Pool Party Panic

I felt like a actual zombie. Three hours of sleep because Maya finally texted back at 2 AM, and now here I was at Jessica's pool party, barely functioning.

The California sun blazed down as I stood by the edge of the pool, clutching my snapback like a security blanket. Everyone looked so effortless—girls in cute bikinis, guys showing off their abs, and then there was me, in board shorts I'd bought three sizes too big because I thought that's what you were supposed to do.

"You gonna swim or just stand there looking like a lifeguard on break?" My best friend Ty splashed water at me, grinning.

"I'm contemplating my life choices," I said, adjusting my hat.

My palms were sweating so bad I had to wipe them on my shorts. Because across the pool, Maya was laughing at something some guy said. This guy who looked like he actually played sports and had his whole life together.

"Dude, just talk to her," Ty said. "You've been lowkey obsessed since freshman year."

"Shut up," I muttered.

Then Maya started walking over. My heart did that thing where it forgets how to beat. She was wearing this black swimsuit and somehow still looked effortless while I was over here calculating breathing patterns.

"Hey!" she said, smiling. "You hiding out over here?"

"Just, you know, recharging," I managed. Smooth.

She laughed and my stomach did flips. "Wanna swim? Everyone's doing chicken fights in the deep end."

Before I could respond, she grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the water. My brain short-circuited. Maya Rivera was holding my hand.

"Wait, my hat—" I started, but she just yanked it off my head and tossed it onto a lounge chair.

"You won't need it," she said, dragging me into the pool.

The water was perfect—cool and refreshing, washing away the zombie fog in my brain. For the first time all day, I stopped overthinking. Maya was splashing me, laughing, and I found myself laughing too, genuinely, not the fake laugh I'd been doing all day.

Maybe this summer wouldn't be so bad after all.