Poolside Reconnaissance

I didn't even want to come to Sarah's party. But my mom practically pushed me out the car door, saying, "You're fifteen, Maya. You need *experiences*." So here I was, lurking in the corner of her backyard like the world's worst spy. Behind my oversized sunglasses, I scanned the scene: the popular crew cannonballing into the pool, someone's older brother blasting music that made my chest vibrate.

My hair frizzed in the humidity. I should've just accepted the invitation to go swimming, but the idea of squeezing into a swimsuit in front of everyone made my stomach do actual flips. So I sat, clutching a paper plate, pretending to be fascinated by the fruit platter. That's when I saw him—Liam from my English class, standing alone near the sliding glass door. We'd never spoken, but I'd definitely noticed him. He had this quiet way about him, always reading during lunch.

Then it happened. Sarah's little brother came tearing through the yard with a super soaker, and I jumped up to avoid getting soaked. My elbow connected with the fruit platter. A slice of papaya went flying—slow motion, like in a movie—and landed directly on Liam's t-shirt. Papaya juice everywhere. His white shirt now looked like a crime scene.

I wanted to evaporate. Instead, I rushed over, "Oh my god, I am SO sorry."

Liam looked down at the orange sticky mess, then up at me. And then he started laughing. Not mean laughing. Actual, genuine laughing. "Well," he said, "this is definitely the most interesting thing that's happened all day."

"I can pay for the shirt," I said, my face on fire.

"Nah," he shrugged, peeling off the papaya slice. "I've hated this shirt anyway. Too many people told me it looked good on me, so naturally I assumed it was basic." He gestured toward the pool. "You wanna help me wash this off? The chlorine's gotta be better than papaya juice."

"I didn't bring a suit," I admitted.

"So?" Liam kicked off his flip-flops. "Nobody's watching anyway. They're all too busy being cool to notice us being uncool together." Then he jumped in—t-shirt and all.

I stood there for exactly three seconds before thinking, *Whatever*, and jumping in too, fully clothed. The water was shocking and perfect, and when I surfaced, Liam was grinning at me. "See? Much better."

My hair was plastered to my face, my dress was ruined, and I smelled like tropical fruit meets chlorine. But for the first time all day, I wasn't spying on my own life from the sidelines. I was actually in it.