"Me with Kyler? He wishes. Sam, go for him, please,"

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The summer evening breeze drifted lazily over the shimmering pool, carrying the scent of sunscreen and chlorine as Odessa Reyes sat between Moon and Sam, their legs dangling into the cool water. The sun hung low in the sky, casting soft golden hues across the patio while music pulsed gently from the portable speaker nearby. Laughter echoed from the other side of the yard where a few boys were tossing a football, the mood carefree and light-exactly what Sam had promised when she invited them all over for a back-to-school hangout.

"Okay, you were totally right," Sam admitted with a grin, leaning back on her palms, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders. She looked over at Yasmine, who was lounging on a pool chair like she owned the place, oversized sunglasses perched on her nose and a bright pink drink in her hand, complete with a mini umbrella. "This is fun."

Yasmine smirked, barely glancing up from her phone where she was scrolling through her latest selfies. "Told you," she said, tone as self-satisfied as ever. "Always better to be the one throwing the party. Right, Dessi?"

Odessa blinked, caught mid-sip of her sparkling water as the attention shifted her way. She tilted her head, brows knitting. "Huh? Oh, right. Remember the last time we had a party at my house? My dad had a total meltdown! He practically interrogated every single person who showed up the next day."

Yasmine shrugged, her expression perfectly unimpressed. "So? Your mom felt bad and got you a car. Honestly, sounds like a win to me."

Odessa rolled her eyes, setting her drink down on the warm concrete beside her. "Yeah, no. That wasn't why I got the car. I got a high score on my PSATs, and my mom wanted to reward me for that, not because I threw a party that ended with my dad threatening to call half the school's parents."

Yasmine waved a hand dismissively. "Details. You still got a car."

Odessa opened her mouth to protest again but was cut off when Yasmine abruptly shifted focus, leaning closer to Sam with a devilish grin. "Anyway... Kyler's been eye-banging you all day."

Sam choked on her drink, eyes widening as she instinctively glanced over her shoulder toward Kyler, who was standing near the grill, laughing a little too loudly with his friends while flipping a burger like he was auditioning for a reality show. Her face turned a deep shade of pink as she stammered, "What-? No way, he's not-" She hesitated before lowering her voice, stealing another glance. "Plus, didn't you have a thing with Kyler at the start of the summer?"

Odessa practically gagged, holding up both hands as if warding off the very idea. "Me? With Kyler? Ew. No. Please. He wishes," she declared with a dramatic shudder. "Trust me, if you're into him, go for it. I'd honestly pay to see Yasmine's face if you two started dating."

Yasmine scoffed, flipping her damp hair over her shoulder. "Excuse me? I am so above Kyler."

"Sure you are," Odessa teased with a grin.

Before Yasmine could retort, Moon suddenly stood, brushing the water off her legs as she grabbed her phone. The sun caught her golden hair perfectly as she called across the pool. "Hey, Rory! Do your flip again! I wanna get it for my channel this time."

Rory, already trying to impress everyone, gave an exaggerated salute before sprinting toward the edge of the pool. He leapt into the air, twisting into a backflip that-while not exactly graceful-ended with a giant splash that soaked everyone within a ten-foot radius. Odessa flinched as droplets splattered her legs, but Moon was already giggling and clapping, completely unbothered as she reviewed the footage.

It was all so easy. So fun.

Until it wasn't.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! What the hell is going on here?!"

The entire mood shattered like glass.

Daniel LaRusso's voice cut through the music and laughter with enough force to make everyone freeze mid-sentence. Heads whipped around toward the back patio, where Daniel stood in the doorway, arms crossed, his face a mask of furious disbelief. His sharp gaze swept the scene, lingering on the half-eaten pizza boxes, the drinks, the crowd of teenagers who clearly were not invited by him.

Odessa's heart plummeted straight into her stomach.

Oh no.

"Crap, Sam, it's your dad," Odessa whispered, her eyes widening as the icy dread took hold. She grabbed Sam's arm in a panic. "I have to leave. Now. If he sees me here, he's gonna call my parents, and if they find out I lied about being at a study group-"

Sam nodded quickly, eyes darting around. "The side gate-go! Hurry!"

