Bear-ly Surviving

The hat was everything. It had to be. Maya'd spent forty-five minutes perfecting the messy-casual vibe that actually took zero effort but looked like it took zero effort, if you know what I mean. The vintage dad cap sat just right, covering the forehead situation that had decided to rebel right before sophomore year's biggest party.

'This is fine,' she told her reflection. 'Totally chill. You got this.' Her phone buzzed. *Wheeeerre are youuuuu* – typed with deliberate extra e's from Jenna, probably already at Tyler's lake house.

The lake house. Water. The thing Maya had successfully avoided since seventh grade when she'd worn a one-piece with ruffles and someone's cousin had commented on her 'brave choice.' She hadn't been in a swimsuit since.

'Maya's not coming,' she typed, then deleted. 'Maya's sick,' she typed, then deleted. 'Maya has a family emergency,' she typed, then—actually, that one could work.

Her finger hovered over send. Then Jenna's next message popped up: *Tyler's setting up the slip-n-slide. You HAVE to see this. Also I think Jordan likes you??*

Maya threw the phone onto her bed. Jordan. Jordan with the stupidly perfect hair and the way he actually listened when people talked. Jordan who'd noticed her new sketchbook last week and asked genuine questions about her art.

The hat came off. The swimsuit went on. The oversized t-shirt stayed firmly in place over everything.

By the time she arrived, the party was in full swing. People were already in the water, screaming and splashing like they'd all been injected with pure teenage energy. Tyler was indeed setting up a slip-n-slide, and it was gloriously terrible—two plastic tarps connected with duct tape and a questionable amount of dish soap.

'Maya!' Jenna materialized, grinning like she'd been waiting to say something. 'You made it!' She lowered her voice. 'Jordan's over by the snacks. We strategically positioned him there.'

'You guys are the worst,' Maya said, but she was smiling.

'And the best,' Jenna countered. 'Also, you should know, someone brought a bear.'

'A what?'

'A bear. Like, a full-on costume thing. Tyler's brother works at a party rental place and—'

Suddenly, a six-foot fuzzy brown bear came careening around the corner, slipped on a wet patch, and crashed directly into the snack table. Chips went everywhere. The bear sat up, dusted itself off, and a muffled voice came from inside: 'I'm okay. Nobody panic. The bear is fine.'

Everyone died. Like, actually couldn't breathe. And somewhere in the chaos, Jordan appeared, laughing so hard he had to brace himself against a tree. His eyes found Maya's, and he grinned.

'So,' he said, catching his breath. 'Wanna watch Tyler try to murder himself on a slip-n-slide?'

Maya looked at the water—glistening under the late afternoon sun, surrounded by people she'd known forever who somehow felt new today. She looked at the bear, currently being helped up by three concerned freshmen. She looked at Jordan.

'Yeah,' she said, already feeling the shift, the inevitable terrifying wonderful becoming. 'Yeah, I do.'