Poolside Prophecies

Maya smoothed down her bikini strap for the fiftieth time, convinced everyone at Sarah's pool party was judging her. They weren't, obviously — they were too busy being effortlessly cool, gathered around the deep end like some sort of social **pyramid**. The popular kids at the top, floating on inflatables, while everyone else clustered awkwardly at the shallow end.

"Hey, you gonna stand there all day or actually get in?" A voice called out. Tyler, the guy she'd been crushing on since September.

"Just warming up," Maya lied, feeling like an absolute fraud. She'd been 'warming up' for twenty minutes.

The pool glittered deceptively innocent in the afternoon sun. This was fine. Everything was fine. She could totally swim in front of Tyler and half the sophomore class without making a complete fool of herself.

Sarah's older brother had decorated the backyard with these random Egyptian statues for 'aesthetic.' Including a plastic **sphinx** by the snack table that looked like it was judging everyone's snack choices. Maya grabbed a handful of chips to feel less awkward.

"Cool party," Tyler said, suddenly beside her. Okay, unexpected plot twist.

"Yeah, Sarah really went all out," Maya said, trying to sound casual and not like her heart was doing somersaults. "That sphinx is... definitely a choice."

Tyler laughed. "Right? My little sister would ask it riddles and everything. Speaking of —"

The moment stretched, charged with possibility. Maya's brain chose that exact second to replay every potentially embarrassing thing she'd done all year, which turned out to be a lot.

"Wanna play chicken fight?" Tyler asked, grinning. "Beck and Sarah are annihilating everyone."

"Sure," she heard herself say, because apparently Maya was feeling bold today. Or maybe just reckless.

Ten minutes later, soaked and laughing as Tyler's shoulders boosted her up against Beck and Sarah, Maya caught her reflection in the pool house window. Hair plastered to her face, makeup probably running, smiling so wide her cheeks hurt.

The social pyramid didn't matter. The awkward sphinx was still judging everyone's chips. And she was winning a chicken fight tournament against the most popular kids in school.

Some prophecies really did come true. Eventually.