Poolside Zombies

The last Friday of summer, and I'm operating on like two hours of sleep. Total zombie mode. Maya's text had said pool party, but what she really meant was social warfare at 85 degrees.

I pulled up to her house, palms already sweating. The backyard was packed—everyone from sophomore year was there, splashing around in that massive inground pool her parents installed last year. I spotted Tyler by the deep end, looking unfairly good even with wet hair plastered to his forehead.

Then I saw Chelsea. She was holding court on the patio like she owned the place, surrounded by her little fan club. She caught me looking and smirked. 'Nice of you to finally show up,' she called out. 'We were wondering if you got lost.'

'Bull,' Maya said, appearing beside me with a plate of nachos. 'She's just mad you look better in that swimsuit.' She shoved a chip toward me. 'Eat. You look like you haven't eaten since finals.'

I smiled, grateful. Maya got it. We both did—the feeling of being the background characters in someone else's movie. The awkwardness of not quite fitting in, of trying too hard or not trying enough.

My phone buzzed. Mom: 'Don't forget grandma's dinner tomorrow. Wear something nice.' I groaned. Sometimes it felt like my life was just a series of obligations I hadn't agreed to.

'That sounds like a whole mood,' Maya said, reading my face. 'Forget about tomorrow. Tonight, we're doing this.' She pointed at the pool. 'Together.'

I looked at the water, glittering in the golden-hour light. The palm trees swaying around the perimeter. Tyler waving at me from the pool's edge, grinning like an idiot.

Yeah, I thought. Maybe being a zombie wasn't so bad if you had your tribe.

'Race you to the deep end,' I said, already pulling off my cover-up.

Maya's laugh carried across the water as we both jumped in, screaming.