Thunder on the Court

Maya pulled the brim of her dad's old baseball hat lower, trying to disappear into the bleachers. First day at Northwood High, and somehow she'd already agreed to join the padel team tryouts because cute Tyler from chem class had mentioned it.

"You're up," someone called.

Maya's heart did that thing where it forgot how to rhythm properly. She grabbed a racket—seriously, who knew padel was even a sport?—and stepped onto the court. The glass walls reflected everyone's eyes. Everyone watching. Everyone waiting.

The sky chose that moment to crack open. Lightning forked across the clouds like somebody drawing with white fire.

"Everyone inside!" Coach yelled.

But Maya kept standing there, paralyzed, until Tyler flashed that grin at her from under the shelter. "Chicken?"

Something in her snapped. She wasn't going to be the weird new girl who couldn't handle a little weather. She swung at the ball, connected with something satisfying, and kept playing as rain started spitting down.

One hit. Two. Three. She was actually... good?

Then came the thunder, close enough to rattle her teeth.

She started running—off the court, toward the school building, hat flying off somewhere behind her. Tyler was running too, laughing, and they both scrambled inside just as the sky opened up completely.

"You're insane," he said, grinning as they dripped onto the hallway linoleum.

"Insane awesome?" Maya asked, breathless and soaked and weirdly alive.

"Definitely insane awesome." He handed her the hat he'd somehow saved. "So, same time tomorrow?"

Maya tucked the hat back on, brim perfectly adjusted. Maybe Northwood wouldn't be so terrible after all.