Thunderstorm at the Back Table

Maya's ripped black beanie was basically her force field. Pull it low enough, and she could make it through freshman year without anyone actually seeing her — at least, that was the theory.

Every lunch period, she'd claim the corner table near the back exit, the one with the perfect sightline to the popular crowd. She wasn't proud of it, okay? But there was something mesmerizing about how they moved through the world like they owned it. Especially Zoey, who laughed with her whole body and made everything look effortless. Maya was basically a spy at this point, gathering intel on how normal humans existed in public spaces. Lowkey embarrassing, but whatever.

Then came the Wednesday the sky decided to completely lose it.

The cafeteria lights flickered. Once. Twice. Then the whole room plunged into darkness, and outside, a jagged streak of lightning turned the windows white-bright for half a second. Someone screamed. Chaos, level: maximum.

Maya's phone buzzed in her pocket. Unknown number.

"Hey. This is gonna sound weird, but you're sitting in my usual spot when I skip lunch to cry in the bathroom. Can we please trade before the teachers make us all hold hands and sing Kumbaya?"

It was Zoey. Zoey was texting her. Zoey knew she existed.

"Trade what?" Maya typed back, hands shaking.

"Spots. I'm literally hiding behind the vending machine right now. This lunch room is a nightmare and I don't have the energy to perform happiness today."

Maya stood up and walked toward the vending machines in the sudden flashlight glow of everyone's phone screens. There she was — Zoey, actual Zoey, sitting on the floor with her knees pulled to her chest, wearing the most distressed denim jacket Maya had ever seen.

"Hi," Maya whispered.

Zoey looked up, eyes rimmed with smudged mascara. "Hi. Thanks for the save."

They sat there in the semi-darkness while thunder rattled the ceiling. Maya learned that Zoey's parents were getting divorced and she hadn't slept in three days. Zoey learned that Maya's beanie was from Hot Topic and she watched the popular table because she wanted to feel less alone.

"You don't have to spy anymore," Zoey said, as the lights finally flickered back on. "You can just... sit with me. If you want."

Maya pulled her hat off, running a hand through her flattened hair. "Yeah. I'd like that."

Sometimes the universe hits you with lightning to show you exactly where you're supposed to be.