Poolside Sphinx

The **pool** shimmered like liquid diamonds under the July sun, but Leo sat on the deck chair feeling like a total **dog**. Everyone else was cannonballing and laughing, while he clutched his towel like a security blanket. This was supposed to be the party of the summer—Jasmine's birthday bash—and here he was, overthinking everything.

"Yo, you gonna swim or just **bear** witness to everyone else living their best life?" Marcus joked, flopping onto the chair next to him. Marcus, who was somehow shirtless and confident and everything Leo wasn't.

Leo shrugged. "Maybe later. The water's... cold."

"Bruh, it's eighty degrees. What's actually up?"

Leo couldn't explain it—the tightness in his chest whenever he thought about taking off his shirt. The way his brain became a **sphinx** with impossible riddles: *Do you look okay? Will they stare? What if you jump wrong?*

Jasmine emerged from the house holding a giant bowl of fruit, her **orange** swimsuit glowing against her brown skin like sunshine personified. She caught Leo's eye and smiled. "Hey! Marcus told me you haven't been in yet. The water's literally perfect!"

His stomach did that embarrassing flutter thing. "Yeah, just... chilling."

"Chill at the **pool**? Make it make sense." She laughed, and Leo's face burned hotter than the asphalt.

Marcus stood up and held out a hand. "Look, we're all just goofing around. Nobody's watching you that hard. Main character energy is not required here."

Leo looked at the water—sparkling and inviting. Looked at Jasmine, waiting with an encouraging smile. Looked at Marcus, who'd somehow read his mind without him saying a word.

The **sphinx** in his head finally gave up. Leo stood up, dropped his towel, and walked toward the water.

"YO LET'S DO THIS," he yelled, probably too loudly, and cannonballed into the deep end.

He surfaced, sputtering, to everyone cheering. Jasmine high-fived him as he swam to the edge. "See? Not so bad."

Leo laughed, actually relaxed for the first time all day. The water wasn't cold at all—it was perfect. He wasn't a **dog** anymore. He was just Leo, and that was enough.

The **orange** sunset painted the sky as they all floated together, and for once, the riddle wasn't impossible. The answer had been simple all along: just jump.