Poolside Surveillance

The pool party at Jenna's house was basically social hierarchy in liquid form. Popular kids floating on inflatables like royalty on lily pads, while the rest of us clung to the edges like suspicious algae. I'd been planted in the shallow end for forty-five minutes, practicing my bestspy work—observing without being observed. Call it survival research. My crush, Marcus, had spent approximately thirty-seven of those minutes laughing at something Rachel said, which wasn't even that funny, but whatever.

Then I saw him. The Bear. That's what everyone called Tyler Morrison anyway, mostly behind his back and definitely not to his face. Six-foot-two, built like a vending machine, always wearing that black hoodie that said 'DON'T TALK TO ME' in invisible letters. He was standing by the pool fence, arms crossed, looking like he'd rather be literally anywhere else.

Our eyes met. I quickly studied a very interesting patch of concrete.

'Nice spy technique,' a voice said. Tyler stood above me, dripping pool water. 'You've been watching Marcus and Rachel since I got here. What's your verdict?'

I nearly choked on my own spit. 'What? No. I was just...'

'Relax.' He cracked an actual smile. 'I've been doing the same thing. My ex is over there. With my best friend.' He gestured toward the diving board where Katie and some junior were competing for Most Dramatic Entrance.

'Oh.' I reconsidered everything I thought I knew about Tyler Morrison. 'That sucks.'

'Tell me about it.' He slid into the pool beside me, sending a small wave over my shoulder. 'I'm Tyler, by the way. Professional wall observer.'

'Maya. Professional shallow-end hider.'

We spent the next hour analyzing the social dynamics of Jenna's pool party like undercover operatives. Tyler made me laugh so hard I snorted pool water. He noticed when Marcus ditched Rachel to talk to some sophomore. He helped me construct elaborate theories about everyone's secret motivations.

'You know,' Tyler said eventually, 'I usually hate these things. But this isn't terrible.'

'Yeah,' I agreed, watching the popular kids start their synchronized drama routine. 'Not terrible at all.'

Later, when Jenna's mom ordered pizza, Tyler saved me a seat. And for the first time ever, I didn't feel like suspicious algae. Felt more like... maybe I belonged in the deep end after all.