When Lightning Strikes the Lunch Table

Maya's first week at Northwood High was going exactly as well as she'd predicted: which is to say, not at all.

"Ew, what IS that?" Chloe pointed at Maya's lunch, her nose scrunched like she'd just smelled something rotten.

"It's papaya," Maya said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her mom had packed it, thinking it would be a "nice reminder of home." Instead, it was basically a giant neon sign that said I DON'T BELONG HERE.

"That's literally so weird." Chloe turned back to her friends, already done with Maya.

Maya stared at her tray. The papaya stared back, all orange and innocent, totally unaware it was single-handedly destroying her social life.

At least she had the mascot costume to look forward to. Northwood's mascot was a bear, and somehow, someway, Maya had volunteered to wear it at Friday's game. Probably because she was desperate for literally any way to fit in, even if it meant sweating inside a polyester carcass.

"You're gonna be a bear?" Ryan asked at practice, actually looking at her for the first time all week. "That's kinda iconic, not gonna lie."

Maya's stomach did this weird fluttery thing. "Yeah. It's... chill."

Friday arrived like a storm front. The air was heavy, the kind that makes your hair frizz and your skin feel electric. By halftime, Maya was already melting inside the bear suit, her vision limited to the mesh screen that smelled like three years of other people's sweat.

Then it happened—the sky opened up. Not rain. Lightning, close enough that the whole stadium went silent for a heartbeat before someone screamed "STORM!" and everyone started scrambling.

Maya couldn't move fast enough in the bear head. Someone grabbed her paw—Ryan, actually, Ryan—and pulled her toward the school.

They ended up squeezed into the tiny equipment closet, both soaked, Maya still wearing half a bear costume. The lightning flashed outside, painting everything purple and white.

"That was legit terrifying," Ryan said, breathing hard.

"Yeah," Maya managed, her heart racing.

"So like, I was gonna ask if you wanted to come to Chloe's party tomorrow," Ryan said, like this was totally normal conversation to have while hiding from a storm in a closet with someone wearing a bear suit. "But you're actually kinda cool, so..."

Maya laughed, she couldn't help it. "I'm wearing a bear head right now."

"Honestly? Iconic." He grinned. "Tomorrow then? Bring papaya if you want. I'll try anything once."

Outside, the storm was breaking. Inside, something was starting.