When the Skies Split Open

Maya's phone buzzed with the eighth text from Jasmine since lunch. "u coming 2 the party?? everyone's gonna be there"

Maya stared at her ceiling fan, spinning like her overthinking brain. She'd been crushing on Leo since seventh grade, and tonight—according to the group chat that wouldn't stop blowing up—Leo would finally be at Taylor's house. The same Taylor whose parents were out of town. The same Taylor who served *papaya* juice at parties because apparently her mom was into some wellness phase.

The thunder rattled Maya's window. Outside, summer *lightning* flashed across the purple-black sky, perfect timing for the ultimate excuse to bail. But her fingers were already typing: "on my way"

Her neighbor's *dog*, Buster, barked at her from behind the fence as she sprinted to her bike, rain already spotting her sneakers. Good old Buster, always making noise about nothing.

She arrived at Taylor's front door soaked, heart hammering, hair frizzing into something resembling electrocuted seaweed. So much for the casual entrance she'd practiced in her mirror.

"Maya!" Taylor threw the door open, blasting music and the smell of—yup—papaya something. "You made it! Leo's literally been asking about you."

Taylor said it like it was nothing. Maya's stomach did something concerning.

She found Leo on the back porch, phone glowing in his hands, away from the noise inside. For a second, they just watched the storm together. *Lightning* cracked across the sky, illuminating everything—his profile, the papaya-adorned fruit platter someone had brought out, the way he kept glancing at her like he wanted to say something.

"I like your hair," Leo said finally. "It looks... cool."

Maya laughed. "It looks like I got struck by *lightning*."

"Exactly." Leo grinned, and her whole body felt warm despite the rain-chilled air.

Back inside, someone's *dog* had somehow gotten in—a tiny yappy thing that jumped on the couch and started barking at the papaya display like it had personally offended it. The whole room cracked up. Even Maya.

She caught Leo watching her laugh, and something in his eyes made her think maybe, just maybe, this wasn't just going to be another night of overthinking and missed chances.

The *lightning* flashed one more time, and she didn't even need to check her phone to know Jasmine had already texted: "SO?? WHAT HAPPENED??"