Thunder Thumbs

Maya's palms were literally sweating. Like, actual puddles in her hands. She wiped them on her jeans for the third time, glaring at the arcade cabinet towering over her. ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE IV in neon green letters flickered above her head.

"You gonna play or just stare at it?" A voice behind her made her jump.

She spun around. Ethan — the Ethan, who sat two rows behind her in AP Bio and had somehow never noticed her existence until today. He was wearing that beat-up hoodie with the paint splatters. The one she'd definitely never mentally complimented.

"I'm, uh, strategizing," Maya lied. "Zombies require strategy."

Ethan's eyebrow quirked. "Is that why you're holding the joystick like it's about to bite you?"

Okay, fair. Her grip was aggressive.

"I'm INTENSE," she said, maybe too loudly. "I play with INTENSITY."

"Bet I can beat your score." He held up his own palm, fingers splayed. "One game. Loser buys slushies at the concession stand."

Maya's heart did that stupid flutter thing. "You're on."

They started playing, and Maya forgot to be self-conscious. Something clicked — her thumbs moving lightning-fast across the buttons, Ethan cursing every time she combo-killed three zombies at once. The arcade's lights flashed, neon pink and blue washing over their faces. They were both terrible at the game, honestly, but they were terrible TOGETHER, laughing at every virtual death.

"Wait," Ethan said suddenly, pausing the game. His hand found hers, palm against palm. "Your hand is literally shaking."

"Adrenaline," Maya said, but she didn't pull away.

"Nah." He smiled, and it was genuine and perfect and totally unfair. "That's pure gamer rage."

Outside, real lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating the arcade windows in a flash of white. The storm that had been threatening all day was finally breaking.

"Tie game," Maya said, staring at the high score screen. Their scores were exactly equal. Both abysmal.

"Rematch?" Ethan asked. "I've got quarters."

"Only if you admit I carried you."

"Never." He grinned. "But I will buy you that slushie. Blue raspberry, extra ice?"

Maya's palms were still sweaty. Her heart was still racing. But for the first time in forever, she didn't care about being awkward.

"You're on."