The Zombie Run

Maya adjusted her rotting flesh makeup in the bathroom mirror, the latex peeling at the edges. Senior year homecoming week and she'd volunteered to be a zombie for the charity 5K. Classic overcommitment, honestly.

She spotted Jordan by the water fountain, surrounded by their old squad. The friend group that had somehow become Jordan's group after that blowout fight over summer break. Now Maya felt like a spy observing from the margins, watching Jordan laugh at something Chloe said, the same way Jordan used to laugh at Maya's jokes.

"You ready?" Tyler asked, appearing beside her. He was wearing a bear costume—school mascot complete with oversized head. "Coach says if we don't place in the fundraising, no pizza party after."

"As ready as I'll ever be." Maya forced a grin. "Time to chase some clueless freshmen."

The gun went off and suddenly she was running—or lurching, technically—through the makeshift obstacle course behind the school. The October air bit at her exposed arms, fake blood streaking her face as she terrorized participants doing their best to outrun the zombie horde.

Then she saw Jordan up ahead, jogging near the back of the pack, headphones in, completely checked out. Jordan slowed near the old oak tree, bent over like they'd tripped.

Maya's feet moved before her brain could intervene. She dropped the zombie act, sprinting over. "Jordan? You okay?"

Jordan looked up, eyes wide. Then something like recognition, followed by that guarded expression they'd given Maya since August. "Yeah. Just twisted my ankle."

Maya reached out without thinking, grabbing Jordan's arm to steady them. For a second, everything was exactly like before—before the text messages, before the misheard conversation, before their entire friendship imploded over something neither would actually talk about.

"Thanks," Jordan said softly. They didn't pull away immediately.

"No problem." Maya stood there awkwardly, still in full zombie makeup. "So..."

"So." Jordan adjusted their glasses. "Hey, I was gonna text you. My friend group is doing a horror movie marathon tomorrow. You wanna... I mean, if you're not busy?"

Tyler in his bear head jogged past, yelling, "Maya! Principal's watching! Get back in character!"

Maya looked at Jordan, really looked at them, and for the first time in months, the anger felt lighter. Manageable. "Pick me up at seven?"

Jordan's smile was genuine. "Seven it is."

Maya walked back toward the zombie zone, then turned and sprinted toward the next group of runners, shouting, "BRAINS!" dramatically. Maybe senior year wouldn't be so bad after all.