Beneath the Surface

Marcus stood at the edge of the community pool, fingers twisting together until his palms felt slick. The pool's surface shimmered like liquid glass, innocent and terrifying all at once.

"You coming in?" Chloe called from the water, treading water easily. "The water's fine, baseball star."

He hated that nickname. Everyone assumed because he was the starting pitcher that he was some kind of athlete. But put him in water deeper than his chest, and he'd panic like a stranded cat. His dad had been promising to teach him to swim since, like, forever. But his dad was always too busy, always saying "next weekend" while he disappeared into his bedroom to watch old baseball games on cable.

"I'm good," Marcus mumbled, even though he wasn't. Not really.

Chloe swam over to the edge and rested her chin on her arms. "You know, my brother says you threw a no-hitter last week. That's kinda insane."

Marcus shrugged, heat creeping up his neck. "It was just luck. The hitters were off."

"Whatever." She pulled herself up to sit on the pool edge, water dripping from her hair. "I still think it's cool. I can barely throw a baseball ten feet without it totally embarrassing myself."

A flicker of lightning split the sky overhead, purple-white against deepening gray. The pool's surface suddenly seemed alive, bouncing with energy.

"We should probably go," Chloe said, but she didn't move. "Storm's coming in."

"Yeah." Marcus still couldn't make himself walk away.

"You know what's stupid?" She looked at him sideways. "I'm literally the worst swimmer ever, and I'm sitting here in the deep end like I own it. Meanwhile, you're this huge athlete who's scared to get wet. Life's weird like that."

Marcus actually laughed. "I'm not scared," he lied.

"You so are." She held out her hand, palm open. "I'll teach you. Like, actually teach you. No judgment. I promise."

He stared at her hand. Then the sky, where another bolt of lightning cracked.

"Okay," he said, and stepped forward. "Okay. But if I drown, you're explaining to my coach why their star pitcher's gone."

"Deal." She grinned. "But Marcus? You're not gonna drown. I've got you."

He took her hand, and for the first time all summer, the deep end didn't feel quite so terrifying.