Poolside Zombie Apocalypse

I stood at the edge of the pool clutching my ridiculous sun **hat** like it was a life preserver, which honestly, it kind of was. A social life preserver.

Jordan's graduation party was in full swing—literally, since half the senior class was **swimming** laps in her ridiculously huge pool. Meanwhile, I was paralyzed on dry land because I'd showed up wearing this oversized grandma hat that my mom insisted would protect my fair skin. I looked like I was ready for a garden club meeting, not a rager.

"Yo, Maya! Get in here!" Tyler yelled, splashing **water** in my direction. Of course Tyler looked perfect. His wet hair was all artfully messy, and I was over here channeling Myrtle from the Great Gatsby.

I reached for a snack, trying to look casual. My hand closed around something green and leafy from the veggie platter. **Spinach**. Really? At a pool party? I crammed it in my mouth, praying nobody noticed I was eating party garnish like a stressed **zombie**.

"Maya, you okay?" Jordan materialized beside me, genuinely concerned.

"Yeah, just..." I gestured vaguely at my hat. "My mom's paranoid about UV rays."

Jordan laughed. "Girl, same. My mom made me put on sunscreen like five times before anyone arrived." She pointed to her nose. "See? Zinc white marks everywhere."

I blinked. Jordan, who literally everyone looked up to, was admitting she hadmom moments too?

"Take off the hat," she said. "Live a little."

I did. And then I jumped in the pool, hat and all, spinach-filled teeth and all, and for the first time all summer, I didn't feel like a zombie going through the motions of being a teenager.

Turns out? Everyone's just winging it. Even the perfect ones.

Even with spinach in their teeth.