Chlorine Secrets

I parked myself behind the potted ficus, clutching my phone like a shield. From here, I could see everything without being seen—basically my whole personality encapsulated in one strategic position.

The pool party at Tyler's house was exactly the kind of social minefield I usually avoided. But someone had decided that playing "spy" on the popular kids from the safety of the patio was better than staying home watching Netflix for the third night in a row.

"You're literally in a corner," said Jordan, appearing with a red cup. "Again."

"I'm observing," I said. "There's a difference."

Jordan rolled their eyes. "You're not exactly James Bond. More like... James Bond's awkward cousin who works at the library."

I gestured toward the pool where Tyler—my crush since seventh grade—was laughing at something Chloe said. Chloe, who had once spent ten minutes explaining why her skin tone meant she needed different foundation shades. Meanwhile, I'd been forced to swallow a vitamin D gummy that morning because my mom said I was "practically nocturnal" and looked "alarmingly pale for a teenage girl in summer." The gummy had tasted like artificial strawberry and judgment.

"I'm gathering intel," I whispered. "Learning their ways."

"Their ways include jumping into pools fully clothed," Jordan pointed out as Tyler suddenly shoved Chloe into the water.

The entire pool area erupted in chaos. Everyone was screaming, splashing, someone's phone was definitely waterlogged. It was spontaneous and messy and perfect—everything I wasn't.

Then Tyler looked over and caught my eye. Actually caught it. Like, direct eye contact across a crowded pool area.

"Hey!" he yelled, waving. "Morgan! Come here!"

My stomach did that thing where it simultaneously dropped and rose. "Me?"

"Yeah, you're just standing there!"

Jordan shoved me forward. "Go. Before you overthink it into an existential crisis."

I walked toward the pool, my flip-flops suddenly feeling like they were made of lead. This wasn't spying anymore. This was the actual game, and I'd been benched so long I'd forgotten the plays.

"Water's actually not that bad," Tyler said, dripping wet, grinning like he didn't know he was Tyler. "Unless you're Chloe. Then it's personal."

Chloe surfaced nearby, sputtering. "I'm going to get you back."

"Join the club," I said without thinking, and everyone laughed.

Maybe I wasn't a spy after all. Maybe I was just someone who'd been watching from the ficus for too long.

I jumped in.