Charging Cable at the Deep End

Maya's iPhone was at 4% and dying faster than her social life. She stood by the **pool** at Tyler's party, clutching her phone like it was her only friend. The popular kids cannonballed in slow motion, while she contemplated whether jumping in fully clothed would be more or less awkward than just standing there.

"You got a charging **cable**?" a voice behind her asked.

Maya turned. It was Leo, the quiet skater boy from her English class. She'd caught him looking at her earlier, or maybe he'd been looking at the snacks table behind her. Either way, her stomach did that annoying thing where it forgot how to organ.

"Yeah, somewhere. Why?"

"My phone's dead. My mom's supposed to pick me up at eleven but she won't believe I'm still alive if I can't text her."

Maya fished the tangled cable from her pocket. Their fingers brushed when she handed it over. Smooth, Leo. So smooth.

"Thanks." He plugged it in, then leaned against the pool fence. "This party is **bull**, huh?"

Maya blinked. Leo? The guy who never said anything except "present" during roll call?

"Honestly? Yeah. Everyone's performing. Like, look at Tyler over there, acting like he's not checking his own reflection every thirty seconds."

Leo laughed. It was a real laugh, not the fake one Maya used when her crush said something remotely funny.

"Hey." Leo nudged her. "You got some..." He gestured to his own teeth.

Maya's heart stopped. She'd been walking around with **spinach** in her teeth? From the spinach dip she'd nervously eaten two hours ago? TWO HOURS AGO?

"Oh my god. How long?"

"I was gonna tell you earlier but I didn't want to make it weird."

"You not telling me somehow made it less weird?"

"Touché." He grinned. "But like, nobody cares except you. Everyone's too busy worrying about their own spinach."

Maya wiped her teeth, then looked at the pool again. The popular kids were still performing, the music was still too loud, and her iPhone was still at 4%.

But somehow, the deep end didn't look so scary anymore.

"Wanna just sit on the edge and dangle our feet in the water?" Leo asked. "Fully clothed. Together."

Maya smiled. "Yes. Absolutely yes."

Her phone could die. The party could be bull. The spinach was gone, and for the first time all night, Maya was actually charging.