Pyramid Scheme in the Deep End

Maya's summer couldn't get any worse. Her parents had signed her up for swimming lessons at the community center, even though she was fifteen and perfectly capable of staying afloat, thank you very much. The real problem? The lessons were taught by Jake Rodriguez, who sat comfortably at the top of Canyon High's social pyramid while Maya occupied its geometric basement.

"Today we're working on treading water," Jake announced, looking unfairly good in his red lifeguard shorts. His stupid cable bracelet caught the sunlight—something his ex-girlfriend had made him, obviously.

Maya's best friend Sam, who'd only joined lessons because her mom refused to drive her to the mall otherwise, whispered, "He's looking at you."

"He's looking at the clock," Maya muttered, but her heart did that annoying fluttery thing anyway.

Then disaster struck. Literally. Someone had organized a human pyramid in the deep end for TikTok, because apparently regular embarrassment wasn't enough for Gen Z. Maya had been at the bottom tier, doing her patriotic duty to support the popular kids' quest for viral fame.

The pyramid collapsed like it was made of wet sandboards.

Maya surfaced coughing, her eyes stinging, to discover her missing bikini top floating peacefully toward the drain like a tropical fish. Jake had to fish it out with the pool skimmer. He didn't even laugh. He just handed it back, his face perfectly neutral, and said, "Nice form staying underwater that long. That's actual skill."

Later, while everyone sat around the snack bar eating papaya slices because someone's health-nana mom had brought them, Sam whispered, "He asked if you were okay. Like, twice."

Maya glared at her fruit. "He's just doing his job."

"He gave you his hoodie, Maya. That Jake Rodriguez hoodie. That everyone knows he never lets anyone wear."

Maya looked down at the oversized blue hoodie she was still wearing, warm and ridiculously comfortable. Okay. Maybe her summer wasn't a total disaster. Maybe sometimes falling to the bottom of the pyramid meant finding something better than being at the top.