Thunder Strike at Midnight

Jordan's heart pounded like a bass drop at a homecoming dance. This was it — the moment he'd been lowkey stressing about for weeks. Maya had actually agreed to hang out, just the two of them, and now they were sitting on the hood of his dad's pickup truck at Miller's Point, the unofficial make-out spot of their sophomore class.

"So..." Jordan started, immediately cringing at how awkward his voice sounded. Smooth. Real smooth.

Maya laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're cute when you're nervous."

Jordan's face burned. He felt like he couldn't bear another second of this excruciating perfection — she was actually into him, and his brain had apparently short-circuited.

Then it happened. A crack of lightning split the sky like something out of a Marvel movie, illuminating everything in blinding white. Thunder shook the ground beneath them.

"Holy crap!" Maya screamed, grabbing Jordan's arm. "Did you SEE that?"

Before Jordan could process what was happening, a massive shape emerged from the woods. A bear. An actual freaking bear, lumbering toward them like it owned the place.

"Run!" Jordan shouted, grabbing Maya's hand and bolting toward his truck.

They scrambled inside, Jordan fumbling with the keys as the bear huffed and pawed at the ground nearby. His hands were shaking so badly he nearly dropped them twice.

"Jordan," Maya whispered, half-terrified, half-amazed. "That was INSANE."

Finally, the engine roared to life. They peeled out of there, tires spinning in the gravel. When they finally stopped laughing — and hyperventilating — at the gas station down the road, Maya turned to him with this look that made Jordan's stomach do flip-flops.

"Worst first date ever?" she asked, grinning.

"Nah," Jordan said, surprised at his own confidence. "Pretty unforgettable, though."

Maya kissed him then, quick and perfect, and Jordan decided he could definitely bear more nights like this. Even if they did almost get eaten by a bear.