Fox in the Deep End

Maya stood at the edge of the pool party, clutching her red solo cup like it was a lifeline. The July heat was brutal, but the social dynamics were worse. Her new lab partner, Ryan, was in the deep end laughing at something Chelsea said. Chelsea, who'd been Maya's best friend until seventh grade, when she'd decided Maya wasn't cool enough anymore.

"Yo, you gonna stand there all night or actually get in?" said Jace, appearing beside her with that easy confidence Maya wished she could fake.

"I'm good," Maya lied, even though she could feel sweat running down her back. Her golden retriever, Buster, was probably at home dreaming about her. She missed his uncomplicated love. No social games with Buster.

"Your loss." Jace shrugged and cannonballed into the water, sending a wave sloshing over Maya's sandals.

That's when she saw Ryan climbing out of the pool, water dripping from his hair like he was in some movie. He was walking toward her.

Maya's brain short-circuited. What was the protocol here? Should she smile? Look away? Pretend to be incredibly fascinated by the patio furniture?

"Hey," Ryan said. "You coming in?"

"Maybe," Maya managed. Her voice came out weirdly high.

"Cool." He smiled, and oh no, he had that one crooked tooth that made him somehow more attractive. "You're really fast at track, right? I saw you at districts."

Maya blinked. He'd noticed her running?

"Yeah," she said, finding her rhythm. "But nothing compared to what you did at sectionals. That was insane."

Ryan's grin widened. "No way, you saw that?"

"Everyone saw that, Ryan. Stop being modest," Chelsea called from the pool, but there was no meanness in it for once.

Ryan shrugged, looking at Maya. "You want to race?"

"What?"

"Like, now. Across the pool. Unless you're scared I'll beat you."

Maya laughed. "In your dreams, fox." The nickname slipped out — something her dad called her when she was being sneaky clever.

Ryan's eyebrows shot up. "Fox? I like that."

He held out a hand. "Race you?"

Maya looked at his hand, then at the shimmering water, then at Chelsea who was watching with something like approval. She set her cup down.

"You're on. And Ryan?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm totally winning."

She didn't win. But as she surfaced, sputtering and laughing while Ryan did some ridiculous victory dance, Maya realized something: maybe this high school thing didn't have to be so hard after all.