Poolside Pyramid

Maya stood by the deep end of the Andersons' pool, clutching her Solo cup like a lifeline. The June humidity was already frizzing her curls, and she'd been here exactly seven minutes without saying a word to anyone. Typical.

The popular kids had claimed the shallow end, naturally. They were arranging themselves into some kind of human pyramid for Instagram, and Maya watched from the safety of the patio furniture. She'd been running from this exact moment since eighth grade—these parties where everyone seemed to know the secret handshake except her.

"YO, watch this!" Tyler shouted from the pool deck. He was at the base of the pyramid, shirtless, flexing for his captive audience. Maya's stomach did that familiar twist thing it always did when Tyler was around, which was humiliating on multiple levels.

Then Mrs. Anderson's golden retriever, Buster, came barreling out of nowhere, chasing a wayward beach ball. The ball bounced off Tyler's head mid-pose, and suddenly the entire pyramid collapsed into the water like a wet, screaming Jenga tower.

Maya didn't think—she just moved. Buster was about to jump in after them, and she knew from experience that this particular dog did not know how to swim, despite his breed's reputation. She grabbed his collar just as his front paws hit the water, hauling him back with all her strength.

"Nice save," said a voice from behind her.

She turned to find Chloe, the girl who sat behind her in AP Bio, handing her a towel. "Buster's tried to drown himself three times this summer. We should really get him a life vest."

Maya laughed, surprised. "Yeah, pretty sure that's not a thing dogs do on purpose."

"You never know with Buster. I'm Chloe, by the way. I feel like we've never actually talked, even though I copy your homework every other day."

The confession hung there, casual and weirdly intimate. Maya felt something unclench in her chest.

"I'm Maya. And I know you copy my homework. I let you because your handwriting is literally illegible, and I figured you'd fail otherwise."

Chloe's eyes widened. "Wait, you KNEW?"

"Kinda obvious when you copy the wrong problems sometimes."

"Okay, fair." Chloe grinned. "Hey, you wanna get out of here? Tyler's going to be dramatic about his hair for the next hour, and there's this place downtown that has the best boba. Also, I might need help with the bio homework. For real this time."

Maya looked back at the pool, where the pyramid was reassembling without her, and then at Chloe, who was already heading toward the gate.

"Yeah," Maya said, following her. "Yeah, I do."

They were running toward the sidewalk before Maya realized she'd left her Solo cup behind, and for the first time all night, she didn't care.