Zombie on the Baseline

Maya stood at the padel court, gripping her racket like a lifeline. The fluorescent lights reflected off the glass walls, making everything feel amplified—her sweaty palms, her racing heart, the way Jake's laugh echoed across the court.

"You good, Maya?" Jake asked, spinning his racket like a weapon. He was a bull of a seventeen-year-old, all confidence and swagger, the kind of guy who'd never experienced a single awkward moment in his life.

"Yeah, just... zombie mode," Maya mumbled. "Didn't sleep much."

"What were you doing up late?" Ria asked from across the net. She had this fox-like cleverness about her, sharp eyes that missed nothing. "Stalking someone's insta again?"

Maya felt her face burn. "No! I was just—thinking."

"About Leo?" Jake wiggled his eyebrows. "We all know you've been playing spy with his profile since freshman year."

"I have NOT!" But she had. Last night until 2 AM, actually.

The game started. Jake served hard, the ball cracking against the glass wall. Maya moved automatically, her body taking over while her mind replayed every interaction with Leo—every smile, every near-conversation in the cafeteria, every opportunity she'd chicken out on.

"Maya! Heads up!" Ria called.

The ball whistled past her ear.

"Dude, you're totally zoning," Jake said, but without his usual bite. "He's not that special."

"He's not—" Maya stopped. Took a breath. "Maybe he is, though."

Silence on the court. Even the fluorescent lights seemed to dim.

Ria walked to the net. "Okay, real talk. Leo's in my physics class. He thinks YOU'RE the one who's out of his league. He literally asked me yesterday if you'd think he was weird for asking you to the spring formal."

Maya's racket hit the floor with a clatter.

"Wait, what?"

"Bro's been playing spy on YOUR stories for months," Jake admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "He's just terrified."

Maya looked at her friends—really looked at them. The bull with his heart of gold, the fox with all the secrets, and herself, finally waking up from zombie mode.

"So," Ria said, bouncing on her heels. "You gonna text him, or what?"

Maya smiled. Maybe padel wasn't the only game she'd be winning today.