while everyone else stressed about thesis statements.

"Just trying not to bear the awkwardness alone," Maya heard herself say. Wait, did people actually say stuff like that?

Fox laughed. It wasn't mean. "Solid strategy. I'm Fox, by the way."

"Maya. And I'm definitely not plotting."

"Too bad. I need a co-conspirator." Fox gestured toward the living room where Jake — host, lacrosse star, somehow still single — was showing off his pet goldfish. "He's literally doing a magic trick with a goldfish. We should save it."

Maya snorted. Okay, this was unexpected.

"Seriously though," Fox said, "my theory is that goldfish have way better lives. Swim around, forget everything after three seconds, repeat. No social anxiety, no awkward silences, no accidentally eating papaya at a party."

"No one forced you to try the papaya," Maya pointed out, feeling suddenly lighter.

"True." Fox grinned. "Wanna bail? There's a rooftop access nearby. Better view of the stars than Jake's fish tank."

Maya's palms had stopped sweating. She checked her phone — 11:47. She could stay, she could go. But for the first time all night, she wasn't overthinking.

"Only if you promise to explain your goldfish theory."

"Deal." Fox pushed off the counter. "And maybe we can rescue that fish on our way out."

They left together, and Maya realized that sometimes the best memories are the ones you don't see coming. Like making your best friend at a party you almost didn't enter.