Operation: Pool Party Infiltration

I stood at the edge of the **pool**, clutching my towel like a lifeline. The crystal-blue water reflected the sunset, but mostly I saw my own terrified expression staring back.

"Yo, Leo! You gonna jump or just stand there looking like you're about to dissect a frog?" Marcus called out, doing a cannonball that splashed half the party.

I forced a laugh. "Just warming up, man."

Inside, I felt like a total **spy** operating undercover in enemy territory. This was my first actual high school party since transferring, and I was absolutely not ready. I'd been observing from the edges of the cafeteria for weeks, cataloging who sat where, who dated who, and which jokes landed. But being an observer and being a participant were completely different things.

The real problem? I'd left my emotional support **dog**, Barnaby, at home because Mom said he'd "cause a scene." Barnaby, a rescue with one ear up and one ear permanently down, had zero concept of social norms and would probably try to eat someone's flip-flops. But without him, I felt naked. Exposed.

"Hey new kid," said Sasha, sliding over with that effortless grace I'd been trying to fake all year. "You okay? You look like you're gonna puke."

"I'm good," I lied. Then, because apparently my brain had short-circuited: "Just worried about my **vitamin** intake."

Sasha stared at me. "Your what?"

I wanted to dissolve into molecules. This is it, I thought. This is how I become known as Vitamin Guy forever.

But then—ear-splitting chaos.

The backyard gate burst open and there was Barnaby, trailing his leash like a victory flag, barking like he'd just won the lottery. He spotted me immediately and launched himself toward the **pool**.

"BARNABY NO!" I screamed, dropping my towel and sprinting.

Time slowed down. Barnaby, unable to stop on wet concrete, skidded straight toward the water. Sasha and Marcus and everyone else was frozen. I dove—

—and caught Barnaby mid-air before he could splash down. We tumbled onto the grass together, my white t-shirt instantly green with grass stains.

The yard was silent for exactly three seconds.

Then everyone lost it.

"DUDE!" Marcus doubled over laughing. "That was literally the most heroic thing I've ever seen!"

Sasha was wheezing. "Okay, new kid officially has game."

Barnaby, oblivious, licked my entire face while I lay there wondering if I'd died and gone to heaven.

"His name's Barnaby," I said, sitting up and trying to wipe dog drool off my cheek. "And apparently he really hates pool parties."

"Bro," Marcus said, grinning. "Your dog just made you legendary."

For the first time since moving here, I didn't feel like a spy watching from the sidelines. I was just Leo—the guy who saved his dog from a pool party disaster. And somehow, that was exactly who I needed to be.