The Zombie Run Strategy

Maya's hair was officially a disaster zone.

"You look like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket," Jordan said, sliding onto the bench next to her. "Also, you're vibrating. Are you okay?"

Maya glared at her reflection in the locker mirror. "I've been mainlining caffeine and stress gummies since 6 AM. Also, Coach Thomas called me a 'bear with a sore tooth' at practice yesterday because I've been snapping at everyone."

"That's because it's Hoco week and your crush is finally noticing you," Jordan said, like it was obvious. "Which brings me to my point: you need a Vitamin Z intervention."

"Vitamin Z?"

"Zombie. As in, stop acting like one." Jordan pulled out her phone. "I'm signing you up for the 5K Zombie Run tonight. It's charity, it's social, and if you trip, the zombies help you up. It's literally perfect."

Maya started to protest, but then she saw him: Ethan, walking past the cafeteria in his varsity jacket, laughing with his friends. Her stomach did that weird fluttery thing that made her want to simultaneously run toward him and sprint in the opposite direction.

"Fine," she said. "But if I die, I'm haunting you."

That evening, Maya stood at the starting line, heart racing, faux-bloody flag tied around her waist like a target. The zombies were scattered through the course—volunteers in terrifying makeup, groaning and staggering, grabbing at flags. This was ridiculous. This was embarrassing. This was... actually kind of fun?

She started running.

Past the first zombie, dodging its grasping hands. Around the bend, where another one lurked behind a tree. Her breathing fell into a rhythm. Her hair—still kind of a mess—streamed behind her. And for the first time all week, she wasn't overthinking everything.

A zombie lunged from behind a dumpster, and she squealed, dodging sideways—straight into someone.

"Whoa, careful—" Ethan grabbed her arm to steady her. His face was spattered with fake blood, zombie makeup streaked across one cheek. "You okay?"

Maya's brain short-circuited. "You're—you're a zombie?"

"Best shift ever," Ethan grinned, not letting go of her arm. "I've been wanting to talk to you all week. You seemed... stressed. Everything okay?"

And just like that, Maya wasn't running from anything anymore.

"Yeah," she said, and for the first time, it was true. "Yeah, everything's okay."