Zombie Apocalypse Friday

Maya stared at the chunky green smoothie her mom had placed on the counter. "Spinach, kale, apple, and a prayer," her mom said. "You'll thank me later."

Maya wouldn't. The smoothie tasted like lawn clippings blended with regret.

"Are you serious about Jordan's party tonight?" her mom asked, already knowing the answer.

Maya grabbed her phone. Twelve unread messages from her best friend Sierra. None from Jordan, despite Maya's three texts asking if the invitation still stood after she'd accidentally sent that voice note thinking aloud about how Jordan's eyes were really pretty.

"Yeah. Super serious."

Her mom's expression softened. "Honey, if things get weird—"

"They won't."

But they did.

Three hours later, Maya stood in Jordan's crowded basement, nursing a lukewarm soda while Jordan laughed with someone else across the room. Sierra was supposed to be her ride, but Sierra had found some college guy and was currently making heart eyes at him near the speakers.

Maya texted her dad: Can you pick me up?

He didn't reply. He was probably asleep already.

She stepped outside into the crisp October air and sat on the front porch, scrolling through zombie memes to avoid crying in public. Why was everything so complicated? Why couldn't friendship and crushes and high school just make sense for once?

"You okay?"

Maya looked up. Jordan stood there, looking concerned and annoyingly cute in that oversized hoodie.

"Fine. Just needed air."

Jordan sat beside her. "I saw your texts. I'm sorry I didn't reply earlier—my phone died, and then everyone was hanging around, and I got distracted. But I'm glad you came."

Maya's heart did that stupid fluttery thing. "You are?"

"Yeah. I was hoping you would." Jordan pulled something from a hoodie pocket. "Also, I saw your Instagram story about that spinach smoothie disaster, and I brought you this." A chocolate bar.

Maya laughed. "You're my favorite person right now."

They talked until Jordan's cat, an orange tabby named Nacho, sauntered onto the porch and demanded Jordan's lap and attention. Eventually Maya's dad's old station wagon rolled up, and Jordan walked her to the car.

"Same time next zombie apocalypse?" Jordan asked.

Maya grinned. "Absolutely."

In the passenger seat, her dad's golden retriever, Buster, wagged his tail at her arrival. And somewhere inside her phone, Sierra's texts lit up the screen: SORRY OMG COLLEGE GUY WAS WEIRD BUT I'M COMING OVER

Some nights ended weird. Some ended in spinach smoothies and almost-tears. But this one ended with chocolate, a friend, and the beginning of something new.