Orange Peel at the Pool Party

The invitation said pool party, which was basically code for everyone seeing me in a swimsuit. Major anxiety spike. But Maya said I had to go, that staying home on a Friday would make me look like a total loser, so here I am, clutching a solo cup of lukewarm soda while popular kids splash around in Tyler's massive backyard pool.

I'm nursing my social awkwardness like it's a rare disease when Jordan—the quiet kid from my English class who wears oversized hoodies even in June—sits next to me on the edge of the patio.

"Not swimming?" he asks, like he's genuinely curious, not mocking.

I snort. "Have you seen me? I'd look like a drowning rat out there."

Jordan shrugs. "I saw a goldfish once that couldn't swim. Just floated at the top of the tank, kind of spiraling. Betta had to save its ass every time it tried to dive."

I blink. That's the weirdest thing anyone's said to me all night. "You have a dramatic goldfish?"

"His name was Kevin. He lived his best life though. Eventually figured it out."

Something about Jordan's orange hoodie (who wears hoodies to pool parties?) and his total lack of chill makes me actually laugh. Not the polite laugh I give teachers when they make jokes, but a real laugh.

"You're weird, Jordan."

"Weird's better than boring," he says, and then—before I can process what's happening—he stands up, pulls his hoodie over his head, and cannonballs into the pool with the most ungraceful splash I've ever witnessed.

Every head turns. Jordan surfaces, grinning like an idiot, water dripping everywhere, and locks eyes with me.

"Your turn, drowning rat."

I should say no. I should maintain my carefully curated wallflower status. But Jordan's still grinning, and Maya's watching from across the pool with raised eyebrows, and suddenly I'm kicking off my sandals, letting the orange peel of my anxiety fall away.

I dive in. It's messy and uncoordinated and I definitely swallow way too much chlorinated water, but when I surface, Jordan's high-fiving me and for once, I'm not the girl watching from the sidelines. I'm part of the chaos.