Poolside Apocalypse

Maya's life was officially over. At least, that's how it felt standing at the edge of Jake Henderson's pool party, three pieces of **spinach** visibly wedged between her front teeth. She'd spent the morning convincing her mom that the green smoothie was basically a health drink, but now Maya looked like she'd been chewing on a salad while everyone else looked like they'd stepped out of a TikTok trend.

"You good, Maya?" Chloe asked, giving her that look that said I'm asking but I'm also judging you a little.

Maya forced a smile, praying her hair would curtain her mouth. "Just... feeling like a **zombie** today. Stayed up way too late binge-watching The Walking Dead again."

"Same," Jake said, suddenly appearing beside them with those annoyingly perfect dimples. "But hey, at least you're not like actually turning into one, right?"

Everyone laughed. Maya wanted to dissolve into the concrete.

The party was supposed to be her moment—finally breaking out of her invisible phase sophomore year. She'd even bought new swimwear (online, obviously, because trying things on in stores was basically social suicide). But instead of making moves, she was currently contemplating faking a stomach ache and escaping to her room, where Netflix and awkwardness couldn't hurt her.

Then Jake's little brother Mikey came barreling toward the **pool**, fully clothed, screaming something about brains. Before anyone could process what was happening, he cannonballed in, creating a splash so massive it hit half the party—including Maya, who was standing way too close.

She wiped water from her eyes, expecting everyone to stare at her spinach-mouth situation. Instead, Jake was laughing so hard he snorted. Mikey surfaced, grinning like he'd just won the Olympics.

"That was actually kind of legendary," Chloe admitted, dabbing her arm with a towel. "You good, Maya?"

And just like that, Maya noticed something: her reflection in the sliding glass door showed zero spinach. Either she'd swallowed it, or—more likely—she'd been stress-cleaning her teeth with her tongue for the last twenty minutes.

"I'm great," she said, and this time, she actually meant it. "Actually, I think I'm gonna cannonball too."

"Do it," Jake said, already heading toward the deep end. "Zombies can't swim, right?"

"Actually, I think that's a myth," she called back, grinning as she jumped.

The water felt perfect. Maya resurfaced to find everyone watching, waiting for her reaction. She flipped her wet hair back and yelled, "I survived the apocalypse!"

And the best part? They all laughed with her, not at her. Maybe sophomore year wasn't going to be so terrible after all.