When Lightning Split the Sky Open

Jordan was running—literally and metaphorically. Track star, scholarship hopeful, totally crushing it. Except for the swimming unit in gym. Starting next week.

She'd managed to avoid it for three years.

"You coming to Maya's pool party?" Riley asked, leaning against Jordan's locker. Riley, with her effortless cool and the way she said Jordan's name like it meant something.

"Uh, busy."

"Lame." Riley's eyes danced. "It's gonna be legendary."

Jordan's cat, Barnaby, chose that moment to streak down the hallway—a tabby blur causing absolute chaos.

"That's your cat, isn't it?" Riley laughed, genuinely laughed, head thrown back.

Jordan took off running.

She caught Barnaby outside, breathless, knees scraped from where she'd skidded on pavement. Her secret? She couldn't swim. Not at all. What if people found out? What if RILEY found out?

Friday night. Jordan stood at Maya's back door, heart hammering. Pool lights flickered like trapped stars. Kids she barely knew laughing, perfect, confident,

Then Riley found her.

"You came."

"Yeah, I—"

"I can't swim either," Riley whispered.

"What? But you're—"

"Terrified." Riley's smile was small. "I was gonna fake sick. But if you're here..."

CRACK.

Lightning split the sky open—white-violet, electric, like the world had fractured. Rain poured down suddenly, violently. Everyone screamed and scattered.

Jordan and Riley ran to the gazebo, soaked through, shivering.

"This is so dumb," Riley said. "Being afraid of looking stupid."

"Yeah."

"We should learn. Together."

Lightning flashed again, illuminating everything—the rain, the pool, Riley's hand reaching for Jordan's.

"Yeah. Together."

Some moments feel like being underwater, silent and suspended. This one felt like breaking the surface, gasping, alive.

Running toward something instead of away.