Poolside Pyramid Scheme

The first day of sophomore year, Maya found herself sitting on the edge of the **pool** behind Brad Henderson's house, watching the popular kids float on inflatable unicorns like they owned the water. She'd been invited somehow—a miracle of social engineering—and now she was regretting everything.

"You look like a **zombie**," said Chloe, dropping onto the concrete beside her. Chloe was gorgeous in that effortless way Maya had spent years trying to fake. "Brad's parties are literally exhausting. I've been smiling for three hours straight."

Maya laughed, surprised. "I thought you guys loved this stuff."

Chloe pulled a neon orange bottle from her bag. "**Vitamin** D supplements. My mom says I'm deficient from spending too much time inside." She shook two into her **palm**. "Want some? They're gross but they keep you from collapsing."

"Sure." Maya swallowed them dry, watching Chloe studying something on her phone—notes, surprisingly. Dense physics formulas.

"What's that?"

"The energy **pyramid**," Chloe said, then grinned. "Kidding. AP Physics review. Everyone thinks I'm naturally smart, but I actually study like crazy while they're all sleeping."

They spent the next hour talking about real things—pressure, expectations, the terrifying momentum of growing up. Chloe admitted she cried in bathrooms sometimes. Maya confessed she dyed her own hair because highlights cost two hundred dollars.

"We should hang out," Chloe said when Brad's mom started kicking everyone out. "Actually hang out. No unicorns."

Maya walked home feeling lighter, like she'd discovered something rare and precious. Behind her, the pool reflected the first stars, and she thought maybe high school wouldn't be so lonely after all.