Captain Fin and the Pool Party

Maya felt like a zombie. Finals week had turned her brain into mush, and now she was supposed to be social at Tyler's pool party? RIP her social battery.

But her best friend Chloe had insisted. "You've been ghosting him all semester on Insta. Tonight's your shot."

The guest house bathroom held the only interesting thing at the party: a goldfish bowl with the most dramatic orange fish Maya had ever seen. Its owner had labeled it Captain Fin, which felt unhinged but also kind of iconic.

"Captain understands me," Maya whispered to the fish. "Everyone out there is performing for their stories, and we're just trying to exist."

Captain Fin blew bubbles in agreement.

Outside, Tyler and his friends were being loud about something. Maya peeked through the bathroom window and saw them huddled around a phone, laughing.

"She's totally been spying on your profile," someone said. "Like, every. Single. Story. But never likes anything. That's crazy behavior."

Maya's face burned. They'd noticed. They'd all noticed her lurking like some pathetic stalker instead of just...

Being normal.

She considered climbing out the bathroom window and walking home. But then someone knocked into the guest house, and suddenly Captain Fin's bowl wobbled. Then tipped.

"NO!" Maya lunged forward, catching the bowl before it completely toppled. Water splashed everywhere, soaking her vintage tee.

Tyler appeared in the doorway, eyes wide. "Did you just save my sister's fish?"

"Captain Fin," Maya said, dripping wet and holding the bowl like it was a newborn. "He was having a moment."

Tyler stared at her, then at her ruined shirt, and actually laughed. "You're weird. I like that."

"I'm not spying on your stories," she blurted out. "I'm just awkward. There's a difference."

"I know," he said. "I was hoping you'd show up. I never know what to say to you either."

Captain Fin swam in his bowl, seemingly judging them both.

"So," Maya said, "wanna hang out by the pool and make fun of everyone else performing for social media?"

Tyler grinned. "Only if Captain Fin comes too."

Maybe summer wasn't going to be so terrible after all.