The Spy Who Liked Me

Kai's phone buzzed during third period English. Again. The Group Chat — the one with Noah, Sarah, and the other cool kids — kept blowing up his notifications. He wasn't even supposed to be in there. Someone must have added him by mistake last week, and now he was too terrified to leave and draw attention to himself.

So he became a spy. Not the cool James Bond kind. The lurker kind, watching their digital lives unfold like a reality show he'd accidentally wandered into.

"You coming to track practice?" Marcus asked, slamming his locker shut.

"Yeah," Kai lied. He wasn't running track anymore. His dad had lost his job last month, and Kai needed to pick up shifts at the pizza place. But admitting that felt like admitting failure. So he just kept showing up to school in his running shorts, carrying the burden of a life that didn't exist anymore.

Friday night, Jada's pool party. The invitation had been a mass text — everyone invited. Kai almost didn't go. But something about the way the water reflected the party lights from a distance, like a constellation he could observe but never touch, pulled him in.

He stood by the snack table, clutching a red cup like it was a lifeline. That's when he saw the dog — some ancient golden retriever wandering near the fence, looking as out of place as Kai felt.

Without thinking, Kai knelt down. "Hey buddy. You lost too?"

The dog flopped onto its back, demanding belly rubs. Kai laughed, really laughed, for the first time in weeks. He didn't notice Sarah approaching until she was right there.

"That's Buster," she said. "My grandma's dog. He always crashes parties."

"Cool dog," Kai managed.

"You're in the group chat," Sarah said suddenly. "We were wondering why you never say anything."

Kai's face burned. "Someone added me by mistake. I was gonna leave but—"

"No mistake." Sarah splashed water at him, grinning. "Noah added you because he thinks you're actually funny. We're doing a group movie tomorrow. You should come."

The dog licked Kai's hand. The water from Sarah's splash was still dripping down his shirt. For the first time in forever, something felt real.

"Yeah," Kai said. "I think I will."

He wasn't running from anything anymore. Well, except maybe Buster, who'd just grabbed a slice of pizza from the table and bolted toward the gate.

"Buster! NO!" Sarah yelled, chasing after him.

Kai laughed and followed them into the night.