Riddles by the Pool

The chlorine stung my eyes, but I stayed underwater anyway. Anything to avoid the awkwardness happening on the patio above. When I finally broke the surface, gasping, I saw him—Leo, leaning against the pool fence like he owned the whole block.

"You look like a drowned rat," he said, grinning.

"Harsh." I wiped water from my face. "At least I'm not the one standing like a statue. You're like a human sphinx or something."

He laughed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

You know. Mysterious. Silent. Always watching everyone like you're about to ask some impossible riddle. The kind of person who makes you question everything without saying much at all.

The pool party raged behind him—music, laughter, people playing chicken fights in the water. But here, in this corner, it was just us and the weird tension I couldn't decode.

"My dad says I have to learn to bear discomfort," Leo said suddenly, sitting on the edge of the pool, dangling his feet in the water. "He thinks it builds character. Like standing up for yourself even when it's scary."

I treaded water, watching him. "Is that what you're doing? Practicing discomfort?"

"Maybe." He looked at me sideways. "You ever feel like you're pretending to be someone you're not? Like, all the time?"

My chest tightened. Because yes. Always. Especially around him.

"Everyone feels that way," I said, but my voice shook.

Leo slid into the pool, clothes and all. The water soaked his shirt instantly. He waded over to me, close enough that I could see the droplets on his eyelashes.

"Not everyone," he said softly. "But maybe they should. Maybe that's the whole point."

The pool lights flickered on as dusk settled. Someone yelled "CANNONBALL" and water splashed everywhere. Neither of us moved.

"So, Sphinx," I said, my heart hammering. "What's the riddle?"

Leo smiled, and for once it wasn't mysterious or guarded. It was just real.

"The riddle is why we spend so much time hiding when nobody's actually watching."

He took my hand under the water. His palm was warm against mine.

"I'm watching," I whispered.

"Yeah," he said, squeezing my fingers. "I think you might be the only one who is."