Pool Party Paradox

Maya clutched her iPhone like a lifeline, thumbs hovering over her crush's Instagram. Three days since he'd last posted. Was he ghosting her? Was she being totally dramatic?

"You gonna stare at that thing all day?" Chloe teased, already halfway to the pool. "Tyler's gonna be here in like, five minutes."

Maya's stomach did that thing where it felt like a swarm of bees were having a mosh pit inside her. Tyler. The boy who'd sat behind her in Bio since September, whose laugh sounded like sunshine, who'd actually noticed her new haircut last week.

She shoved her phone in her bag and adjusted her bucket hat. It was doing double duty today—hiding both her unwashed hair and the fact that she was freaking out. The hat was her armor.

The pool party was already popping. Someone had Bluetooth speakers blasting that song everyone obsessed over. Maya spotted Tyler immediately, standing near the diving board with his friend group. He was wearing swim trunks and a backwards baseball cap, looking stupidly gorgeous.

Her heart slammed against her ribs like it was trying to escape.

Then she saw HER. Brielle, standing way too close to Tyler, laughing at something he said. Brielle, whose highlight could be seen from space. Brielle, who'd been the undisputed queen of their grade since sixth grade, a total sphinx in designer swimwear—mysterious, untouchable, holding court like she owned everyone's secrets.

Chloe grabbed Maya's arm. "Don't even. Brielle's been all over him since they were partnered for that English project."

Maya's chest tightened. This was it. The moment where the popular girl got the guy, and Maya remained forever in the background, destined to watch from behind her phone screen.

Then Tyler looked over and locked eyes with her. Actually smiled.

Her brain short-circuited. Was this real? Was she hallucinating?

He broke away from Brielle—who looked legitimately confused—and started walking toward them. Maya's knees turned to water. She was going to pass out. She was literally going to pass out.

"Hey," Tyler said, stopping in front of them. "You coming in?"

Maya's brain was screaming WHAT IS HAPPENING.

"Yeah," she managed, voice suddenly an octave higher. "Eventually."

"Cool." He smiled again. "Save me a spot?"

As he walked away, Chloe squealed and practically vibrated with excitement. Brielle was glowering from across the pool, and for the first time in three years, she looked genuinely threatened.

Maya's phone buzzed in her bag. Probably just another notification, but suddenly it didn't matter so much. Sometimes the riddles solve themselves when you least expect them to.