Poolside Catastrophe

Jordan adjusted her bikini strap for the third time, feeling like a fraud among the glittery sunscreen crowd. Tyler's pool party was supposed to be summer's main event, but she'd spent the last hour hovering near the snack table, clutching a red solo cup like it was a lifeline.

"You're actually gonna swim, right?" asked Chloe, her so-called best friend who'd spent the entire summer ghosting her texts but suddenly wanted to play BFFs in front of the popular kids. "Or just stand there looking basic?"

Jordan forced a laugh. "Yeah, totally. Just warming up."

Her phone buzzed. Unknown number: "your cat escaped again btw" — probably from her creepy neighbor Mr. Henderson whose address she'd only given him because her mom made her.

"Whatever," Jordan muttered, guilt gnawing at her. Mittens would be fine. Probably.

She moved toward the pool where Tyler was — of course — swimming effortless laps while everyone watched like he was performing miracles. His wet hair plastered perfectly. Everything about him was infuriatingly perfect.

"Jordan!" Tyler called, wiping water from his eyes. "Finally! Come swimming!"

"I — "

Chloe shoved her from behind.

Jordan yelped as she tumbled into the crystal-blue water, surfacing sputling while half the party laughed. Her mascara ran down her face. She looked like a drowned raccoon.

Then came the barking.

A dog — some chaotic golden retriever mix — burst through the back gate, followed by a very familiar calico cat sprinting after it like a tiny, furry avenger.

"MITTENS!" Jordan screamed, hauling herself out of the pool.

"Get that dog!" Tyler shouted.

Chaos erupted. The dog cannonballed into the pool. The cat leaped onto the diving board, hissing. Everyone was screaming, laughing, recording on their phones.

Jordan reached for Mittens, but the cat darted away — straight toward Tyler, who was still in the water.

"NO!" Jordan lunged...

...and caught Tyler's hand as he scrambled out, leaving them both dripping, breathless, and inches apart.

"Nice catch," he said, grinning.

Jordan's heart did something illegal.

Later, she sat wrapped in a towel, Mittens puring in her lap, while the dog (whose name turned out to be Buster) slept nearby. Tyler sat beside her, sharing stolen pizza.

"So," he said, "your cat literally chased a dog into my pool. That's iconic."

"It's been a weird summer."

"Worth it though." He bumped her shoulder. "You're not as basic as Chloe says."

Jordan smiled. Maybe summer wasn't a total disaster after all.