The Party Crash Course

I felt like a walking zombie. Three hours of sleep after finals week will do that to you. But when Jake texted "party at my place, everyone's gonna be there," I couldn't say no. Not if I wanted to exist in his orbit anymore.

The house was already packed when I arrived. I squeezed through the kitchen, dodging a guy who had to be part-bear—massive shoulders, definitely on the football team—while trying to look like I belonged. My heart was going a mile a minute, which was pathetic. Maya would've laughed at me. Maya, whose fox-like cleverness got us out of everything from skipping detention to "accidentally" borrowing her sister's car.

"You made it!" Jake appeared from nowhere, his smile hitting me like lightning. Everything slowed down. Stupid, I know, but my brain was running on caffeine and desperation.

"Yeah," I managed. "Cool party."

"Glad you came." He stepped closer. "Hey, some of us are doing zombie makeup in the basement for this thing tomorrow. You should come hang."

This was it. The moment I'd been waiting for since September. But then I saw his eyes drift past me toward the front door, where a group of seniors had just walked in. The bear-football guy high-fived one of them. Jake's attention shifted.

And suddenly, I saw it all clearly. The months of waiting, the overthinking, the desperate need to be noticed by someone who didn't actually see me.

"Actually," I said, surprising myself, "I promised my friend I'd help her with something. But thanks."

I walked out into the cool night air, pulling out my phone to text Maya. She'd understand. Probably call me an idiot for waiting this long, but she'd understand.

Some things take longer than lightning strikes to figure out. But better late than never, right?