The Kiss That Broke The Sky

The cafeteria was its usual chaotic self—clattering trays, shouted conversations across tables, and that distinctive smell of pizza that's been sitting under a heat lamp too long. Maya sat picking at her lunch, barely listening as her best friend Ji-hoon ranted about AP Chem.

"Dude, are you even listening?" Ji-hoon waved a hand in front of her face. "You've been staring at Marcus for like, ten minutes straight."

Maya felt her face burn. "I have not!"

"You totally have." Ji-hoon grinned, then suddenly his eyes went wide. "Um, Maya? You have..." He gestured awkwardly at his own teeth.

Her heart dropped. She excused herself and sprinted to the bathroom, where the fluorescent mirror revealed it: a massive, embarrassing piece of **spinach** wedged between her front teeth. From lunch. That she'd eaten two hours ago. While she'd been smiling at Marcus.

She wanted to disappear. Actually disappear.

The universe decided to help. Outside, the sky had turned an ominous shade of purple-gray, and suddenly the whole building shook as **lightning** struck somewhere terrifyingly close. The lights flickered and died, plunging the bathroom into darkness.

Great. Just great.

She fumbled her way through the dark hallway, following the stream of students heading toward the exits. Rain was hammering against the windows now, and when the doors opened, she stepped straight into a total downpour.

She didn't even care. Let the **water** soak her thoroughly done hair. Let her mascara streak down her face like some kind of tragic raccoon. Let the world see her at her absolute worst.

"Maya!"

She turned to see Marcus running toward her through the rain, completely drenched, laughing. "I was looking for you."

"Why?" she called back, wiping rain from her eyes. "I look like a disaster."

"Yeah," he said, "but you're the best-looking disaster I've ever seen. Want to walk me home?"

Maybe the universe wasn't conspiring against her after all. Maybe sometimes things have to fall completely apart so they can fall together in ways you never expected.