Goldfish in the Deep End

Marcus stood at the edge of the **pool**, clutching a plastic bag containing his pet **goldfish**, Neptune. The water shimmered with that fake-turquoise glow that only community centers could pull off, and inside, half the sophomore class was splashing around like they owned the place.

"You coming in or what?" yelled Jenna from the shallow end, her laughter cutting through his spiral of anxiety. Marcus had been crushing on her since seventh grade, and now here he was at her birthday party, completely overthinking everything.

"Just a minute!" he called back, voice cracking slightly. Perfect.

His cousin Tyler appeared beside him, grinning like he knew exactly what Marcus was thinking. "Bro, you're not gonna impress Jenna standing out here with your **goldfish**."

"Mom said Neptune can't stay home alone," Marcus muttered. "He gets separation anxiety."

"That fish has a two-second memory, Marcus. It doesn't get separation anxiety." Tyler paused. "Just leave the bag on that table. Nobody's gonna steal your fish."

Before Marcus could respond, Jenna's little brother came racing out of the snack area, waving a bag of **spinach** chips like they were contraband. "JENNA! MOM PUT VEGETABLE CHIPS IN THE SNACK BOWL AGAIN!"

The whole pool area went quiet. Then Jenna's mom—this tiny woman who Marcus had mistakenly thought was chill— marched over to her son with an expression that made everyone simultaneously decide to look away.

"I heard you started a food fight in the cafeteria last week," she said, voice deceptively calm. "Do we need to have another discussion about what happens when you waste food?"

Marcus felt like he was watching a **bear** wake up from hibernation. Jenna's mom might have been small, but she projected an energy that said she would absolutely end anyone who messed with her carefully planned party.

"Sorry," the brother mumbled, suddenly very interested in his shoes.

"That's what I thought." She turned to the rest of them. "Everyone having fun? Good. Because if I hear about anyone being excluded or mean, there will be consequences."

Marcus accidentally made eye contact with her and immediately found the patio tiles fascinating.

"You too, goldfish boy," she added.

"Yes ma'am!" he said, way too loudly.

Tyler couldn't stop laughing. "Goldfish boy. That's your new nickname. Forever."

Marcus finally left Neptune on a safe table and edged toward the pool. Jenna swam over, water slicking her hair back from her face. "Hey, you coming in? The deep end's actually not that deep."

"Yeah," Marcus said, surprising himself. "Yeah, I'm coming in."

He jumped, and the water was colder than expected but Jenna was right—it wasn't that deep. And maybe neither were half the things he'd been stressing about.