Palm Readings & Pool Parties

The snapback hat sat pulled low on my forehead — my security blanket against TJ's end-of-summer blowout. Mom had made me take my vitamin gummies before leaving, which was honestly embarrassing at sixteen, but whatever. My palms were already sweating just thinking about jumping into the pool with half the sophomore class watching.

"Yo Marcus, you gonna swim or just brood by the snack table all day?" That was Leo, currently shirtless and somehow not self-conscious at all.

"I'm good," I mumbled, adjusting my hat like it could somehow hide me.

Then Sasha appeared out of nowhere, smelling like coconut everything and holding a deck of tarot cards. "I'm doing palm readings by the jacuzzi. You're up."

Before I could protest, she'd grabbed my hand. My palm was literally dripping — gross. But Sasha didn't even blink. "Hmm," she studied my hand way too seriously. "You're worried about something. Something coming up."

School. She meant school. Obviously.

"And..." She traced a line on my palm. "You need more sunshine. Vitamin D deficiency, I'm sensing."

I snorted. The nervous laugh escaped before I could stop it. "Is that actually in my hand or are you just guessing?"

Sasha's eyes sparkled. "A good palm reader never tells."

Later, when I finally (finally) took off the hat and cannonballed into the pool, I realized something. No one cared. No one was watching me overanalyze every breath. Leo high-fived me when I surfaced. Sasha winked from her palm-reading station.

My hands were still shaking a little when I climbed out, water dripping everywhere. But for the first time all summer, my palms weren't sweating from fear.

Sometimes you just gotta jump in. And maybe take your vitamins. Both can change everything.