Poolside Paranoia

Leo's lifeguard whistle weighed heavy around his neck, just like the secret he'd been carrying all summer. Every time Maya walked past the snack bar in that orange bikini that matched the sunset, his brain turned to static.

"You good, bro?" Marcus asked from the neighboring chair. "You've been staring at the water for like ten minutes straight."

"Yeah. Just... scanning. Making sure everyone's safe." Leo adjusted his sunglasses, even though the sky was already turning that perfect shade of burnt orange that made everything feel like the end of a coming-of-age movie.

But here's the thing — Leo wasn't just lifeguarding. He was also on a mission to catch whoever kept leaving weird notes in his locker during swim practice. Notes that knew stuff. Personal stuff. Like how he'd cried during Finding Nemo last month (it was the scene with his mom, okay? He's allowed to have feelings).

He'd become a self-appointed spy, stalking the hallways between classes, trying to catch the culprit in the act. His prime suspect: Tyler from the swim team, who'd been giving him these knowing looks since May.

"Cable's acting up again," the pool manager called from the office. "Somebody tripped over the cord to the sound system again."

Leo's stomach dropped. That was his fault. He'd been rushing to set up for the End-of-Summer Blowout tomorrow — the party where he'd finally confessed his feelings to Maya, or at least that was the plan before he chickened out for the seventh time.

Then he saw it: Tyler by the pool fence, orange jumpsuit stark against the evening light, reaching toward the loose cable. No. Not Tyler. Tyler's twin brother.

Wait.

"Got something for you," the not-Tyler said, sliding a folded note onto the table. "From someone who's been watching you all summer."

Leo's heart did that thing where it forgets how to rhythm.

He unfolded the paper. It wasn't what he expected. Not even close.

"Your form on breaststroke is literally perfect. Would you teach me sometime? — Maya (asked your sister for your number)"

"You've got to be kidding me," Leo whispered, suddenly aware that Marcus was watching the whole exchange with the goofiest grin he'd ever seen.

"Bro," Marcus said, "you've been carrying that note around all week? The one about Finding Nemo? That was YOUR SISTER messing with you. Meanwhile, the actual girl of your dreams is literally waiting for you to make a move."

Leo felt like he'd been smacked in the face with a wet pool noodle. All summer, he'd been spying on the wrong person. And the bear mascot costume he'd worn to last year's Halloween party (that Maya had apparently found hilarious)? Maybe that hadn't been the disaster he'd thought.

The water shimmered in the fading light. His phone buzzed.

Unknown number: "So about that breaststroke lesson..."

Some secrets were worth keeping. But this one? This one he was definitely telling everyone tomorrow.

"Marcus, I need you to cover my shift."

"Going after Maya?"

"Going after Maya."