The Palm Reader's Prophecy

Maya's hair refused to cooperate that morning. She'd spent forty minutes trying to tame the frizz, but it still erupted from her head like she'd stuck a fork in an electrical socket. Typical. The universe clearly had it out for her before she even left the house.

The pool party at Tyler's house was basically social suicide waiting to happen. Everyone who was anyone would be there, including Jessica, who'd been giving Maya dirty looks since seventh grade when Maya accidentally spilled grape juice on her white jeans. Forever branded as a klutz.

"You got this," said Priya, adjusting her bikini top. "Just act normal. Don't be weird."

Easy for her to say. Priya was gorgeous. Maya was... well, Maya was the girl who once got her period through white khakis in the middle of science class.

They walked through Tyler's gate together. The smell of chlorine and expensive sunscreen hit her. People were already in the water, laughing like they didn't have a care in the world. Tyler emerged from the crowd, his hair wet and messy in that way that looked good on guys but terrible on her.

"Hey!" he said, actually smiling at her. Wait, was he smiling at her or behind her? Please don't let him be smiling behind her.

"Hey," Maya managed, her voice cracking slightly. Smooth.

Then came the worst part. Changing. The bathroom situation. Because of course Tyler's house only had ONE bathroom and ten girls waiting to use it. Maya ended up in the guest room with some random girl doing palm readings for five bucks.

"Your palm says you're going to meet someone special," the girl said, tracing lines on Maya's sweaty hand. "Soon. Today."

Maya almost laughed. Sure. Unless "someone special" meant her own embarrassment, she was good.

But then she saw him. Caleb from her English class, sitting alone on the diving board, looking as awkward as she felt. Their eyes met across the pool. He gave her a tiny wave.

Her palms weren't the only ones sweating anymore.

"Go talk to him," Priya whispered, practically pushing her.

"I can't. What would I even say?"

"Literally anything. Just say hi. He's been looking at you all day."

Wait, really?

Maya walked over to the diving board, her heart pounding like she'd just run a marathon. Caleb's dark hair curled slightly when wet. Cute. Really cute.

"Hey," she said again. This time, her voice didn't crack.

"Hey," he said back, smiling. "I, uh, like your hair. It looks cool."

Her hair. He liked her hair. The same hair that had been giving her panic attacks all morning.

"Thanks," she said, feeling something shift inside her. Maybe, just maybe, the palm reader wasn't completely wrong after all.