Chlorine and Courage

Maya's stomach did backflips as she stood at the edge of Jake's pool, clutching her phone like a lifeline. The first pool party of freshman year, and she'd spent the morning researching which vitamin supplement would make her look less like a ghost and more like someone who actually saw sunlight.

"Yo Maya, you coming in or what?" Jake called from the water, dripping wet and impossibly confident.

She yanked her oversized bucket hat lower over her forehead. Palm trees swayed along the fence, their shadows mocking her indecision. Everyone else was already swimming, laughing, being effortlessly cool while she stood there wearing enough sunscreen to survive a nuclear incident.

Then she saw Emma—her ex-best friend who now sat with the popular crowd, looking perfect in a bikini that probably cost more than Maya's entire wardrobe. Emma was laughing at something Jake said, her hand on his arm. Maya's chest tightened.

She'd spent weeks trying to reinvent herself. New clothes (from the sale rack, but still). New attitude (fake it till you make it, right?). She'd even choked down that green spinach smoothie every morning because someone said it cleared your skin. Spoiler: it hadn't.

"Maya!" This time it was Bri, the only person who still talked to her in homeroom. "We're doing chicken fights! Get over here!"

The old Maya would've mumbled an excuse and disappeared to the snack table. But something in her snapped. Maybe it was the heat. Maybe it was seeing Emma living her best life while Maya stood on the sidelines.

She tossed her phone onto a lounge chair and jumped.

The water hit her like ice, shocking and perfect. She surfaced spluttering, chlorinated water in her nose, her ridiculous hat floating somewhere behind her. Bri was already laughing, grabbing Maya's shoulder.

"Finally! What took you so long?"

Maya wiped her eyes, her heart racing. Emma was watching from across the pool. For once, Maya didn't look away.

"Just had to ditch the disguise," Maya said, grinning. She pushed her wet hair back, feeling lighter than she had in months.

Jake swam over, splashing water at both of them. "About time. You were missing the best part of summer."

Yeah, Maya thought. She really had been.