The Padel Court Summer

Liam's first mistake was agreeing to play padel with Maya. He'd been crushing on her since seventh period English, and when she'd invited him to the courts, he'd said yes before remembering he'd never played padel in his life.

"You're standing like a frightened goldfish," Maya called from across the court, laughing. "Relax your shoulders. It's just a game."

Liam's shoulders stayed exactly where they were—tucked somewhere near his ears. He could feel his face heating up, the same way it did when he forgot his lines in the school play or when Tyler loudly announced Liam's "weird crush" in the cafeteria last week.

The weird thing was, Maya didn't seem to mind that he sucked. She kept hitting the ball gently toward his racket, like she was feeding treats to a shy animal. Meanwhile, Liam's brain was short-circuiting with questions: Was this a date? Was this pity? Was she just bored?

"You play baseball?" she asked between points.

"Uh, attempted baseball," Liam said, missing another ball. "I mostly sat on the bench and cheered ironically."

Maya's laugh was bright and unexpected, like sunlight hitting water. "Same. I played one season, spent most of it braiding the bench warmer's hair."

They kept playing, somehow talking about everything and nothing at once. Her dog's obsession with stuffed squirrels. His little brother's fascination with magic tricks. The way the school cafeteria's "pizza" was basically cardboard with marinara.

Then Liam's phone buzzed in his pocket. His mom.

"Your dad's cutting through the cable line again," she said when he answered. "Come help before we lose WiFi for the third time this month."

Liam groaned. "I have to go. Family cable emergency."

"Bear with it," Maya said, then immediately cringed. "Oh my god, did I just say that? My dad says that constantly and it's officially infected my brain. Kill me now."

Liam laughed, a real one this time. "I'll bear with it if you promise not to die."

"Deal." She bounced the ball on her racket. "Same time tomorrow?"

Walking home, Liam found himself grinning at nothing. He'd played horribly, sweated through his shirt, and almost tripped over his own feet three times. But Maya had laughed at his terrible jokes and wanted to see him again tomorrow.

Maybe some days, even the bench warmers got their moment to shine.