The Spy at Court 4

I'd mastered the art of being invisible. Cafeteria table by the recycling bins? Check. Hoodie up, headphones on? Double check. Total spy mode activated.

Then my mom signed me up for padel lessons at the country club where my summer crush, Maya, definitely did not hang out. (Spoiler: she did.)

"You need social interaction, Leo," she'd said, all therapist-voice. "Freshman year is hard enough without you ghosting through it."

So there I was, Wednesday at 4 PM, gripping a rental racquet like it might detonate, watching Maya laugh with her friends on Court 3. She wore this pink athletic set that should've been basic on anyone else but looked perfect on her. Her hair swung in a high pony when she served. I was officially the creepiest spy in existence, and I hadn't even done anything.

"You gonna stand there all day or actually play?"

I jumped. A girl with messy braids and knee socks stood behind me, holding another racquet. Her shirt featured a cartoon **bear** flipping the bird. "I'm Jules. Also terrible at this. We're doubles partners now."

"I'm Leo. Also terrible."

"Perfect." She dragged me toward Court 4, the shabbiest one with cracked paint and a net that sagged like it'd given up on life. "Maya's been watching you, you know."

I nearly tripped. "What? No she hasn't."

"Bro, she literally asked about you yesterday. 'Who's the quiet guy with the sad eyes?' Those were her exact words." Jules bounced a ball against the wall. "So we're gonna make you look competent enough to talk to her without making it weird. You're welcome."

We played. I was abysmal. Jles was worse. But every time I flailed and missed, she'd cackle so loud that Maya actually turned around. Once. Twice. By the third time, Maya was full-on watching us, tiny smile playing at her mouth.

"You doing that on purpose?" I asked Jules, sweating through my shirt.

"Doing what? Being bad at sports?" She missed another shot. "Nah, this is just my natural talent."

By the end of the hour, I'd learned two things: Jules became my first real friend in months, and Maya definitely knew my name now. She even waved when we left the court.

"Same time next week?" Jules asked. "We've got a reputation to maintain."

"For being the worst padel players in history?"

"The WORST," she agreed, grinning. "But hey, at least we're not invisible anymore."