Thunderstruck

Maya stared at her reflection, smoothing her shirt for the tenth time. Tonight was Alex's party—the first real high school social event of freshman year—and she'd been psyching herself up all week. The high school social pyramid felt impossible to climb, especially when you started at the bottom.

"You got this," she told herself. But her hands were shaking.

Her Golden Retriever, Buster, nudged her leg, sensing her nerves. "Yeah, I know, bud. Even you think I'm being dramatic."

She grabbed her phone—no texts from her friend group yet. Typical. They were probably already there, living their best lives while she overthought every possible social disaster.

CRACK.

Lightning split the sky outside her window, followed instantly by thunder that shook the walls. The weather app had said nothing about storms. Suddenly, her phone blew up. Party postponed due to weather.

Maya flopped onto her bed. Of course. The universe had a sick sense of humor.

Buster started barking like crazy at the front door. Then she heard it—sirens. Multiple sirens.

Her heart kicked into overdrive. She threw on her shoes and grabbed Buster's leash, already running toward the door. Her dad's car wasn't in the driveway. He was supposed to be home from his shift twenty minutes ago.

The rain was coming down in sheets as she sprinted down the street, dodging fallen branches. Another lightning flash illuminated something ahead—a car crumpled against a utility pole, its front end crushed like a bear had sat on it.

No no no no no.

She recognized the dented rear bumper. The same one from when she'd accidentally backed into the mailbox last summer.

"DAD!"

He was standing outside the car, soaked but alive, talking to a police officer. When he saw her running toward them, his eyes went wide. "Maya? What are you doing out here? You're supposed to be at—"

"I thought—I was worried—" She couldn't get the words out, just threw her arms around him.

Buster bounded over, sensing the emotion, and wrapped himself around their legs like a golden, furry support group. Her dad's phone buzzed in his pocket. Probably her mom.

"I'm okay, Monkey," he said, holding her tight. "Just some idiot hydroplaned into me. Car's probably totaled, but I walked away. That's what matters."

She pulled back, wiping rain from her eyes. "You're the worst texter ever. You could've—"

"I know, I know. I was dealing with insurance and the police and my phone died." He managed a weak smile. "Besides, I thought you were at Alex's party living your best life."

"Party got cancelled. You know, because of the storm."

He laughed, and the sound was the best thing she'd heard all night. "Well, looks like neither of us is having the Friday we planned."

They walked home in the rain, Buster trotting happily beside them like this was the greatest adventure ever. Maya's clothes were soaked, her makeup was definitely ruined, and she'd missed the biggest party of freshman year.

But somehow, none of it mattered.

"Hey Dad?"

"Yeah, Monkey?"

"I'm glad you're okay."

"Me too." He squeezed her shoulder. "You know what this means, right?"

"What?"

"I'm definitely getting that pickup truck I've been looking at. Something with actual steel around it."

She laughed, and for the first time all night, the knot in her chest loosened. Maybe her freshman year wasn't going according to plan. But running through a lightning storm in her party clothes to rescue her dad from a fender bender?

Yeah, that was a story worth telling.