Barely Swimming Upstream

Jordan stood at the edge of the community pool, clutching his phone like a lifeline. The stupid group chat was blowing up—everyone at Tyler's party, living their best lives while he was stuck working. His shift had ended an hour ago, but he'd agreed to help Mrs. Chen set up for the senior citizen swim hour because he couldn't say no to people.

"You're too nice, Jordan," his sister always told him. "You gotta bear your teeth sometimes or people will walk all over you."

Easy for her to say. She didn't overthink everything until her stomach hurt.

The pool area was quiet except for the hum of the filtration system. Jordan adjusted his headphones, but the aux cable kept catching on the edge of his chair. Stupid wired headphones. He'd meant to charge his Bluetooth ones all day.

"Watcha doing there, sweetie?"

Jordan jumped. Mrs. Chen stood in the doorway holding—a cat? A fluffy orange cat that looked thoroughly unimpressed with everything.

"This is Mochi," she said, setting the cat down. "He loves the pool. Don't you, you weirdo?"

Mochi strutted to the edge and dipped one paw in the water, then immediately shook it off like Jordan had just suggested he eat garbage.

"See? Loves it."

Jordan laughed despite himself. "My cat's like that. Acts all offended by everything."

Mrs. Chen's phone buzzed. "Oh, that's my daughter. Always worried about me." She sighed. "You know what, Jordan? You don't have to stay. I can handle this."

"No, it's fine—"

"Go." She shooed him with both hands. "You're what, seventeen? Go be seventeen. Mochi and I have got this."

Jordan stood there for a second. His phone buzzed again. Another notification from the group chat.

He could go. He could just show up, fashionably late, and finally talk to Maya without overthinking every single thing that might come out of his mouth.

"Thanks, Mrs. Chen."

"Don't thank me. Just remember what I said about being seventeen. These years don't come back, you know?"

Jordan grabbed his backpack, the stupid cable finally coming loose. As he walked toward his bike, Mochi meowed at him like it was the most important thing in the world.

And honestly? Maybe it was. Maybe the whole night didn't have to be perfect. Maybe he could just show up and see what happened.

He texted Maya first: "On my way. Save me a drink?"

She replied instantly: "Finally. Was wondering when you'd escape. ;"

Jordan smiled the whole way there.