Poolside Pyramids

The **water** in the Hendersons' infinity pool glittered like crushed diamonds, but Maya's stomach felt like it was doing backflips. End-of-summer parties were basically social minefields, and this one? Maximum casualties.

"You're doing it again," said Jordan, floating nearby with his signature lazy grin. "Overthinking everything. Just vibe, Maya." He adjusted his **orange** swim trunks—bright enough to signal aircraft, which was exactly his energy.

Easy for him to say. Jordan naturally glided through the social hierarchy like it was nothing, while Maya treated every conversation like a stealth mission.

Then there was Chloe, emerging from the pool house like she owned the entire coastline. Her **fox**-like smirk practically screamed "I know something you don't" as she surveyed her domain. The unofficial queen bee had already somehow organized the entire party into a literal human **pyramid** in the shallow end, because apparently that's what popular people did for fun.

"Maya! You're up!" Chloe called out, and suddenly everyone was staring. "Third layer, left side. Don't overthink it."

Her first instinct was to fake a stomach bug. But then she caught Jordan's eye—his tiny nod said: *you got this.*

Maya's legs shook as she climbed onto someone's shoulders, but somehow she found her balance. The pyramid wobbled, then held. When they finally collapsed into laughter and **water**, Maya realized something: she hadn't drowned socially. She'd literally climbed to the top.

Later, watching the sunset paint the sky in impossible colors, Jordan nudged her. "You were being stubborn about that pyramid thing, but you killed it."

"Stubborn like a **bull**," she shrugged, feeling surprisingly light. "But yeah. I kinda did."