It was a rare calm day in Danville. No stampedes, no accidental time travel, and—miraculously—Milo hadn't triggered any major disasters in over an hour. The sun filtered gently through the leaves of the big oak tree, where Zack and Melissa sat, enjoying the break between classes.

Zack was mid-story about a bizarre dream involving a kazoo and a competitive underwater bake-off when Lydia came barreling toward them like a caffeine-fueled squirrel.

"DEFCON TWELVE!" she cried, sliding into a dramatic squat in front of them.

Zack blinked. "Again, that doesn't actually exist."

"I knew something was off," Melissa muttered, brushing a leaf off her lap. "You've got that 'incoming chaos' energy, Lydia."

Lydia leaned in, eyes wide. "Okay, don't freak out, but I think... I might get kissed today."

Melissa raised an eyebrow. "By who?"

"Tyler. Tyler With-the-Hair. You know—the one with the dreamy dimples and the emotional support ferret?"

Zack looked vaguely alarmed. "Wait, that Tyler? I thought he was dating his ukulele."

"That was a phase," Lydia said quickly. "Anyway, I saw him talking to his friends and they were all nudging him and he kept looking at me. What if he tries to kiss me after art club? What if I sneeze right before it happens? Or laugh like a goose? Or—OH NO—what if I headbutt him?!"

Melissa snorted. "Why would you—?"

"I PANIC UNDER PRESSURE!"

Zack and Melissa exchanged a look.

Lydia stood up and pointed dramatically. "You two are the only semi-stable couple I know. I need advice. Tell me about your first kiss. Help me prepare."

There was a long pause.

Melissa smiled fondly. "It was magical."

Zack groaned. "It was a disaster."

Lydia blinked. "Wait, what?"

Melissa crossed her arms. "Oh, come on. You're being dramatic."

"I'm being dramatic? Melissa, I literally tripped over a trash can. During."

Melissa tried to hide her laugh. "Yeah, but we were still holding hands when you fell, which was kind of sweet. In a clumsy-puppy sort of way."

"I had ketchup on my face."

"I wiped it off!"

"AFTER the kiss!"

Lydia slowly lowered herself onto the bench, absorbing every detail like a student in a masterclass.

Zack turned to Melissa. "And don't forget the pigeons."

Melissa smirked. "How could I? One landed on your shoulder like it was blessing the moment."

"It pooped on me."

Melissa grinned. "Symbolic."

"Of what?!"

Lydia held up her hands. "Okay, okay, so... wait. Did it actually go well or not?"

Melissa gave Zack a gentle nudge. "Despite the chaos... it was a good kiss."

Zack glanced at her, and after a pause, gave a small smile. "Yeah. I guess it was. You know. Once you edited out the trash can, bird attack, and condiment issues."

Melissa leaned back with a grin. "The important part is that we liked each other. You'll never have the perfect first kiss, Lydia. You'll have the one that's yours."

Lydia sighed, finally calming down. "That's... actually really nice."

Just as she stood to leave, a low rumble echoed from across the courtyard.

"Uh-oh," Melissa said. "Murphy's Law delay. He's catching up."

A food delivery drone buzzed overhead, veered wildly off-course, and exploded in a shower of burrito wrappers and guacamole.

Zack looked up. "Well. There it is."

Melissa shielded her eyes. "Incoming salsa."

Lydia dodged a rogue tortilla, cackling now. "Okay, this town is insane. But at least it's never boring."

As she ran off, Zack and Melissa tried wiping bits of food off each other.

"I still stand by my disaster theory," Zack muttered, pulling a green bean out of his hair.

Melissa just laughed. "If it makes you feel better, I think our first kiss was a perfect disaster."

Zack glanced at her again, cheeks pink. "Yeah... I guess I'm okay with that."