Electric Papaya Summer

Maya stood at the edge of the pool party, clutching her solo cup like it was a life raft. The June humidity wrapped around her like a wet blanket. Why had she agreed to come? Oh right, because Chloe had promised that Jordan would be here. Jordan, with his stupid perfect hair and his stupid laugh that made Maya's stomach do backflips.

"You look like you're about to throw up," said Sasha, appearing beside her with a mischievous grin. "Here." She thrust a slice of bright orange fruit into Maya's hand. "Papaya. My mom's weird health kick. It's supposed to be, like, a superfood or whatever."

Maya stared at it. "What is this?"

"Just try it. It's honestly not that bad. Unless you're allergic, then definitely don't." Sasha's eyes danced with amusement.

Maya took a tentative bite. Sweet, musky, with hints of melon and something she couldn't place. "It's... interesting?"

"See? Now you're cultured." Sasha scanned the crowd. "Oh shit, Jordan's looking over here. Quick, look cool."

Panic flared in Maya's chest. She was wearing a one-piece swimsuit that she'd spent forty-five minutes overanalyzing in the mirror, while other girls wore bikinis that looked like they'd been painted on. But then Jordan actually waved. And smiled. That smile.

Then came the rumble. Everyone froze as a jagged scar of lightning split the sky, followed immediately by thunder that vibrated in Maya's teeth.

"Everyone out of the pool NOW!" someone shouted.

But Jordan was still in the deep end, treading water, looking bewildered as another lightning strike illuminated the whole backyard like a strobe light. Something primal seized Maya. She dropped her papaya slice and dove in.

The water was cool against her skin, electric somehow. She swam toward him with strokes she hadn't used since summer swim team years ago.

"Come on!" she called, grabbing his arm. He laughed — that laugh — and they churned through the water together as everyone else scrambled up the pool ladder. They reached the edge just as the sky opened up, rain coming down in sheets while lightning continued to flash.

They huddled under the pool house's overhang, soaking wet, knees touching. Neither of them said anything for a long moment. Then Jordan reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, completely waterlogged and dead.

"Well, that's unfortunate," he said, but he was smiling at her, really smiling, in a way he never had at school. "Thanks for, you know, not letting me get electrocuted."

Maya's heart hammered against her ribs. "No problem. I mean, I wasn't gonna let you become a cautionary tale."

He laughed, and this time Maya laughed too, letting herself lean into his shoulder as the storm raged on around them. The papaya slice was probably still floating in the pool somewhere, dissolving into nothing, but Maya didn't care. This summer was definitely going to be electric.