Zombie Mode Activated

Maya adjusted her baseball cap, pulling the brim low. First day of sophomore year and she was already running on zombie mode—thanks to her mom insisting she take that horse-pill vitamin every morning. The thing was practically a choking hazard.

"You coming to the tryouts?" Jordan asked, falling into step beside her at lunch. His binder was stuffed with loose papers, chaos energy matching his messy curls.

"Maybe. If I don't die of embarrassment first." Maya kicked at a stray—wait, was that a cat? A calico was napping on a bench near the baseball field, completely unbothered by the pre-practice noise. Lucky cat. Just existing, zero social anxiety required.

The sky chose that exact moment to crack open. Lightning flashed across the clouds like someone taking a flash photo of the entire campus. Rain started dumping down, and everyone scattered toward the overhang.

"This is fine," Maya muttered, attempting to wring out her flannel. "Super chill. My hair's definitely not going to look like I just emerged from a swamp."

Jordan laughed. "Bro, you're fine. Besides, everyone's gonna look like a drowned rat today. Except that cat—it's still out there living its best life."

They watched through the rain as the calico casually stood up, stretched, and padded toward the school building like it owned the place.

"Goals," Maya said. "I want its confidence."

"You? Nervous?" Jordan bumped her shoulder. "You literally crushed it at summer camp. You're not giving yourself enough credit."

Before she could respond, Coach Miller's voice echoed across the field: "Tryouts postponed until tomorrow! Same time, don't be late!"

Maya exhaled, shoulders dropping. She hadn't realized she'd been holding everything so tight. Maybe tomorrow she'd actually try out. Maybe she wouldn't. Either way, she'd figure it out—zombie mode and all.

"Wanna hit the vending machines?" Jordan asked.

"Obviously. My treat. Consider it reparations for the vitamin trauma I endured this morning."