Goldfish in the Deep End

The pool party at Tyler's house was supposed to be lit, but Maya stood by the edge clutching a plastic bag like it contained her entire personality. Inside, a goldfish—her prize from some rigged carnival game that she'd somehow won despite being literally the most unathletic person ever—swam in tiny circles, completely unaware that it was currently ruining her social life.

"You gonna swim or what?" Tyler called from the diving board, surrounded by his friends who were all annoyingly athletic and confident and just—ugh. Tyler's golden retriever, Buster, barked happily from the patio, chasing water droplets like they were the most exciting thing ever. Meanwhile Maya was sixteen years old and still got nervous about changing into a swimsuit in public.

Her best friend Chen appeared beside her, holding two sodas. "You're overthinking again. I can literally see the gears turning."

"The goldfish is judging me," Maya whispered.

"The goldfish has a three-second memory. It's not judging anything." Chen paused. "Wait, is that even scientifically accurate?"

"Whatever. The point is, I can't just leave it here. What if someone—"

"Maya." Chen grabbed her hand. "Palm reading says you're gonna have to get in the water at some point. Also, my cousin does actual palm readings and she says that stuff is mostly bullshit anyway."

Maya looked at her palm—tan line from her watch, a small scar from falling off her bike last summer, nail polish partially peeled off. Nothing that revealed her future. Nothing that said whether Tyler actually liked her or was just being polite.

"Fine," she said, placing the goldfish bag carefully on a table. "But if anything happens to Fishy—I don't have a name yet, shut up—I'm holding you responsible."

"Deal. Now get in before Tyler thinks you're ghosting him."

The water was perfect—cool but not freezing, exactly what July in the suburbs should feel like. Maya waded in, watching Tyler and his friends doing cannonballs and generally being chaotic. Then Tyler swam over, water droplets clinging to his eyelashes.

"Hey," he said. "You made it."

"Yeah. Had some fish business to attend to."

Tyler laughed, and Maya's stomach did that annoying fluttery thing. "That's actually kinda cool though? Like, you won a goldfish? Most people just get those stupid stuffed animals."

"It's a curse," she said, but she was smiling now.

"Wanna race?"

"You'll win."

"Maybe." He splashed water at her. "Or maybe you're faster than you think."

Buster the dog chose that moment to run full-speed into the pool, creating a wave that drenched both of them. Tyler grabbed Maya's arm to steady her, and for a second they were just there together, treading water, while the dog shook itself off happily and her goldfish swam in its plastic bag universe on the sidelines.

"Your dog's chaotic," Maya said.

"He's a vibe. You're a vibe too, Maya."

She didn't know what that meant exactly, but she felt something shift in her chest—lighter, maybe. Like she could actually do this. Like first kisses weren't just for movies and people who weren't awkward.

"Race you to the other side," she said, and pushed off before he could answer, swimming like she had somewhere important to be.

The goldfish was safe. Tyler was definitely looking at her now. And Maya figured she could handle being a teenager for at least one more night.