Riddles by the Pool

Maya's palms were sweating. Like, actually dripping. She wiped them on her denim shorts for the third time, watching Jordan across the **pool**. He was doing that thing where he laughed with his whole body, head tilted back, water dripping from his hair like he was in a movie or something.

"You gonna stand there all night or actually get in?" Marcus appeared beside her, holding a skewer with chunks of **papaya** and pineapple. "This fruit is actually fire. Mrs. Chen went full tropical tonight."

Maya took a piece to avoid answering. The papaya was weirdly soft, almost like custard. "I'm just... observing."

"**Spying**, you mean." Marcus grinned. "We both know you're not exactly subtle about it."

Her face burned. "I am NOT spying. I'm strategically gathering intel."

"Same thing."

A girl with perfect hair and a sundress that probably cost more than Maya's entire wardrobe walked past them, carrying a plastic **sphinx** statue from the decoration table. Someone had drawn a crude mustache on it with Sharpie.

"This thing is judging me," the girl said, setting it down near the lounge chairs. "It's giving 'I know your secrets' energy."

Maya laughed despite herself. That's when Jordan started walking over.

Time stopped. Her stomach did that thing where it felt like it was falling through the floorboards of existence. Jordan Chen, wearing that oversized black t-shirt with the band nobody listened to anymore, actually approaching her.

"Hey." He was closer now. Close enough that she could see the freckle on his nose. "You gonna eat that papaya or just hold it hostage?"

"Uh." Maya's brain had apparently ceased functioning. "I was... saving it? For... later?"

Jordan smiled. Not even a regular smile. The kind that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. "Cool. Cool saving strategy. Very disciplined."

Marcus snorted so loudly Maya considered pushing him into the **pool**.

"Anyway." Jordan rubbed the back of his neck, which she noticed made his own palms sweat a little. "I was gonna ask if you wanted to play volleyball? But Marcus looks like he's about to roast you, so maybe I'll come back later."

"Please do." Marcus was dead. Absolutely dead.

Jordan grinned at her one more time before walking back toward the water.

Maya exhaled. "I hate you."

"You're welcome." Marcus bumped her shoulder. "Now you have a reason to get in the pool."

She looked at her hands. Still shaking. Still sweating.

But she looked at Jordan, waist-deep in the water, looking back at her.

She put her phone in her pocket. Took off her shoes.

"Fine. But you're on my team, and if we lose, you're buying me boba."

"Deal." Marcus fist-bumped her. "But you're still serving as papaya hostage negotiator."

Maya stepped toward the water, her heart pounding like something that was finally, finally about to happen.