Poolside Undead

The water shimmered like liquid diamonds under the July sun, but Maya stood at the edge of the pool like she'd forgotten how to swim. Which she hadn't, obviously. She'd been on the swim team since seventh grade. But this wasn't the pool. This was THE pool — the one at Tyler's house, where everyone who was anyone hung out every Saturday.

Her snapback — vintage Chicago Bulls, thrifted for maximum cool points — was pulled low over her eyes. Safety blanket. Armor. Whatever.

"Maya! Finally!" Jenna's voice cut through the splashing and laughter. "Tyler's about to do his epic cannonball again. You have to see this."

Maya managed what she hoped passed for a smile and perched on the edge of a lawn chair. She felt like a zombie going through the motions of normal teenage life while her brain ran on three hours of sleep and existential dread. "Yeah, sounds... hype."

Hype. She'd said hype. Who was she becoming?

Then something happened that no amount of social anxiety could've prepared for. Tyler's little brother Marcus came streaking out of the house, face painted green, groaning like the walking dead. "BRAINS," he shrieked, and tackled Tyler into the pool with surprising force.

Everyone froze. Then someone — maybe it was Maya herself — started laughing. Not the polite I'm-entertained laugh she'd been practicing all year, but actual, doubled-over, can't-breathe laughter.

"Zombie attack!" Marcus yelled, grinning through his green face paint. And suddenly, Maya was in the water, splash-fighting alongside the popular kids, her hat floating somewhere on the surface, her hair a wreck, and for the first time in forever, she wasn't thinking about how awkward she looked.

She was just... there. Part of it.

Later, as they sat around drying off and eating pizza, Tyler caught her eye. "You know, for someone who's always so quiet, you're kinda badass when zombies attack."

Maya felt something unfamiliar blooming in her chest. Not anxiety, not overthinking. Just warmth. "I guess zombies bring out my best side."

And okay, maybe she still kept her hat on while eating pizza. Some things take time. But for the first time, she thought maybe next Saturday, she'd actually jump in before the zombie attack started.