The Palm Reader's Prophecy

Maya's palms were sweating. Not just slightly damp, but full-on disaster mode. She wiped them on her denim shorts for the third time, watching Leo from across the refreshment table. He was laughing at something Sarah said, his easy confidence making Maya feel like a total fraud.

"Hey, want your palm read?" Chloe appeared beside her, holding a glittery pen and looking suspiciously eager. "I watched, like, five YouTube tutorials. I'm practically a professional now."

Before Maya could protest, Chloe grabbed her hand and started tracing lines. "Ooh, see this? You're going to have an epic summer. But wait..." Chloe squinted dramatically. "You've been walking around like a zombie all week. Finals killed you, huh?"

Maya groaned. "You have no idea. I pulled three all-nighters and I'm pretty sure I failed chemistry. I'm surviving on caffeine and sheer willpower at this point."

"You need actual food," Chloe said, dragging her toward the snack table. "Not whatever you've been eating. Or not eating."

The table was sad. Store-bought chips, a wilted veggie platter where the spinach had seen better days, and a giant bowl with a single goldfish swimming in lonely circles. Someone had brought their pet. Why? No one knew.

"That fish is literally me," Maya said, watching it float aimlessly. "Just existing in a bowl, wondering what my purpose is."

"Your purpose is to talk to Leo before he leaves." Chloe pointed toward the door, where Leo was already putting on his shoes. "Go. Now. Or I will read your palm again and predict your future as a lonely cat person."

Maya's heart raced. She smoothed her sweaty palms one last time and marched over, her brain frantically searching for something cool to say.

"Hey Leo!" she called out, her voice squeaking slightly. "Wait, you're leaving?"

He turned, smiling. "Yeah, gotta help my mom with something. But hey, I was looking for you—wanted to ask if you're coming to the beach tomorrow?"

The goldfish continued its lonely circles. The spinach remained uneaten. Maya's palms were still sweaty.

But somehow, none of that mattered anymore.

"Totally," she said, grinning like she wasn't exhausted and nervous and completely out of her depth. "I'll be there."

Chloe gave her a thumbs-up from across the room. Maya's summer was beginning, and her palm-reading friend had been right about one thing—it was going to be epic.