Poolside Riddle

The backyard of Chloe's mansion looked like something from a movie, complete with an actual **sphinx** statue that stared judgmentally at anyone who wasn't cool enough to be there. I adjusted my oversized t-shirt, suddenly hyper-aware that everyone else was wearing swimsuits that cost more than my entire wardrobe.

"Hey, new girl," Chloe called from her lounge chair. She was holding court like the queen of the social **pyramid** she'd built at Northwood High. "Truth or dare?"

The circle of popular kids went silent. All eyes were on me—Zoe, the awkward transfer student who'd somehow scored an invite to the party of the year.

"Truth," I squeaked.

Chloe smirked. "Boring. But okay. What's your biggest secret?"

My heart raced. I could mention the goldfish I'd won at the fair that I'd accidentally killed in third grade. Or how I still slept with a stuffed animal. Instead, something unexpected came out.

"I can't swim."

The confession hung in the humid air. Chloe's pool glittered behind her like an invitation and a threat all at once.

"Seriously?" someone whispered.

"My parents... they were scared of water. Never got around to lessons." My face burned. "Pretty pathetic, right?"

Chloe studied me for a long moment. Then she stood up, extended a hand, and said, "Get in."

"What?"

"The **pool**. Get in. I'm teaching you."

"Here? Now? In front of everyone?"

"Unless you're scared." Her grin softened. "I wasn't kidding about the social pyramid thing. It's all BS anyway. Might as well learn something real."

So there I was, in Chloe's ridiculously fancy pool, learning to float while her popular friends cheered every time I didn't drown. Later that night, Chloe's older sister showed up with a plastic bag containing a **goldfish** named Neptune that had "outgrown" his bowl.

"You want him?" she asked. "Seems like you need a practice buddy for swimming lessons."

I took the bag. Chloe high-fived me. And somewhere, the sphinx statue seemed to approve.