Lucky Hat, Wet Hair

I stuffed my ridiculous neon orange bucket hat into my backpack, praying nobody would see it. My mom had made me take my vitamin gummies right before she dropped me off, and I could still taste the artificial cherry flavor on my tongue. Great start to my first day at the new pool club.

The outdoor pool was already packed, and I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I walked in. That's when I saw him—Jason, with his perfect hair and his perfect friends, lounging by the deep end like he owned the place. My stomach did this weird flip thing that had nothing to do with the vitamins.

"Hey, new girl," Jason called out, splashing water my way. "Join us."

I hesitated. The old me would have made some excuse and disappeared. But something about today—maybe the fresh start, maybe those confidence-boosting vitamins my mom swore by—made me say, "Sure."

I jumped in, and immediately my hat floated to the surface like a neon orange UFO. Everyone stared. Jason burst out laughing, but not in a mean way.

"Nice hat," he said. "Vintage retro cool."

"My dad's from the 90s," I lied smoothly, treading water like I'd been doing it my whole life. "It's called swag, you wouldn't understand."

Jason actually laughed. "I like you. You're weird."

We spent the next hour swimming laps and racing each other. I beat him twice—beginner's luck, obviously. By the time I had to leave, Jason had my number, and my ridiculous hat was drying on the pool deck like some kind of trophy.

"Same time tomorrow?" he asked.

"Only if I can wear my hat," I shot back.

"Deal."

Walking home, wet hair and all, I couldn't stop smiling. Maybe this whole new school thing wouldn't be so bad after all. And maybe those vitamins really were magic.