Zombie Mode

Maya walked into third period chemistry feeling like a straight-up zombie. Junior year was absolutely braining her—AP classes, college prep talks, her mom's new wellness obsession. She'd choked down two of those disgusting peach **vitamin** gummies in the parking lot because her mom swore they'd help with "focus and clarity." Spoiler: they did not.

"You good?" Liam whispered, sliding into the stool beside her. His hair was doing that thing where it stuck up in three different directions, and Maya's stomach did that annoying little flip it always did around him.

"Never been more deceased," she muttered, resting her head on her textbook. "My **cat** decided 3 AM was the perfect time to have zoomies across my face. I've had four hours of sleep."

Liam laughed. "Rough. But hey, you coming to the courts later? Everyone's playing **padel**."

Padel. Of course. The sport that had taken over their school like some contagious disease. Suddenly everyone was obsessed—carrying racquet bags to class, posting court selfies, talking about "smashes" and "shots" like they were professional athletes. Maya had never even held a racquet, but she'd been hearing about it nonstop for weeks.

"Maybe," she said, even though she had zero intention of going. Court social dynamics were a minefield she wasn't ready to navigate today. Especially not when Chloe—the queen bee who'd decided Maya was her newest project—would be there, judging everyone's technique while simultaneously flirting with every guy within a ten-foot radius.

"You should," Liam said, and his voice went soft. "I could teach you. If you want."

Maya lifted her head. Was he—? No. Don't go there, her brain warned. But then his ears went slightly pink, and maybe—

"Maya!" Chloe's voice cut through the moment like a siren. "Did you hear about Jessica? Apparently she's been hooking up with Tyler behind Sarah's back. What a **bull** artist, acting all bestie while literally stabbing her in the back."

The moment shattered. Chloe flopped into the seat on Maya's other side, already pulling out her phone to show the "receipts." Maya caught Liam's eye and saw her own exhausted frustration reflected there.

"Later?" he mouthed.

She nodded. Maybe she would go to the courts. Maybe she'd learn padel. Maybe Liam would actually teach her, and maybe it wouldn't be about Chloe's drama or her mom's vitamins or feeling like the walking dead.

Maybe for once, Maya would just be Maya—awake, alive, and exactly where she wanted to be.