Poolside Sphinx

Maya felt like a zombie. Finals week had turned her brain into mush, and now here she was at Tyler's pool party, social battery hovering at 3%. She clutched her red solo cup like a lifeline, watching the water ripple as someone cannonballed into the deep end.

"You look like you're mentally calculating your survival chances," said a voice behind her. Maya turned to see Zoe—the mysterious junior who sat alone at lunch but somehow knew everything about everyone. Zoe, with her sharp jawline and unreadable expression, like a sphinx guarding secrets instead of riddles.

"Pretty much," Maya admitted. "I'm just here because my mom said I need to 'put myself out there.' Whatever that means."

Zoe's lips twitched. "Classic. Mine too. That's why I'm hiding by the snack table instead of, you know, actually talking to people."

They stood in comfortable silence for a moment, watching Tyler's friends perform increasingly dramatic jumps into the water.

"I have a goldfish named Finny," Maya blurted out. Why did she say that? "I mean, he's basically my only real conversation partner these days."

Zoe laughed—a real laugh, not the fake giggle Maya heard from the popular girls all afternoon. "No judgment. Finny sounds like a solid homie. Does he give good advice?"

"Mostly just stares and opens and closes his mouth. But he's a good listener."

"Can't ask for more than that." Zoe shifted closer. "Hey, you want to get out of here? There's a boba place down the street. Their taro milk tea hits different."

Maya's heart did that fluttery thing it did when her favorite song came on the radio. "Wait, really? Like, leave the party? Together?"

"Unless you're committed to watching Tyler attempt a backflip for the twentieth time." Zoe raised an eyebrow. "Your call, zombie girl."

Maya set her cup down on the table. Finny would be proud. "Let's bounce."

As they walked away from the splashing water and thumping music, Maya's zombie-status started fading. Maybe putting herself out there wasn't so terrible after all—especially when it meant finding someone who understood goldfish therapy and boba emergencies.