Riddles in the Deep End

The chlorine smell hit Maya before she even stepped through the gate—her personal invitation to anxiety hell. Taylor's pool party. The one everyone had been talking about all week at Northwood High. Maya adjusted her bucket hat, pulling it lower like it could somehow make her invisible. It didn't.

"Maya! You made it!" Taylor waved from the pool edge, surrounded by the popular kids who moved in synchronized formations Maya had never mastered. "Come swim!"

Maya's stomach did that awful flop thing. She hadn't brought a swimsuit. Again. Because apparently her brain had signed a contract with the universe to ensure maximum awkwardness at all social functions.

"I'm good," Maya said, backing toward the snack table. "Just came for the Doritos."

"That's cute," someone said behind her.

She turned and there was Riley—aka the fox, named sophomore year for their legendary ability to slide out of any situation they didn't want to be in. Riley with their effortless vintage tees and hair that always looked intentionally messy.

"What's cute?" Maya managed, while internally screaming.

"The hat. Inside. At a pool party." Riley's mouth tilted up. "You're practically wearing a please-don't-notice-me sign."

Maya's face burned. "It's called fashion, Riley. You wouldn't understand."

Riley laughed, and something in Maya's chest did that annoying flutter thing. "Fair. But you know what Taylor's got setup in the backyard?"

"Please don't say a karaoke machine."

"Better. Worse." Riley stepped closer, lowering their voice. "Truth or Dare. But Taylor's been reading way too much Greek mythology, so it's full riddles now. Like the sphinx outside Thebes, except instead of eating you, you have to do embarrassing dare if you get it wrong."

Maya's eyes widened. "That's actually kind of brilliant."

"And terrifying. Which is why I need you on my team."

"Your team?"

"Yeah, you're smart. You saved Mr. Harrison's English class from total disaster when nobody else understood Othello. We'd crush this."

Maya stood there, chlorine and sunscreen in the air, heart racing, Riley looking at her like she was someone worth having on a team. Not someone to tolerate. Someone to want.

"Fine," Maya said, pulling off her hat. "But if we lose, I'm blaming you."

"Deal." Riley's grin was everything. "Now let's go show Taylor what happens when you underestimate people."

The pool sparkled behind them, but Maya was already swimming in something entirely new—and it didn't feel awful at all.