Pool Party Protocol

The Saturday after junior year ended, Maya found herself standing at the edge of Kenny's above-ground pool, clutching her phone like a lifeline. She'd been crushing on him since October, and this party was supposed to be her moment. Except now she was actually here, and her brain had gone completely offline.

"Yo, you good?" Bear asked, plopping down beside her. His real name was Marcus, but everyone called him Bear because he was built like a defensive lineman and gave the best hugs when you were having a garbage day. Which Maya definitely was.

"I think I'm having an existential crisis," she muttered, watching Kenny laugh with some seniors from the swim team. "Also, why is there a random cable snaking across the patio?"

"Pool pump, genius. His dad's been fixing it all week." Bear's eyes narrowed. "You're overthinking this. Just go talk to him."

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one who's going to say something dumb and then have to transfer schools."

Before Bear could respond, a splash fight broke out near the deep end. In the chaos, Kenny's backward baseball hat flew off his head and landed directly in Maya's hands. Time stopped. Her face burned hotter than the July sun.

Kenny turned, water dripping from his hair, and locked eyes with her. "Hey, can you toss that back?"

Maya's brain short-circuited. Instead of throwing it, she instinctively put it on her own head. It was way too big, sliding down over her ears, making her look ridiculous.

"Or..." Kenny grinned, wading through the water toward her, "you could just wear it. Looks better on you anyway."

Bear snorted. "Did he just—"

"Shut up," Maya hissed, but she was smiling now. Kenny climbed out of the pool, and for the first time all night, Maya's anxiety didn't feel like a bear about to maul her. It just felt like being sixteen in summer, unsure of everything but suddenly willing to dive in anyway.