Riddle at the Rec Center

Maya's purple hair was already fading to a questionable grape-juice color, but that wasn't even her biggest problem. That honor belonged to Jordan, the swim team captain who somehow made Speedos look aesthetic, currently doing laps in the lane next to hers.

"You're doing it wrong," Jordan said, treading water beside her. "You're fighting the water. You have to, like, become one with it or whatever."

"I'm not trying to become anything," Maya splashed. "I'm just trying not to drown during mandatory swim units."

The real reason she'd signed up for the summer swim program wasn't the swimming. It was the escape room afterwards — Jordan's friend group met there every Friday, and Maya had calculated that if she joined swim club, she'd naturally end up invited. This was, in retrospect, not her most genius plan.

Friday came. The escape room's final puzzle featured a massive sphinx statue that demanded they solve a riddle. Everyone was stumped.

Maya stared at the sphinx. "I literally have the same hair color as your sister," she blurted to Jordan. "She's the one who told me about this escape room. I've never actually played an escape room before. I'm just here because—"

"Wait," Jordan's eyes widened. "You joined SWIM CLUB for us? That's actually kind of unhinged. But like, in a good way?"

The sphinx riddle clicked into place. Something about truth and awkwardness.

They solved it with three minutes to spare. Later, sitting on the pool deck eating vending machine snacks while Jordan's friend group debated which cable TV show to binge next, Jordan passed her a bag of gummy worms.

"So," Jordan said, "your hair looks sick, by the way. And you're terrible at swimming, but you're apparently good at riddles. Trade secret?"

Maya laughed. "I just really wanted to hang out with you guys."

"Well, mission accomplished," Jordan grinned. "Also, we're watching Avatar: The Last Airbender. No arguments."

"I've literally never seen it."

"Perfect." Jordan's smile made Maya's stomach do that annoying fluttery thing. "You can start from the beginning. With us."

Some things, Maya decided, were worth a little swimming.