Poolside Panic

Maya felt like a freaking zombie after finals week, but somehow Jada had talked her into Tyler's pool party.

"You're not gonna binge-watch Netflix in your room all summer," Jada had said. So here Maya was, wearing a swimsuit that felt way too exposed, clutching her phone like a lifeline.

The pool looked perfect—blue water sparkling, actual teenagers having actual fun. Maya stayed poolside, heart hammering. She'd never been the confident type, especially around Jake, who was currently demonstrating his cannonball skills.

"Yo Maya!" someone called. "Your childhood's calling!"

Oh no. Oh HELL no. Her old Beanie Baby bear—Mr. Cuddles, don't judge—had tumbled out of her bag. Jake fished it out, dripping wet, holding it up like a prize.

"Aw, she still sleeps with a stuffed animal!" Tyler's girlfriend Chloe announced, loud enough for everyone to hear. The laughter that followed felt like getting dunked in ice water.

Maya's face burned. She wanted to dissolve. But then Jada was there, snatching the bear from Jake's hands.

"First off," Jada said, voice cutting through the noise, "Maya's awesome for keeping this. Second, that bull you guys are talking? Nobody actually cares. We're all just trying to look cool while failing spectacularly."

Jake's face flushed. "Chill, I was just—"

"You were just being a dick," Jada said easily. "No worries. But Maya? You good?"

Maya looked at her soggy bear, at the ripples in the water, at everyone waiting to see what she'd do. Something shifted. The anxiety didn't vanish, but it got smaller.

"Actually," she said, voice steady, "Mr. Cuddles needs a swim."

She grabbed her bear and did the most uncoordinated cannonball in history, creating a massive splash that soaked half the people standing too close. The laughter that followed was different this time—real, not mean.

As she surfaced, water streaming from her hair, Jake gave her a fist bump. "Not bad, zombie girl. Not bad."

Maya finally breathed. Maybe this summer wouldn't be so terrible after all.