Electric at the Deep End

The pool party at Jessica's house was supposed to be the social event of the summer, but Maya was currently hiding behind a concession stand, nursing a lukker flat soda that had lost its carbon three hours ago. Outside, the splashing and laughter echoed like she was on the wrong side of an invisible wall.

"You good?"

Maya jumped. Alex, the quiet swimmer boy from her English class, stood there dripping wet, towel slung over his shoulder like he hadn't a care in the world. His hair was plastered to his forehead and he held two bottles of sparkling water.

"Solid," she lied. "Just taking a breather."

He nodded like he actually believed her, which was somehow worse. "Wanna play? We're doing teams."

Maya almost said no. Almost retreated further into the shadows and spent the rest of the night scrolling through her phone while pretending to be busy. But then she saw Jessica across the pool, surrounded by her Perfect Friend Group™, all golden skin and effortless confidence, and something in Maya snapped.

"Bet," she said, standing up.

They played chicken fights and marco polo until Maya's muscles burned and her social anxiety had apparently taken a vacation. She was actually having fun. And then, in the middle of a particularly intense splash war, Alex picked her up and threw her into the deep end.

She came up sputtering, laughing so hard she couldn't breathe, and he was grinning like he'd just won the lottery.

Then the sky cracked open.

Lightning tore across the sky like someone had taken a photo of the universe, brilliant and terrifying. Everyone scrambled out of the water, screaming and running for the covered patio.

But Maya just floated there for a second, treading water in the illuminated blue pool, feeling electric and alive and like maybe high school wasn't going to be a total disaster after all.

"Come on!" Alex called from the edge, extending a hand.

She took it.

And that was the moment everything changed.