Pool Party Apocalypse

The invitation had said 'casual pool hang,' but Maya's definition of casual apparently meant matching bikini sets and curated snack platters. I stood in the doorway of her backyard oasis, clutching my phone like it was a lifeline, feeling painfully basic in my one-piece from Target.

'Ay Chloe, you made it!' Maya waved from her floating lounge chair, somehow not tipping over. 'Drinks are over there.'

I made a beeline for the snack table, eyes widening at the impressive spread. My hand reached for what I thought was a fancy dip and—yum, wait, what was that texture? I'd just shoveled a spoonful of straight spinach into my mouth. Not even dressed. Just raw, earthy spinach leaves staring back at me like betrayal itself.

My phone buzzed. Leo: 'r u coming 2 jaxon's party later??'

I was still trying to discreetly spit the spinach situation into a napkin when someone cannonballed into the pool, creating a splash so massive it definitely reached the food table. Enter Tyler, Maya's somehow-still-hot-after-splashing older brother, looking like he'd just walked off a TikTok that would get three million views.

'What're we watching?' Tyler asked, dripping pool water everywhere as he flopped onto the adjacent lawn chair.

I'd opened my mouth to say 'nothing' when my phone decided otherwise. My zombie survival game blared its undead moaning soundtrack at maximum volume, and suddenly Tyler was giving me this look, like judging me judging me.

'Chill,' I said, unlocking my phone with frantic thumbs. 'It's not—'

'Zombie apoc preparedness.' He cracked a grin that was unfairly cute. 'Same. My strategy is the Costco roof. Sustainable food supply, minimal entry points.'

I blinked. 'Costco roof. That's actually...

'Superior to your plan, which I bet involves hiding in a basement and getting eaten on day three.'

'I'll have you know my plan involves a fortified farmhouse and sustainable agriculture,' I shot back. 'Also I've been binge-watching survival tutorials since I was twelve.'

'Teach me your ways, survival queen.' He handed me a juice box. 'But first, hydrated zombies are effective zombies.'

Maya groaned from the pool. 'Tyler, stop flirting, it's gross.'

'I'm mentoring,' he called back, but his ears turned pink.

My phone buzzed again. Leo: 'hello??'

I stared at the message, then at Tyler cracking jokes about zombie Katniss skills, then at my reflection in the glass patio door—post-spinach disaster, hair frizzing, wearing a basic swimsuit.

And for the first time all summer, I didn't feel like I was missing out on something better.

'Actually,' I told Tyler, 'my plan starts with blowing up the local Walmart to secure supplies. Careful though—that's where we'd find the most zombies.'

'Respect,' he said. 'Costco AND Walmart destruction? I see you're playing 4D chess while everyone else is playing checkers.'

I tucked my phone into my bag without checking Leo's message. Some plans were better than others, and some moments? Some moments were worth staying for.