Zombie Mode at the Padel Court

My dad's new country club membership was supposed to be this whole 'fresh start' thing, which really just meant awkward Saturdays by the pool while he networked with people who said 'summer home' unironically. I was in full zombie mode — three hours of sleep, finals week brain fog, pretending I wasn't dying inside while wearing sunscreen that smelled like coconut artificiality.

Then I saw her at the padel court.

Maya from AP Chem, who'd sat two rows ahead of me all year and whose Instagram I may or may not have low-key stalked during boring lectures. She was playing padel with what looked like the popular crowd, laughing at something, hair messed perfect, and I was suddenly hyperaware of my flip-flops and the way my nervous hands were clutching my iPhone like a lifeline.

I wasn't trying to spy, I swear. I was just... observing from behind the strategically placed water fountain. Plus, my phone kept buzzing with group chat blow-by-blow updates from Lucas, who was apparently living vicariously through my misery.

'Dude, she's looking over here,' he typed. 'This is your moment.'

I spit water everywhere. Choked. May have made a sound that could only be described as a dying walrus.

Maya definitely noticed. She waved. Like, at me.

My internal monologue went straight to zombie apocalypse survival mode — fight, flight, or freeze in place until she stopped looking. But then she was walking over, padel racket still in hand, and my brain short-circuited entirely.

'Hey,' she said. 'You're in my chem class, right?' Like she'd actually noticed.

'Yeah,' I managed. 'I sit behind you. Sometimes.' Smooth. 'I'm just here with my dad. The club. He's... networking.'

She laughed, and it wasn't mean. 'Same. My mom's been talking to the same lady about retirement communities for forty minutes. You want to get out of here? There's a boba place down the street.'

My zombie heart did this whole resurrection thing. 'Absolutely.'

'Cool.' She grinned. 'But you should probably wipe that water off your chin first.'

Somehow, most awkwardly ever, I'd gotten the girl. And Lucas was never going to let me live it down.