The Lightning in the Water

Marcus felt like the world's worst **spy** as he crouched behind the bleachers, watching Maya laugh with the **baseball** team. She'd moved here three months ago and already owned the social hierarchy like she'd been born to it.

"Dude, you're being creepy," said Jenna, appearing behind him with her usual perfect timing. Marcus jumped, nearly knocking over his backpack.

"I'm not being creepy. I'm observing. There's a difference."

"You're observing from behind the bleachers during practice. That's literally creepy behavior."

Jenna had been his best friend since sixth grade, back before they both realized fitting in was harder than it looked. Now they were sophomores, still trying to figure out their people.

"My **cable**'s been out since Tuesday," Marcus said, changing the subject. "Been watching old movies on YouTube instead. There's this scene where—"

"Always with the random facts." Jenna rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "Why don't you just talk to her? She's in our English class."

"And say what? 'Hey, I've been creepily observing you from afar, want to get smoothies?'"

The sky chose that moment to crack open. **Lightning** splintered across the clouds, followed by thunder that shook the metal bleachers. The baseball team scattered toward the dugout, but Maya hesitated, looking around like she'd forgotten something.

"Go," Jenna pushed him. "Literally right now."

Marcus's legs moved before his brain could object. He jogged over, heart hammering harder than the storm. "Hey! You forgot—"

Maya jumped. "Oh my god, you scared me. But thank you!" She grabbed her backpack from where she'd left it near home plate. "I'm Maya, by the way. You're Marcus, right? English period 3?"

She knew his name.

"Yeah. That's me."

"Cool. Hey, my parents are making me go to this stupid party Friday. You should come. Bring your friend too, the one who's always watching from the sidelines." She winked, then sprinted toward the school building as the first drops fell.

Marcus stood there in the **water**, soaking wet, grinning like an idiot.

Jenna appeared beside him, equally drenched. "So... that just happened."

"Yeah."

"You're welcome."

"I never said thank you."

"You didn't have to." She bumped his shoulder. "Now let's go before we drown. That would be embarrassing."

Marcus laughed, and for the first time in forever, he didn't feel like he was watching from the sidelines anymore. Sometimes, he realized, you just had to step into the rain.