Thunder on the Padel Court

Maya felt like a **zombie** as she dragged herself to the sports complex, hoodie pulled low over her eyes. Three hours of sleep would do that to you — thanks to that history paper she'd procrastinated on until 2 AM.

"You look like death," Kiara observed, barely looking up from her phone.

"Thanks, bestie." Maya collapsed onto the bench and fumbled with the charging **cable** for her phone. The frayed wire only connected at specific angles, and today it chose violence. "Whatever. Just get through **padel** practice, then I can die in peace."

Padel. The sport everyone here was obsessed with. Maya had grown up playing basketball in the city — something about closed courts and street games, nothing fancy. But this private school crowd lived for padel, the tennis-squash hybrid that required actual technique. She'd only agreed to join the club because Tyler had suggested it. Tyler, with his effortless grin and the way he made everything look easy, including padel.

Coach Martinez blew his whistle. "Pair up! Today we work on volleys."

Of course. Tyler ended up with her.

"Ready to crush me again?" she muttered, gripping her racquet.

He laughed. "Maybe I'll go easy on you today."

"Don't you dare."

They played, and something clicked. Maybe it was the **lightning** that cracked across the sky outside — dramatic timing, whatever — or maybe she was just finally awake. Her returns got sharper. Her serves landed exactly where she wanted them to. Tyler stopped going easy on her somewhere around game point, and they were both sweating, grinning, completely in sync.

Then his phone buzzed. He checked it, and the smile flickered.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just... my ex. She's being weird." He ran a hand through his hair, which was damp with sweat. "Whatever. Not gonna ruin the vibe."

But the vibe was already different. Maya felt something shift in her chest — that weird, hollow **water** feeling of realizing you liked someone who was still hung up on someone else. Classic. Absolutely classic.

"Nice game though," he said, grabbing his water bottle. "You're actually getting good at this."

"I've always been good at sports," she said, surprising herself. "Just... new to this one."

"Well, you're a natural." He shoulder-bumped her. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow."

She walked home under clearing skies, hoodie off now, feeling less zombie and more... real. Tyler might be complicated, but padel? Padel she could handle. And sometimes, that was enough.