Odessa was already on her feet, snatching up her tote bag and towel, her pulse pounding in her ears as she darted toward the back corner of the yard. The sound of Daniel grilling Sam about what the party was really for echoed behind her, but she didn't dare look back. Her parents-Kingston and April-were strict, painfully so. If they found out she had not only snuck out but lied about it, she wouldn't just be grounded.

No phone. No car. No social life.

Gone.

Her damp flip-flops slapped against the concrete as she slipped through the gate, heart racing like she was in an action movie. Once she hit the street, she exhaled a shaky breath, clutching her chest as she tried to calm herself.

Close call.

Too close.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting streaks of orange and pink across the horizon as Odessa Reyes guided her car into the nearly deserted Mini-Mart parking lot. The warm colors did nothing to ease the pit in her stomach as her engine sputtered-then gave one last clunk before the entire vehicle jerked to a stop with a pathetic whine.

Odessa's hands tightened on the steering wheel, heart sinking. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me."

She turned the key in the ignition again. The engine made a sickly, wheezing sound, then fell silent. Odessa groaned, leaning back against the headrest in defeat. Her dashboard lights flickered-check engine, battery warning, all the ominous little signals she didn't understand.

Her phone was barely hanging on at 5% battery, the screen flashing that dreadful red outline. Of course. No car, no phone, and her parents were expecting her home soon. They were already strict as hell-this would not go over well.

Blowing out a frustrated breath, Odessa shoved her door open and climbed out, squinting down the street for any sign of help. The Mini-Mart itself was dead, a single employee visible through the window, lazily scanning items for a half-asleep customer.

That's when she saw him.

A boy on a BMX bike rolled down the sidewalk, dark curls flopping slightly as he pedaled, his hoodie slightly oversized on his lanky frame. His backpack was secured tight against his back, and when he glanced her way, she caught the glint of braces when he gave a nervous half-smile, clearly debating whether or not to keep riding past.

Odessa hesitated. Okay, random teenager on a bike. Not ideal. But desperate times.

"Hey! You-wait, stop!" she called, waving an arm as she took a few steps toward the curb.

The boy skidded to a stop so fast his tires squeaked, and he nearly lost his balance. His wide eyes blinked at her from behind a tangle of dark hair, clearly caught off guard.

"Uh... me?" he said, voice cracking slightly.

Odessa nodded, forcing a polite, desperate smile. "Yeah, you. My car just died, and I think something's wrong with the engine. You wouldn't happen to know anything about cars, would you?"

His eyes darted from her to the smoking hood, then back at her. His shoulders straightened, and he cleared his throat, trying to seem confident. "Oh! Yeah. Uh... I guess I could take a look? Totally."

"Seriously? You'd be a lifesaver," she said, stepping aside.

He nodded a little too quickly, setting his bike carefully against the curb before approaching the car. Odessa folded her arms, watching him fumble slightly with the latch before finally managing to pop the hood open.

The boy peered into the engine, nodding as if he knew what he was looking at. He squinted at a random part, then wiped his hands on his jeans like he'd seen mechanics do in movies.

"So... what exactly happened? Like, was it more of a clunk or a grrrr sound?" he asked, wiggling his fingers for effect.

Odessa raised a brow. "It went clunk, and then just... died."

He nodded, face serious. "Ah, classic. Yeah, that's, uh... probably the alternator."

"The... alternator?"

"Yep. Super common issue. Definitely not the battery," he added quickly, clearly grasping for car terms.

Odessa's eyes narrowed as he poked vaguely at the engine with a look of deep concentration-so deep she could practically see him making things up on the spot.

"You don't know what you're doing, do you?" she asked flatly.

The boy froze. "What? No! I-"

She just gave him a look.

His shoulders slumped. "Okay, fine. I don't know what I'm doing," he admitted, his voice dropping a little as he scratched the back of his neck. "I just thought, you know... maybe I could figure it out, or... I dunno, help or something."

Odessa sighed but gave him a small smile, his awkward honesty almost kind of... endearing?

