Saltwater Secrets

Maya's sixteen birthday party was supposed to be legendary—her first beach bonfire, the whole squad there. But instead of living it up, she was stuck on a log, nursing a lukewarm soda while everyone else roasted marshmallows and talking mad smack about summer plans.

"You good?" Zara dropped beside her, sliding cold against Maya's arm. Her best friend since third grade, though lately they'd been drifting like separate tides.

"Just thinking," Maya muttered.

Zara grabbed Maya's hand, tracing the lines in her palm. "My cousin does palm readings at the boardwalk. She says this line here? That's your future."

Maya pulled back, laughing. "Ain't no future written in my hand, Zara."

"Not with that attitude." Zara's smile didn't reach her eyes. "She said mine said I'd make a choice that changes everything this summer."

"What choice?"

"Can't tell you yet." Zara stared at the water, black and endless under the moonlight. "But I'm scared I'll mess it up."

Something in Zara's voice made Maya's chest tighten. She'd been so caught up in her own spiraling thoughts—college applications, her parents fighting again, feeling like she was falling behind everyone else—that she hadn't noticed Zara was drowning too.

"You won't," Maya said firmly. "And whatever happens, I've got your back. Always."

Zara's lip trembled. "I know. That's why I can do this."

Before Maya could ask, Zara stood up, sprinting toward the waves.

"Zara, wait!" Maya chased her, but Zara was already diving in, clothes and all.

Without thinking, Maya followed, plunging into the freezing water. They surfaced together, gasping, hair plastered to their faces, laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

"I needed that," Zara said, treading water beside her. "I've been holding everything in, and I just... I needed to let it out."

Maya grabbed her friend's hand under the water, palm to palm. "Me too. Let it all out, Z. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

They floated there for what felt like hours, the ocean rocking them like two sisters, while up on the beach, their friends started chanting their names. But for once, Maya didn't care about being cool or fitting in or what anybody else thought.

She had everything she needed right here.