Three Second Memory

Maya's cat, Luna, knocked over the goldfish bowl again. Water sloshed across her homework, soaking the algebra problems she'd been staring at for forty minutes. Perfect. Just perfect.

"Luna, seriously?" She grabbed a towel, but her phone buzzed before she could finish cleaning. Group chat exploding:

u coming 2 padel 2day??

coach is gonna flip if u ditch again

Maya's stomach did that thing it always did when padel came up — the fluttery, twisting feeling that had nothing to do with the sport itself and everything to do with who'd be there.

maybe?? busy w/ homework

She typed back, then deleted it. Lame excuse and she knew it. The truth? She'd been avoiding the court since last week when Jordan — the Jordan who'd been her lab partner since seventh grade, who somehow got cute over the summer, who now smelled like expensive cologne and confidence — had partnered with her and she'd completely choked. Missed every shot. Tripped over her own feet. Turned into a human disaster.

just come. we need u for the tournament

Ugh. FINE. be there in 15

The goldfish, Beta, swam in what was left of the water in his temporary cup. He looked at her with those weird blank fish eyes, mouth opening and closing.

"You're supposed to have a three-second memory," she told him. "That sounds nice, honestly. Just forget everything instantly. Poof."

Luna wound around her ankles, purring like a tiny motor.

At the courts, everything was too loud. Music, shouting, the thwack of balls hitting walls. Jordan was there, laughing with someone, wearing those ridiculous yellow padel shoes that somehow worked.

"Maya!" He waved. "Saved you a spot."

Her chest squeezed.

"Hey."

"Nervous about the tournament?" He asked it like he actually cared, not like it was a joke.

"Yeah. I kinda... suck at this."

"Dude, everyone's terrible at first. Remember when I served the ball into my own face last month?"

She did remember. She'd laughed so hard she'd cried.

"You're better than you think," he said. "Also, I talked to Coach. We're partners for the tournament."

Wait. WHAT.

"You chose me? After last week?"

"You're my favorite person to play with," Jordan said, so casually, like it was just a fact. "Also you make me laugh when I mess up, which is constantly."

The tournament was chaos — Maya's palms were sweating, Luna would be offended by how much she was sweating — but they played. And somehow, they clicked. Jordan set up shots; she finished them. She missed some; he didn't care. They lost in the semifinals, but she couldn't stop smiling.

same time next week?? partner 😏

Jordan texted afterward.

absolutely. u better not serve into ur own face this time

no promises lol

At home, Luna was asleep on her bed. Beta was back in his bowl, swimming in slow circles.

"You know what?" Maya told the fish. "Maybe goldfish have it right. Living in the moment. Not overthinking everything."

Her phone buzzed again. A photo from Jordan — her mid-swing, hair everywhere, looking ridiculous but happy.

action shot lol 🔥

She saved it. Then another notification:

tourney was so fun. glad we're partners

Maya smiled at her phone like the absolute cornball she was. Some things you didn't want to forget. Not ever.