Thunder Pool Thursday

Mia wasn't supposed to be at Jordan's pool party. Not after what happened last time. But here she was, hiding behind the fake palm tree, nursing a lukewarm soda and questioning every life choice that led to this moment.

Across the pool, Jordan emerged from the water like some dumb cliché, droplets sliding down toned arms, dark hair plastered to his forehead. Mia's stomach did that annoying flip thing it always did when he was near, which was ridiculous considering he'd called her 'bro' more times than she could count.

'Yo, you coming in or what?' Jordan called out. 'Or are you just gonna stand there looking like you're calculating everyone's social worth?'

Her best friend Riya snorted. 'She's definitely doing that. That's her favorite hobby.'

'Shut up, I'm not,' Mia protested weakly. But yeah, maybe she was. The social hierarchy of sophomore year was basically a full-time job.

Then Jordan's cat, a chaotic orange fuzzball named Nacho, came streaking across the patio, scrambling up the nearby utility pole and getting stuck on the cable wire dangling there. Everyone froze.

'Nacho, you absolute disaster,' Jordan groaned, running toward the pole. 'Not again!'

Before Mia could think better of it, she was already running, too. They ended up side by side at the base of the pole, Nacho yowling dramatically above them like this was the cat's personal revenge movie.

'So... how do we get him down?' Mia asked, suddenly aware of how close they were standing. Jordan smelled like chlorine and something citrusy.

'Usually I just bribe him with treats,' Jordan said, face flushing. 'But I didn't exactly bring cat treats to a pool party.' He laughed, this awkward sound that made Mia's chest do something dangerous. 'This is so embarrassing.'

'Nah,' she said, surprising herself. 'It's kind of... perfect, actually.'

Jordan looked at her then, really looked at her, and Mia felt like she was swimming in unfamiliar waters. 'Yeah?'

'Yeah. I mean, who else's cat would get stuck on a cable wire at a pool party? It's very on-brand.'

Then the sky cracked open—literally. Lightning flashed, thunder rattled Mia's teeth, and suddenly Nacho launched himself from the wire, landing in a puddle near Jordan's feet with a offended yowl. The first drops of rain hit the pool's surface, rippling outward like tiny explosions.

Everyone scrambled toward the house, shouting and laughing. Jordan grabbed Mia's hand to pull her under the patio overhang, and for a second—just a second—he didn't let go.

'Your cat,' Mia said, breathless from the run and everything else, 'is an actual menace.'

Jordan grinned, and it was different this time. More real. 'Yeah but he's got great timing, right?'

Mia's heart was doing something stupid and wonderful and terrifying all at once. 'The best,' she said, and realized she meant it.

Some things were worth getting caught in the rain for.