Pool Party Protocol

The chlorine hit Maya's nose before she even stepped onto the patio. Taylor's End-of-School Blowout was already in full swing, and Maya stood by the fence, scrolling through Instagram like her life depended on it.

"Hey! You made it!" Taylor squealed, appearing in a floral bikini that probably cost more than Maya's entire wardrobe. "Get in! The water's perfect!"

"I, uh, didn't bring a suit," Maya lied, gesturing to the pouches under her eyes. "Allergies acting up."

"Bummer." Taylor's attention shifted instantly to someone else.

Maya drifted toward the snack table, which was impressively stocked for someone whose parents clearly had money. Fruit platters, veggie cups, those little cheese crackers. She reached for what looked like melon —

"That's papaya," said a voice behind her.

Maya turned to see Ethan, the quiet sophomore from her English class. His hair was wet, towel around his neck.

"Oh. Thanks." She pulled her hand back. "I've never actually had it."

"Try it." He handed her a piece. "It tastes like... if mango and melon had a baby."

Maya took a bite. Sweet, soft, kind of amazing. "Okay, that's actually low-key fire."

"Right? My mom's obsessed with it." Ethan grabbed some spinach from the veggie cup and ate it plain, like a psychopath. "What? I'm trying to be healthy. Swimming gives me the munchies."

"You swim?"

"Competitive. Since I was six." He nodded toward the pool. "That's why I'm here. Taylor's brother's on the team too."

"That's... actually sick." Maya reconsidered everything she thought she knew about him. "I barely doggy-paddle."

Ethan laughed. A real laugh, not the fake one everyone did at school. "Want me to teach you? It's not rocket science."

"Now? In front of everyone?" Maya's face heated up. "No thanks, I'm good."

"Nobody's watching. They're all doing TikToks." He pointed to where a group stood filming themselves doing something with goldfish crackers spilling out of their mouths. "See? Distracted."

Maya watched them. Then looked at Ethan, who was already walking toward the pool.

"Fine. But don't laugh at me."

"Scout's honor."

The water was cold against her skin, her jeans heavy, but Ethan was right about one thing: nobody was watching. And for the first time all year, Maya stopped caring what they'd think if they did.