Poolside Panic

Maya's fingers trembled as she clutched her iphone, the screen glowing with the invitation to Jessica's end-of-summer pool party. Three weeks of high school remained, and she'd barely spoken to anyone outside her AP Bio study group.

"You going?" her mom asked from the kitchen.

"I don't know," Maya muttered, staring at the party details. "Everyone's gonna be there."

"Including Tyler?" her mom teased.

"MAAA, stop." But her face burned anyway. Tyler Chen, who sat behind her in history, whose laugh made her stomach do weird somersaults.

Friday evening, Maya found herself standing at the gate to Jessica's backyard, heart pounding like she'd been running a marathon instead of walking three blocks. The sound of splashing water and laughter drifted through the fence.

She stepped inside and immediately felt like she'd walked into the wrong movie. Girls in cute bikinis, guys with abs that definitely didn't come from playing video games. And there was Tyler, shirtless by the pool, throwing a football with his friends.

Maya made a beeline for the snack table, grabbing a solo cup and pretending to be fascinated by the chip selection.

"Hey, Maya!" Jessica called. "Jump in!"

"Oh, I'm good," Maya said, clutching her cup like a lifeline.

"Don't be boring!" someone shouted. A wave of water hit her legs as someone — Tyler, actually — splashed in her direction.

Her phone. Her iphone was in her hand, and water droplets speckled the screen. Maya's stomach dropped.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Tyler waded over, looking genuinely panicked. "Is it okay?"

He was close now. Water dripped from his hair, his shoulders. Maya's brain short-circuited.

"I, um, think so," she managed.

"Let me see." He stepped closer, reaching out. Their fingers brushed. The world narrowed to this moment, his concerned brown eyes, the chlorine smell, the distant laughter suddenly muffled.

"It's fine," Maya said, her voice weirdly breathy. "Water-resistant, right?"

Tyler smiled, and Maya felt something shift inside her, like doors opening she'd kept locked for years.

"You should come in," he said. "The water's perfect."

"I didn't bring a suit," she admitted.

"So?" He grinned mischievously. "Cannonball it. Clothes and all. I dare you."

Maya looked around. Everyone was watching now, waiting. Something bold woke up inside her, something that had been dormant too long.

"Challenge accepted," she said, setting her phone safely on a dry chair.

She ran and jumped, screaming as she hit the water, completely and wonderfully alive.