Zombie State of Mind

Maya felt like a zombie walking onto the padel court, still recovering from Jessica's basement party last night. Two hours of sleep would do that to you.

"You good?" Liam asked, spinning his racquet like he actually knew what he was doing. His hair was perfectly messy, obviously.

"Never been better," Maya lied, adjusting her ponytail. "Let's crush these guys."

Across the net, Sophie and Brent were being aggressively adorable. Sophie kept giggling at everything Brent said, even though his jokes were mid at best. Maya wanted to roll her eyes but settled for checking her phone. No new messages. Not from him, anyway.

The first serve sailed into the fence.

"Solid effort, zombie girl," Liam teased, bumping her shoulder. The contact sent weird electricity through her veins. Not the time, Maya. Not the place.

After losing spectacularly—like, historically badly—they headed to the community center pool. The swimming area was already packed with the popular crowd, all golden skin and confident laughter. Maya felt awkward in her one-piece while Sophie emerged in a bikini that definitely broke at least three dress code rules.

Then she saw him. Cody. Fresh from swim practice, chlorine and summer air, water dripping from hair that had spent two hours growing out perfectly. Their eyes met for approximately one second before he looked away.

"He's not that cute," Sophie said, appearing beside her. "You're bearing this crush way too hard."

Maya's face burned. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Please. You've been obsessed since seventh grade. It's giving desperation." Sophie flipped her hair. "Just be cool about it."

Easier said than done when Cody started walking toward them, followed by—wait, was that a cat? A scraggly orange cat wound around his legs like it owned him.

"Hey," he said, stopping near their group. "This cat followed me from the parking lot. Anyone want it?"

Everyone hesitated. Maya's heart did something stupid and fluttery.

"I'll take it," she heard herself say. Because apparently her brain had officially quit functioning.

Cody's face lit up. "Seriously? That's actually really nice. You want help carrying it?"

Maya nodded, suddenly unable to form words. As they walked away, cat carrier between them, she caught Liam watching them with something that looked almost like disappointment.

"Nice game earlier," Cody said, and for once, Maya didn't feel like a zombie at all. She felt terrifyingly, wonderfully awake.