"Hey, it's fine. At least you tried. I'll just have to call someone later. If my phone doesn't die first." She held up her blinking screen for emphasis.

He winced in sympathy.

"I just-ugh, I really need to get home before my parents ground me for life. Is there any chance..." She glanced at his bike. "I could maybe borrow your bike? Just to get home?"

His eyes widened. "M-my bike? Uh... how far do you live?"

Odessa adjusted the strap of her bag. "It's not far. The townhouses near the apartment complex in Reseda. You know where that is?"

His face lit up with recognition. "Wait-I live near there! On De Coto Street. I could, uh... just ride with you? You know, make sure you get back okay?"

Odessa blinked. "Really? You'd do that?"

He nodded quickly, then held out his hand. "I'm Miguel, by the way. Miguel Diaz."

"Odessa Reyes." She shook his hand, his grip a little clammy but genuine.

A slightly awkward beat passed.

"So... how do we do this?" she asked, gesturing to the bike. "I've never biked double before."

Miguel's face turned bright red. "Oh! Uh, yeah, so... you could, um... stand on the pegs? Or, like, I could run beside and push you?"

Odessa smirked, rolling her eyes playfully. "Miguel, relax. I'll just stand on the back pegs. You steer."

"Right! Yeah. Totally. Good plan." He awkwardly wheeled the bike forward while Odessa climbed onto the back pegs, carefully balancing with her hands lightly gripping his shoulders.

"Okay, ready?" he asked, voice a little higher than before.

"Yeah, just... don't crash, alright?" she teased, her voice warm.

He grinned nervously and started pedaling. The bike wobbled at first, swerving slightly as Odessa shifted to balance, but after a few shaky seconds, he steadied.

They rode down the quiet street together, the last bits of golden sunlight catching in Odessa's hair as the cool evening breeze brushed past them. She wasn't sure how the night had taken such a weird turn-but somehow, with Miguel nervously pedaling them forward, she didn't entirely mind.

Odessa's hands tightened slightly around Miguel's shoulders as the bike slowed to a gentle stop in front of her townhouse. The rhythmic crunch of the tires against the gravel driveway came to a halt as Miguel balanced the bike with one foot on the ground, looking a bit out of breath from pedaling both of them uphill.

"We're here," he announced, voice cracking slightly as he tried-and failed-to sound calm and cool. His knuckles were white on the handlebars, clearly concentrating on not tipping the bike over with her still perched on the back.

Odessa carefully stepped off the pegs, brushing her windswept curls from her face and adjusting her bag on her shoulder. The porch light was on, glowing warmly against the darkening sky, reminding her that she was cutting it close for curfew.

"Thanks, Miguel," she said sincerely, flashing him a soft smile as she backed away from the bike. "Seriously. You kinda saved my life tonight. Or at least saved me from camping out in the Mini Mart parking lot all night."

Miguel gave a breathless laugh, shifting on the bike seat as if he wasn't sure whether to stay seated or dismount. "Yeah, no problem. Anytime. I mean, not that your car should keep breaking down or anything-obviously, that would be bad-but, like, if it did... I'd totally help again. Not that I know much about cars, but..."

He trailed off, clearly realizing he was rambling, his face going progressively redder by the second.

Odessa tilted her head, watching him with an amused smile. His nervous energy was... weirdly endearing.

"You're cute, Miguel."

His entire body froze. The blush that had been creeping along his neck instantly flared crimson, spreading all the way to his ears. His mouth opened, then closed, clearly searching for words but only managing a flustered, "W-what? Oh-I-uh-"

Odessa's grin widened. "Relax, it was a compliment."

Miguel blinked rapidly, nodding too fast. "Right! Yeah! Compliment. Cool, cool, totally normal. Thanks! I-uh-thanks. You're... you know-"

Odessa raised a brow. "Gonna finish that thought, or...?"

He practically deflated, groaning under his breath. "Nope. Definitely stopping while I'm ahead."

She giggled, brushing past his awkwardness with a playful smirk. "Hey, do you have your phone on you?"

Miguel blinked. "Huh? Oh! Yeah, yeah, totally. Why?"

