Thunder in the Smoothie Shop

The hat was stupid. I knew it, Maya knew it, but she insisted I wear the 'tropical vibes' fedora anyway. 'It's part of the branding, Leo. You're literally working at Island Fusion Blast.' She adjusted it with a grin, and I let her, because I'd let her do pretty much anything since seventh grade.

Summer job reality: I was spending July blending fruits for middle schoolers while Maya worked the register, being effortlessly perfect. Today was extra chaotic—the papaya delivery had arrived over-ripe, and the entire shop smelled like tropical regret.

'Hey, can I get the Green Machine?'

I looked up. Jason. From AP English. Jason who'd read his poetry aloud last week and made my entire brain short-circuit. 'Sure, coming right up.' I reached for the spinach—my hands were suddenly traitors. The container lid popped off. Green everywhere. All over my apron, the counter, and the stupid hat.

'Smooth,' Jason said, but he was smiling. Not even mean-smiling. Actual smiling.

Then the storm hit. Lightning cracked the sky outside, and the entire block went dark. Emergency lights kicked on, painting everything in this weird red glow. The blender's motor died mid-whir.

'Well,' Maya said from the register. 'This is officially the worst first date setup ever.'

Wait. What?

Jason laughed, sliding onto a stool. 'I mean, it's definitely memorable.' He gestured at my spinach-covered self. 'Very artistic interpretation of the Green Machine.'

Maya disappeared into the back room like the tactical genius she was. I leaned against the counter, adrenaline still buzzing from the lightning strike. 'So. You and Maya planned this?'

'Planned to trap you in a dark smoothie shop during a thunderstorm?' Jason's face went a little pink in the red light. 'No. But I've been meaning to come by. For weeks.' He paused. 'The poetry. About the storm? You got that, right?'

The pieces clicked. The lines about electricity and unexpected illumination and—

'Oh,' I said. 'OH.'

He grinned, and outside, another flash of lightning illuminated everything. 'Yeah. Oh.'