Goldfish Survival Guide

The goldfish—Mr. Bubbles, according to the label on its bowl—stared at me with what looked suspiciously like judgment.

"You're not making this any easier," I told it, trying to wrestle my cat, Pickles, away from the tank. For the third time that morning, Pickles had decided that sitting directly in front of the goldfish bowl and plotting murder was her new life's purpose.

I was supposed to be at Maya's pool party right now. Everyone was going to be there, including Tyler, who I'd been lowkey crushing on since September. Instead, I was stuck pet-sitting for my aunt who'd decided spontaneously to fly to Cabo.

"You need to live a little," she'd said, pressing the key into my hand. "Have a little adventure."

This wasn't the adventure I'd had in mind.

My phone buzzed. MAYA: WHERE R U?? WE R SWIMMING!!

I stared at my reflection in the hallway mirror. My hair was frizzy from the humidity, I was wearing my brother's old swim trunks because I couldn't find my bikini bottom, and I smelled like cat food because Pickles had knocked over the can earlier.

"Okay," I said out loud. "Okay. We can do this."

I grabbed the goldfish bowl (Mr. Bubbles swam rapidly to the other side), scooped up Pickles with my other arm, and grabbed my keys. We were doing this.

Ten minutes later, I arrived at Maya's house carrying a goldfish, a cat, and maintaining what little dignity I had left. Tyler was climbing out of the pool, water dripping from his hair, looking like something out of a coming-of-age movie.

"Is that... is that a goldfish?" he asked.

"His name is Mr. Bubbles," I said, before I could stop myself. "And this is Pickles. And I'm here now. Clearly."

Someone offered me a spinach wrap from the snack table. I took it, because what was dignity at this point anyway?

"So," Tyler said, grinning. "You want to go swimming? With your fish? And your cat?"

"My life is basically a disaster," I said, taking a bite of the spinach wrap. "But yes. Yes, I do."

Pickles fell asleep in a patch of sunlight. Mr. Bubbles swam in happy circles. And I jumped into the pool with my clothes still on, Tyler laughing beside me, and for the first time all summer, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.