Riddles by the Pool

Maya ducked behind the concession stand, clutching her phone like it was a lifeline. The homecoming after-party was loud, the bass thumping against her chest, but she needed air. Being a freshman at this thing was social suicide anyway.

That's when she saw it—a fox, its coat glowing amber in the pool lights, padding silently along the fence line like it owned the place. It paused, looking at her with eyes that said, "I see you hiding out."

"Weird night for swimming," a voice said.

Maya jumped. It was Leo, the junior swim team captain, standing by the pool's edge. He looked zombie-like, dark circles under his eyes from what she guessed was too much practice and not enough sleep.

"I'm not swimming," she said. "Just... escaping."

He nodded toward the water. "Wanna bet I can swim a lap underwater?"

"No."

"Good, because I can't." He splashed water with his foot. "This pool's seen too many broken records. Sometimes it feels like the sphinx of the school—you know, like the myth? Guards all its secrets. Sometimes I swear it whispers riddles about who's gonna make state, who's gonna burn out."

Maya laughed. "That's the corniest thing I've ever heard."

"What? It's deep. The pool is deep. Metaphorically." He climbed onto the diving block, where someone had stacked plastic cups into a wobbly pyramid. "You know what this pyramid represents?"

"The devastating amount of red Solo cups we'll have to clean up tomorrow?"

"Nope. It's the social hierarchy. Freshmen at the bottom, seniors at the top, and everyone trying to climb up without knocking the whole thing over." He flicked the top cup off. "Oops."

"You're gonna get in trouble."

"Maya, listen." Leo hopped down. "The fox outside? I see it every time I sneak out here for night swims. It's been showing up since my freshman year, back when I thought I had to prove myself to everybody. Now I just swim because I like it. The pyramid's gonna fall anyway. Might as well enjoy the water while you can."

Maya looked at the fox again. It was still watching.

"You want to get in the water?" Leo asked. "Not to swim. Just to stand. It's nice."

She took off her sandals and stepped in. The water was perfect.

"See?" he said. "No riddles. No pyramids. Just you and the pool."

The fox flicked its tail and disappeared into the dark. But Maya didn't feel like hiding anymore.