Poolside Papaya

The invitation said pool party at 7, which meant I'd been staring at my bathroom mirror since 6:15, trying to convince myself that my abs didn't look completely tragic. This was Riley's party—Riley, who sat behind me in bio and whose laugh sounded like wind chimes. No pressure.

"You're overthinking it," my best friend Javi said, leaning against my doorframe. "Just be chill. Don't be extra."

Easy for him to say. Javi wasn't in love with someone who probably thought his name was Mark.

When we arrived, the backyard was already packed—people spilling out of the **pool**, bass thumping from somewhere inside, neon floaties bobbing everywhere. My heart was doing gymnastics. Then I saw Riley, and oh my god, they were wearing that oversized yellow t-shirt with the sleeves cut off, and I nearly short-circuited.

"Marcus!" Riley called, waving me over. "You have to try this."

They held out a bowl of sliced **papaya**.

"My mom went to that fancy market on Fifth," Riley said, eyes bright. "It's supposed to be amazing for your skin."

I took a slice. It looked suspicious. I took a bite anyway because I was down bad, and suddenly my mouth was filled with something that tasted like a melon that had given up on life. I kept my expression neutral. Riley was watching me, waiting.

"It's... interesting?" I managed.

Riley laughed, and I felt it in my ribs. "You hate it. Your face is doing that thing."

"No, it's—"

"You're a **bull**shit artist, Marcus." Riley grinned, and my stomach did something illegal. "But it's cute."

CUTE. They said CUTE. Javi, who had materialized behind me with two sodas, made a face that said I'd be hearing about this for weeks.

Then came the screaming.

Chloe, Riley's cousin, stood by the deep end, pointing. "GILBERT!"

We rushed over. Gilbert was her pet **goldfish**, a tiny orange speck now darting terrified circles in the chlorinated water because someone had knocked over his bowl during a chaotic chicken fight.

"He can't live in there!" Chloe wailed. "The chemicals!"

"I've got him," I said, already kicking off my shoes. I didn't think. I just dove.

The water was shocking cold. I spotted Gilbert immediately, floating near the bottom, looking personally betrayed by the universe. I cupped my hands and swept him up, breaking the surface with a splash that got everyone wet.

Riley was there waiting with a clean bowl, their eyes wide. "You just—you literally—"

"Gilbert lives to swim another day," I said, depositing the fish into safety. My shirt was soaked. My hair was a disaster. But Riley was looking at me like I'd personally invented oxygen.

"You're kind of a hero," they said softly.

"Just doing my job." I shrugged, trying to play it off while internally screaming.

Later, sitting on the pool edge with our feet in the water, Riley bumped their shoulder against mine. "Hey. Thanks. For, you know. Everything."

"Anytime."

"Also, you should come over tomorrow," they said, casual, except their voice did this little waver thing. "My mom's making actual food. Not weird fruit."

"I'd love that."

Javi caught my eye from across the pool and gave me a thumbs-up. I didn't even care. I was floating, weightless, everything somehow exactly right.