Dog Paddle & Deep End

The pool party invitation sat on my phone screen like a personal challenge. **Swimming**. Of course. Because what better way to spend the last Friday before sophomore year than showing off my pasty legs and zero athletic ability to half the sophomore class?

"You going?" Marcus asked, falling onto my bed beside me. My best **friend** since kindergarten, currently perfecting his casual cool routine while I stressed about everything.

"Dude, you know I can't swim," I said, scrolling through the Instagram stories from last year's party. Everyone looked so effortless, so confident. Meanwhile, I'd probably sink like a stone and they'd have to drag me out while someone livestreamed it.

Marcus shrugged. "So don't swim. Just... vibe."

"Vibe at a pool party? While everyone else is—" I gestured vaguely "—doing things that require not being awkward?"

He laughed. "You're overthinking it. Besides, my cousin's bringing her **dog**. That husky thing that's basically a wolf. You love dogs."

Okay, he had me there. I did love dogs. More than people most days.

The party was exactly as terrifying as I'd imagined. Girls in swimsuits that cost more than my entire wardrobe, guys showing off like the pool was their personal stage. I stood by the snack table, clutching a red plastic cup like it was a lifeline, watching everyone live their best lives while I calculated my exit strategy.

Then the husky—Luna—bounded over, wet and delighted, and somehow I ended up on the ground with eighty pounds of excited fur assaulting my face. I was laughing, actually laughing, when I heard it.

"Omg, look at him with that dog," someone said. "That's actually kinda cute."

I froze. But not in the bad way.

Marcus appeared beside me, grinning. "Told you. Just vibe, remember?"

Luna licked my entire face and I didn't even care. For the first time all night, I wasn't worrying about fitting in or looking cool. I was just a person playing with a **dog**, while my **friend** watched, and somehow that was enough.

Later, when Marcus dared me to try the shallow end, I actually did. And yeah, I looked ridiculous doing my awkward attempt at **swimming**, but when I came up spluttering and laughing, nobody was filming. They were just... watching. Like I was part of things.

"Not bad," Marcus said, handing me a towel. "For someone who fights the water."

"Shut up," I said, but I was smiling.

Maybe next year I'd even try the deep end. Probably not. But maybe.