chlorine tattoos

The invitation sat on my phone for three days before Maya finally forced me to go.

"You're not gonna spend the whole summer rotting in your room," she said, dragging me out the door. "It's just a pool party. What's the worst that could happen?"

Famous last words.

The moment we stepped onto the patio, I spotted him—Leo, floating in the **pool** with that effortless confidence that made my stomach do actual gymnastics. His dark **hair** was slicked back, water droplets catching the late afternoon sun like he was in some teen drama I'd definitely binge-watch.

I hovered near the snack table, suddenly hyper-aware of my oversized swim cover-up and the fact that I'd never actually learned to swim properly.

"You gonna stand there all night or actually get in the **water**?"

I jumped. Leo was right behind me, dripping wet and grinning like he knew exactly how much I was panicking.

"I'm good," I managed. "Just. Taking it all in."

He laughed, and I swear my face matched the temperature of the jacuzzi.

"Come on." His hand brushed my arm—accidentally? on purpose?—sending electricity through my entire nervous system. "I won't let you drown. Promise."

Somehow, that made it worse and better simultaneously.

I peeled off my cover-up, trying to look casual instead of like a deer caught in headlights. That's when I heard it—raucous laughter from the deep end.

"Oh my GOD, did nobody tell you?"

Half the pool party was staring at my lower back. Where, in a moment of questionable judgment three months ago, I'd gotten a tiny tattoo of a **cat** wearing sunglasses.

My face burned. This was it. Social suicide. Complete and total humiliation. I'd have to change schools. Maybe move to another country.

But then Leo started laughing too—and not in a mean way. His eyes crinkled, head thrown back like this was the best thing that had happened all day.

"That's actually sick," he said, sliding into the **water** beside me. "My cousin has a polar **bear** on her ankle. Her mom cried for a week."

"Really?"

"Swear." He splashed me, and just like that, the awkwardness shattered like cheap sunglasses.

For the first time all night, I wasn't overthinking every micro-expression. I was just... floating. Literally and figuratively.

Later, when Maya drove me home and I couldn't stop grinning, she rolled her eyes.

"Told you," she said.

"Yeah, yeah." But I was already thinking about next weekend, and the weekend after that, and suddenly the summer didn't feel so scary anymore.

Sometimes the best things happen when you're busy making a complete fool of yourself.