The Sphinx at the Pool
The first day of summer break, and I was already drowning. Not literally - though I was definitely avoiding the deep end of the country club pool. I was drowning in the social dyna...
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The first day of summer break, and I was already drowning. Not literally - though I was definitely avoiding the deep end of the country club pool. I was drowning in the social dyna...
Marcus stared at the carnival goldfish swimming in its plastic bag, its orange scales shimmering under his phone's flashlight. Won it because Sarah dared him to—she stood there gri...
The vitamin gummies weren't even mine. They were Maya's — her mom's latest obsession, mango-flavored and shaped like tiny bears. But there I was, sprinting down the hallway, clutch...
Maya's hair had been the source of approximately 73% of her problems since seventh grade. Okay, that was an exaggeration. Maybe only like 40%. But ever since she'd stopped straight...
Maya's stomach did backflips as she stared at the cafeteria table. Her friends were all eating actual lunch—pizza, tacos, the good stuff—while she sat there with her Tupperware of ...
My dad's old fishing **hat** sat pulled low over my eyes, my only defense against the world. I was fifteen, awkward, and currently hiding in the corner of Jordan's summer party whi...
The bass from inside shook the deck boards where Maya sat, legs dangling over the edge. Another high school party. Another night of watching everyone else live while she scrolled t...
The thunder cracked like someone snapping the world's biggest glow stick, and I pressed my face against the cold glass, scanning the Johnsons' backyard like I was some kind of secr...
Maya smoothed her hair—third time in five minutes—as she stood at the edge of the pool party that would define her entire summer. The sophomore class erupted in splashes and laught...
Maya was running late. Again. Her AirPods were blasting Doja Cat as she sprinted down the hallway, dodging freshmen who apparently didn't understand the concept of walking with pur...
Maya's phone buzzed during third period chemistry. Again. Under the desk, she sneak-checked: another text from Jordan. *U coming to track practice? Coach is probs gonna flip his sh...
Maya's beanie was basically fused to her skull at this point. Junior year had her in a chokehold, and the hat was her armor against the world—or at least against the way Tyler's ey...