Palm Reader's Pool Party

The **water** in Layla's backyard pool glittered like crushed diamonds under the party lights. Maya stood at the edge, clutching her solo cup like a lifeline, feeling very much like a **goldfish** in a bowl full of sharks. Everyone else seemed so effortless—their laughter flowed like the pool's gentle currents, while she just kept bumping into the glass walls of her own anxiety.

"You gonna stand there all night or actually get in?" Jake materialized beside her, all devilish grin and easy confidence. He was such a **fox** with that crooked smile and the way he made everything look simple, like social anxiety was something you could just shrug off.

Maya's **palm** sweated against the plastic cup. "I'm good. Just... observing."

"Bull." Jake splashed water at her, droplets catching on her eyelashes. "You've been 'observing' for like, twenty minutes. Come on." He reached for her hand, his fingers warm against hers, and something fluttered in her chest that had nothing to do with anxiety.

Her phone buzzed—her mom, probably worrying about whether Maya was having fun. The irony. Her whole life, her parents had treated her like she was fragile, like she needed protection from everything. But standing there with Jake's **palm** against hers, she realized protection wasn't what she needed. She needed to jump in.

The **bull** in her head—the voice that said you're awkward, you don't belong here—was wrong. It had been wrong all along.

Maya set down her cup. "Okay. But if I look ridiculous doing a cannonball, you're never living it down."

Jake's grin widened. "Deal." He squeezed her hand. "Also, totally calling it now—you're gonna make the biggest splash."

She took a breath and jumped.

The **water** rushed over her, cool and shocking and absolutely perfect. When she surfaced, Jake was already diving in beside her, and for the first time all night, Maya wasn't observing anymore. She was right in the middle of everything, exactly where she belonged.