Poolside Papaya

Maya's first mistake was agreeing to come. The second was wearing a two-piece. Now she stood paralyzed at the edge of the pool, clutching her phone like it could save her from drowning socially.

"You coming in or what?" Jenna called from the water, surrounded by the popular crowd that somehow made everything look effortless. Even pool noodles.

"Yeah, just... gotta check something," Maya lied. Her phone screen was blank. Behind her, a massive inflatable bear floated ominously in the deep end, its cartoonish grin mocking her.

She'd crushed on River since seventh period science, when he'd let her borrow a pen. Now he was talking to Sierra—actual Sierra, who'd been to Europe twice and probably knew what papaya tasted like. Maya's mom had bought papaya exactly once. It had sat in the fruit bowl, abandoned and misunderstood, much like Maya felt at this moment.

"Yo, you want some?"

Maya jumped. River stood beside her, holding a cup of something that smelled suspiciously like coconut. Behind them, a string of palm tree lights flickered, casting shadows across his face.

"What is it?" she asked, though she was honestly just grateful he was talking to her.

"Papaya smoothie. My sister's obsessed with them. It's... honestly kind of weird, but here." He extended the cup.

Their fingers brushed. Maya's heart did something genuinely concerning. "Thanks."

"You okay? You look like you're running mental diagnostics or something."

"Just... not really a pool person," she admitted. "I feel like everyone's supposed to be a pool person."

River laughed, and it was better than the Europe stories. "Dude, I fake it. I just doggy-paddle and hope no one notices."

"Wait, really?"

"My bear paddling game is weak, okay?" He gestured toward the inflatable. "That thing has more moves than me."

Maya found herself smiling—actually smiling, not the polite half-smile she'd been practicing since eighth grade.

"Wanna just... sit?" River pointed to the deck chairs. "We can judge everyone else's pool technique from a distance."

"I'd like that," she said.

They spent the next hour making terrible commentary about Jenna's dramatic dives and someone's unfortunate attempt at a handstand. And when Sierra finally emerged from the house with actual papaya slices like some exotic fruit ambassador, Maya didn't even care.

She was too busy holding River's cup, their fingers brushing again when he passed her a second round.

Sometimes the best things happened when you stopped trying to swim with everyone else and just sat by the edge instead.