Riddle by the Pool

I felt like a total spy, lurking behind the concession stand in my too-tight lifeguard uniform while Chloe and her friends dominated the deep end. This was day three of my summer job at Willow Creek Pool, and I still hadn't mustered the courage to actually talk to her.

"You're staring again," my best friend Priya whispered, appearing beside me with two slushies. "You're not subtle, Marcus. Not even a little."

"I'm observing," I corrected, accepting the blue raspberry. "There's a difference."

Chloe was like a human sphinx—unreadable, mysterious, surrounded by an air of I'm-cooler-than-you'll-ever-be. She'd transferred to our school last month and already owned the place without saying more than twelve words total. Today she wore this vintage oversized tee over her bikini like she didn't care who noticed her, which paradoxically made everyone notice her more.

"My mom started me on these new vitamins," Priya said randomly, fishing something out of her pocket. "She says they help with 'teen hormones.' Want one?"

"Pass."

A wet nose nudged my calf. A golden retriever shook itself vigorously right next to me, spraying water everywhere. Perfect.

"Buster!" Chloe's voice cut through the splashing. She was actually walking toward me. My heart did something embarrassing. "Sorry, he loves lifeguards. They're like gods to him."

"It's cool," I managed, while Buster nudged my hand with surprising insistence. "I'm Marcus, by the way."

"Chloe." She knelt to towel off her dog, and for the first time, I noticed—she looked almost nervous. The sphinx had cracks. "Hey, are you going to Jordan's party Saturday? Everyone's talking about it."

Was she inviting herself? Inviting me? My brain short-circuited.

"I wasn't really planning on it," I said dumbly.

"You should come." She stood up, water dripping from her hair like she was some kind of mermaid who'd decided to try being human. "I need someone to talk to who's not obsessed with being seen, you know?"

Then she was gone, Buster trotting after her like they hadn't just blown my mind.

"Did that just happen?" Priya asked behind me.

"I think I just got invited to a party by the sphinx," I said, watching Chloe walk away. "Also, your dog sprayed water all over my uniform."

"That's NOT my dog."

"Whatever."

That night, I lay in bed replaying the moment on loop. Maybe high school wasn't completely impenetrable. Maybe even riddles had answers if you waited long enough.