Operation Pool Party Fail

I spy on Liam from my strategic position behind the massive potted palm. Target remains completely unaware of my covert operation. Okay, fine—it's just me, Ellie, crouching awkwardly behind a plastic plant at Jessica's legendary pool party while my crush stands approximately fifteen feet away, looking annoyingly perfect in his swim trunks. This is fine. Everything is totally fine.

Literally everyone looks confident except me. The air smells like expensive sunscreen and chlorine. I'm finally psyching myself up to actually exist socially when my stomach decides to stage a violent protest.

The papaya chunks I'd bravely sampled earlier are staging a mutiny. Because apparently, in my infinite wisdom, I decided tropical fruit equals sophistication. Major plot twist: it definitely doesn't.

"Ellie! OMG, come in!" Jessica materializes beside me, and somehow her elbow connects with my arm. I trip. Stumble. And faceplant directly into the deep end of the pool.

I surface, spluttering, while literally everyone stares. I'm officially dead. Social death. The worst kind.

Then Liam's at the pool edge, hand extended. "You good?"

"Never been better," I squeak. This is it. The single most embarrassing moment of my entire existence.

But then he actually smiles. "Wait, you tried the papaya too? I thought I was the only person who almost died eating it. That stuff tasted like soap."

My brain short-circuits. "You tried it?"

"Yeah. I was actually coming over to talk to you earlier, but you did that weird crouch thing behind the plant." He rubs the back of his neck, actually kind of nervous. "So, you want to hang out? Maybe far away from the fruit table?"

I climb out, dripping wet, and take his hand. Maybe the universe makes you look completely ridiculous first so the good stuff hits different when it finally happens.

That's when my phone slides out of my pocket—plop, straight into the water.

"NO! Goldfish!" I shriek.

Liam looks at me like I've absolutely lost it. "Your... what?"

"My phone case! It's got this betta fish on it and his name is Goldfish. Okay, actually his full name is Sir Commander Bubblecheeks but my little sister calls him Goldfish and now I can't stop either, and—" I stop. I am explaining way too much about my phone case.

Liam laughs. It's a real laugh, kind and genuine. "You named your phone case?"

"Shut up. Yes. He has a rich inner life and now he's probably drowning."

He gestures toward the pool house. "Come on. Let's rescue Goldfish and I'll tell you about my stuffed axolotl named Potato."

I follow him, dripping chlorinated water across the deck, and smile. Maybe disasters aren't always the end. Sometimes they're just how you find the people who get your weird.