Poolside Dead Inside

I felt like a actual zombie. Not the cool Netflix kind with dramatic makeup and tragic backstories, but the exhausted variety that survives on iced coffee and three hours of sleep.

"You coming to the pool today?" Marcus asked, flopping onto my bed. His chlorine-scented presence announced he'd already hit the community center.

"Maybe." I rolled over, face-planting into my pillow. "If I can achieve consciousness first."

"Bro, it's ninety degrees. Also, Jasmine's gonna be there."

That got my attention. I sat up, hair doing that tragic thing where it stands up in seven directions simultaneously. Marcus smirked. He knew.

The pool area was already buzzing with energy—sunlight bouncing off the water, kids screaming, that eternal smell of sunscreen and chlorine. I spotted Jasmine immediately, near the deep end in this vintage-style red bikini that made my brain short-circuit.

"Hey!" she waved, smiling. "I was wondering when you'd zombie-walk in here."

"Ha ha." I shrugged off my shirt, trying to look casual while silently praying my pale sun-deprived body wouldn't blind anyone. "Marcus said you were here."

She pushed her sunglasses up, revealing these ridiculously pretty eyes. "I saved you a spot. Also, I dare you to jump off the high dive."

"What?"

"High dive. Unless you're scared."

Something about her challenge voice made me want to prove myself. Even though I hadn't jumped off anything higher than a curb since eighth grade.

The water looked miles below when I stood at the edge of the diving board. My heart hammered. Jasmine watched from below, hands cupped around her mouth.

"You got this!"

I jumped. The free fall lasted approximately forever. Then I hit the water, bubbles everywhere, the cool rush enveloping me completely. When I surfaced, sputtering, everyone was cheering.

"Not bad," Jasmine said, tossing me a towel as I climbed out. "For a zombie."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was." Her smile said everything her words didn't.

Later, as the sun dipped lower and the pool emptied out, we sat on the edge with our legs in the water, talking about nothing and everything. My exhaustion faded into something better.

Sometimes being a zombie isn't that bad. Especially when you find someone who makes you feel alive again.