Poolside Static

The humidity in Florida hits different—like someone wrapped the entire state in a warm, wet blanket. I'm sprawled on a lounge chair at my best friend Marcus's house, nursing a warm soda and watching everyone else look cool in the pool.

"You gonna swim or just bake?" Marcus asked, flicking water at me from the pool's edge.

"I'm contemplating my life choices," I said, wiping the splash from my face. "Also, your mom cut the cable again, didn't she?"

Marcus groaned. "Yes, because apparently I need to 'experience nature' instead of watching Netflix. In 90-degree weather. This is basically abuse."

His older brother Jason rolled his eyes while toweling off. "Stop being dramatic. Also, that cable subscription was draining Mom's wallet. She's right to cut it."

"Easy for you to say," Marcus muttered. "You're twenty-two. You have money. I have nothing."

I checked my phone—no service, because Marcus lived in some weird dead zone. The WiFi was also down because his mom hadn't paid the internet bill. We were literally in 1995 out here.

Then SHE walked into the backyard. Jasmine. The girl I'd been lowkey crushing on since seventh grade, with her palm tree-print swimsuit and her hair that always looked perfect even in humidity. She was hanging out with Marcus's cousin, who I'd forgotten was visiting.

"Hey guys," she said, giving us this little wave that made my stomach do flips. "What's everyone doing?"

Jason answered before I could even open my mouth. "Marcus is being dramatic about the cable situation. Again."

Jasmine laughed, and I swear it sounded like wind chimes or whatever poetic nonsense people say about laughter. "My mom did that last summer. I survived by reading actual books. It was traumatic."

I sat up straighter. "I have books at my house. Actual ones."

Smooth. Real smooth.

Marcus shot me this look that said *dude, what are you doing*, while Jason smirked. Jasmine just smiled, though, and my heart about exploded.

"That's actually cool," she said. "I haven't read anything good in forever. What do you have?"

I started listing some titles, feeling weirdly confident. Jasmine nodded along like I was saying something profound instead of just listing YA novels I'd read twice. We talked about books and school and how Florida weather is basically just God playing an extended prank on everyone.

Later, when she'd left to get snacks, Marcus finally spoke up. "Dude. Was that flirting? I feel like that was flirting."

"Shut up," I said, but I couldn't stop grinning. "We were just talking."

"That was definitely flirting," Jason called out from inside the house. "Just so you know."

I lay back on the lounge chair, staring up at the palm fronds swaying against the blue sky. The air still felt thick and heavy, but suddenly I didn't mind the heat so much. Sometimes the best moments happen when everything else goes wrong—no cable, no WiFi, no distractions. Just a pool, some friends, and a conversation that might change everything.

"You should just ask her to hang out properly," Marcus said, splashing water at me again. "Before I change my mind and tell her you still sleep with a stuffed animal."

"I was SEVEN," I protested, laughing. "And that was one time."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, bro."