Poolside Spy Games

The cable was supposed to be broken. That's what my brother said when he found me mess with the TV hookup last Tuesday, rolling his eyes like I was some clueless freshman who didn't understand how the world worked. But I knew better.

Now I'm standing behind the storage shed at Jessica's end-of-summer party, watching everyone through the gap in the fence like some low-budget spy in a movie nobody asked for. The pool water glitters blue and perfect under the string lights, and Jessica laughs at something Tyler said, throwing her head back like she's in a commercial.

I should be in there. I was invited, technically. Maya put my name on the Facebook event and everything. But that was before I overheard her telling Chloe that she only invited me because she felt bad that I sat alone at lunch three times last week.

So here I am, playing detective on my own social life, when I hear someone behind me.

"You know, the cable works fine," says a voice, and I jump like I've been electrocuted.

It's Tyler. Jessica's Tyler. The one who made her laugh like that.

"What?" I manage, my face heating up.

"The cable," he says, gesturing to where I'm still technically sort of hiding behind the shed. "My dad's the cable guy. I saw you trying to fix it last week. You just had to reset the box."

I stare at him.

"You SAW me?"

"Yeah. I was gonna say something, but you looked like you were on a mission." He shrugs. "Also, I didn't want to weird you out. Some kid messing with cable equipment in the apartment complex? Figured you had your reasons."

The silence stretches between us, filled with distant splashing and laughter from the pool party.

"Why aren't you in there?" I ask finally.

"Could ask you the same thing." He leans against the shed. "Water's not really my thing. Almost drowned at summer camp when I was seven. Trauma, whatever."

"Oh."

"Yeah. So I mostly just come for the food and to look like I have a social life." He looks at me. "You?

"Social anxiety," I say before I can stop myself. "And I overheard Maya saying she only invited me out of pity."

"Oof." Tyler winces. "Yeah, Maya's nice but she's got zero filter. She also told everyone I still sleep with a stuffed turtle."

I laugh despite myself.

"His name's Sheldon," he says solemnly, and I laugh harder.

"Hey." He pushes off the shed. "Wanna go get snacks and make fun of people from a distance? Less creepy than hiding behind sheds, more strategic observation."

"Like actual spies?"

"Exactly like actual spies. Bond-style. But with more chips."

The pool water keeps glittering behind the fence. Jessica's still laughing at something, but somehow it matters less now.

"Yeah," I say. "I'd like that."