Riddles by the Pool

The chlorine hit me first. Then the noise—about fifty seniors from North High, all packed into the Whitakers' backyard for what was somehow the most important **pool** party of the summer. And me? I was hiding behind a fake Egyptian statue because I'd walked in with **spinach** stuck in my braces.

"Leo!" Maya waved from the deep end. My best **friend** since seventh grade, looking effortless in a bikini while I stood there in my Target trunks like I'd just discovered social anxiety existed. "Come in!"

I shook my head fast. No way was I exposing my spinach-filled teeth to half the junior class.

"What's your deal?" This was Jason, the guy who'd basically appointed himself guardian of the popular crowd. He stood there dripping wet, radiating that specific energy that made you feel like you should've stayed home playing video games. "Too cool for the pool?"

The **sphinx** fountain behind me spewed water dramatically, like it was laughing. Jason's friends snickered. I felt the heat rising up my neck—that horrible, all-over-body flush that happens when you're fifteen and everything is embarrassing.

"I—uh—"

"Leave him alone, Jason." Someone pushed through the crowd. Riley. The one person who made Jason's whole deal look ridiculous. They were wearing a "REAL MEN EAT GREENS" shirt that I could've sworn was handmade. "Leo's fine."

Riley smiled at me, and I swear the spinach in my teeth suddenly felt less like a social death sentence and more like... well, still embarrassing, but manageable.

"Your dog's here," Riley said.

I looked down. Sure enough, Buster—my mom's **dog**, who was supposed to be at home—had followed me and was now sitting proudly by the sphinx, wagging his tail like he'd just won an award for showing up uninvited.

"Oh my GOD," someone said. "That is the CUTEST thing."

Suddenly everyone was petting Buster. Jason got ignored. Maya swam over, grinning. "You brought a dog? This is the best party ever."

Riley handed me a cup. "You have something in your teeth, by the way."

They didn't say it loud. Just... normal. Like it wasn't the end of the world.

"Spinach," I whispered, finally relaxing. "From earlier."

"Figures." Riley grinned. "Wanna get it out and then come swimming? The water's actually not terrible."

So I did. And later, floating under the stars with a golden retriever swimming alongside us and Maya laughing at something Jason had given up trying to be cool about, I realized something: sphinxes might be ancient guardians of secrets, but high school's just people figuring stuff out together, spinach and all.