Running from the Bull

The chlorine smell hit Maya first, then the wall of noise — fifty sophomores screaming like their lives depended on Marco Polo. She clutched her towel like a lifeline. Three years of swim team practice and she'd never once jumped into the deep end during a party. Too many eyes. Too many chances to look stupid.

"You coming in or what?" Tyler shouted. He stood at the pool's edge, dripping wet, that annoying confident grin plastered across his face. The one that made everyone at school think he was golden, even though Maya knew better.

"In a minute," she mumbled, edging toward the snacks table like her swim meet cutoff time depended on it.

Before she could escape, Jamie slid up beside her. "Marcus is being a total bull."

Maya followed her friend's gaze. Sure enough, Marcus stood in the shallow end, chest puffed out, holding court like he owned the place. He'd been terrorizing the freshman class all semester — classic bull behavior, charging through anyone who didn't move fast enough.

"What'd he do now?"

"Started roasting Leo about his swim trunks. Said he looked like a shark in a wetsuit." Jamie rolled her eyes. "It's giving major insecurity energy."

Maya's stomach twisted. Leo was already self-conscious. She watched Marcus circle closer to him, that predatory glint in his eyes.

Without thinking, Maya dropped her towel and dove in.

The shock of cold water cleared everything else. She surfaced right next to Marcus. "Hey, Leo's trunks are fire. Maybe you're just mad they didn't have them in your size."

The pool went quiet.

Marcus stared at her, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "What—"

"And another thing," Maya said, water streaming down her face. "Nobody thinks you're cool for picking on people. It's actually kinda cringe."

Something shifted in the air. Kids started nodding. Someone from the deep end yelled, "Yeah, Marcus, nobody asked for your podcast."

Maya swam over to Leo, who looked at her with wide eyes. "Thanks."

"No problem," she said, treading water beside him. "Besides, you've got way better form than him anyway. Want to race?"

Leo laughed. "You're on."

Later, as Maya dried off in the sun, Tyler flopped beside her. "That was bold. You know he's gonna try to start something Monday."

She watched Marcus sulking in the corner while Leo and Jamie splashed each other. "Let him. Some bulls charge, others just make a lot of noise." She stood up, feeling lighter somehow. "Either way, I'm done running."