Poolside Pyramids

The social hierarchy at Jefferson High was basically a pyramid, and I'd spent three years trying to climb out of the bottom layer. But tonight? Tonight might change everything.

"Maya! You coming in or what?" Jade called from the pool, dripping wet. Her makeup was somehow still perfect—some girls just have that magic.

"In a minute," I lied. My bikini felt borrowed. Which it technically was, since I'd swiped it from my sister's drawer.

I sat on the lounge chair under the swaying palm, nursing a nervous stomach. The papaya in my hand was exotic and unfamiliar—kind of like this party. Liam's parents were loaded. Like, serious money. Their backyard had an actual tiki bar.

"That's papaya, right?"

I jumped. A guy in a black cutoff stood there, holding two sodas. Fox. That was his nickname, because apparently he was sly or something? I'd never actually heard him speak until now.

"Yeah. First time trying it."

"Betcha five bucks you hate it."

"You're on."

I took a bite. Weird texture. Sweet but not quite. "It's... different."

Fox laughed. "Different means you hate it. You owe me five bucks." He sat on the adjacent chair. "You've been avoiding the pool all night."

"Have not."

"Have too. I've been watching."

That hit me weird—partly embarrassed, partly something else. "Maybe I just don't feel like swimming."

"Or maybe you're stuck in your head again."

Wait. He'd noticed?

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you overthink everything. Come on." He stood up. "I'll go in with you."

I looked at his hand. Palm open. Waiting.

Something shifted inside me—like realizing the pyramid wasn't unclimbable, just terrifying. And maybe sometimes you just had to jump anyway.

"Fine," I said, taking his hand. "But you're carrying me if I drown."

"Deal." He grinned. "But no backsies."

The pool was cold and perfect and terrifying. Jade and her friends stopped talking as we slid in. But for the first time, I didn't care about the pyramid. Sometimes the view from the bottom wasn't so bad when someone was right there beside you.

"So," Fox said, splashing water in my face. "Still hate the papaya?"

"Shut up."

"That's a yes."

But I was smiling.