She pulled her own phone from her bag, unlocking it and holding it out expectantly. "So I can get your number. You know, for emergencies. Or if I need a bike ride again. Or, you know, just to talk."

Miguel fumbled for his phone in his hoodie pocket, nearly dropping it in his hurry to unlock it. His hands were visibly shaking as he rattled off his number, watching her type it in with a concentration like she was disarming a bomb.

"There," she said, saving the contact under Cute Boy with Bike before sending him a quick wave emoji so he'd have her number too.

Miguel's lips quirked into a lopsided, stunned smile. "Cool. Yeah. So... I'll just... head out then?"

Odessa nodded, stepping back toward her front door. "Yeah, get home safe, Miguel. I'll text you later."

He lingered for a moment longer, still looking like he couldn't believe what had just happened before he finally nodded, pedaling off into the night with a dazed grin plastered across his face.

The second Odessa stepped inside, the warm scent of lavender candles hit her, mingling with the sound of the dishwasher quietly humming in the kitchen. The house was peaceful, but her heart was still pounding from the bike ride-and maybe from Miguel, too.

Her mother, April, sat at the dining table folding laundry, neatly stacking freshly folded towels into piles with that precise, meticulous care only moms had. Her sharp gaze flicked up immediately as Odessa shut the door behind her.

"You're late," April said simply, folding a dish towel in half with a practiced snap. "How was study group?"

Odessa's brain scrambled for a response, her lips curving into a practiced, sweet smile. "Oh, y'know-thrilling. Quadratic equations. Riveting stuff." She waved a hand vaguely, setting her bag down on the nearest chair as nonchalantly as possible.

April's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "You were at Samantha LaRusso's house, right?"

Odessa nodded, too quickly. "Yep! Sam's. Super boring, all math and... geometry stuff. Not much to report."

April's expression stayed sharp, clearly not convinced. She set the towel down, crossing her arms. "If it was so boring, why are you home so late? And why didn't you text me?"

Odessa hesitated, trying to keep her smile from faltering. "Oh, um... my phone died. And actually-my car kinda... broke down on the way back. Yeah. Battery just died, right in the Mini Mart parking lot."

Her mom's eyes narrowed further. "What? Odessa, why didn't you call? Where's the car now?"

Odessa winced, cursing her half-baked cover story. "It's still there, but I'm gonna figure it out tomorrow. I didn't wanna call and freak you out or anything."

April's frown deepened. "So how exactly did you get home?"

Crap. Think, think, think.

"I, uh... borrowed someone's bike?"

"Whose bike?"

Odessa forced a casual shrug. "Some girl from school. Devon. Super nice. She just happened to be biking past and helped me out. No big deal."

April's brow furrowed, clearly still skeptical. "You rode a bike all the way home? Alone?"

"Yep. Full-on Tour de France. Totally fine, Mom. I'm here, I'm safe, and I'll deal with the car first thing tomorrow. Promise."

April gave her that long, scrutinizing mom stare, the kind that made Odessa squirm despite herself. Finally, though, she exhaled, returning to the half-folded laundry.

"Next time, you call me. I don't care if your phone's on 1%-you call, understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," Odessa replied, relieved the interrogation was finally over.

April softened just a little, reaching over to tuck a strand of hair behind Odessa's ear. "Good. Now go get ready for bed. You have school tomorrow, and you're not missing your alarm."

"Got it. Night, Mom."

Odessa practically sprinted upstairs to her room, flopping onto her bed with her heart still racing. She pulled out her phone, noticing a new text from Miguel.

Miguel: Glad you made it home safe. Let me know if you need help with the car tomorrow.

Odessa grinned, her stomach fluttering as she texted back.

Odessa: You're the best. Thanks, cute boy.

Three dots appeared.

Miguel: Oh, uh, anytime! Haha... see you at school?

She smiled, hugging her pillow.

Odessa: Definitely.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

okay they're so cute and i love them so so much

im really praying this book doesnt flop bc every book ive been publishing these past few weeks have been floppingggg!!! :(((

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
VOTE AND COMMENT. IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)