Sink or Swim

The chlorine hit me like always — sharp, chemical, totally summer. I ducked behind the snack counter, smoothie blender screaming at full volume. Another shift, another endless sea of cool kids by the pool.

"Hey Maya!" Chelsea called from the deep end, flipping her wet hair. "You coming in after your shift?"

I almost said yes. Almost.

But then I caught my reflection in the snack bar window — and froze. Massive green chunk of spinach stuck between my front teeth. From my lunch break smoothie experiment. The one I'd drank twenty minutes ago.

The worst part? I'd been talking to Lucas for like ten minutes. Lucas, whose abs I'd been low-key staring at all summer. Lucas, who'd definitely noticed the spinach situation and said absolutely nothing.

"Nah," I mumbled, turning away so Chelsea couldn't see the spinach disaster. "Busy."

My phone buzzed. Jenna, sending her third "where r u??" text of the day. We were supposed to hit the pool together, like we'd done every summer since seventh grade. But Jenna had discovered the popular crowd this spring, and apparently that included discovering new friends too.

I stabbed at my phone screen, frustrated. Everything was changing too fast. My supposed best friend ditching me for people she used to call fake. Me working at the pool I used to enjoy, now feeling like an outsider watching everyone else have the summer I was supposed to be having.

Then Lucas appeared at the counter, dripping pool water everywhere.

"Yo, can I get that spinach smoothie recipe?" He grinned, pointing at his own teeth. "Just kidding. But seriously, you coming in? The water's actually not terrible today."

I blinked. He knew? And he was still talking to me?

"You saw it?" I hissed.

"Hard to miss." He shrugged. "Whatever though. You coming in or what?"

Something in my chest loosened. Maybe the summer wasn't completely ruined after all.

"Yeah," I said, already reaching for my employee break. "Yeah, I'm coming."

The pool felt different when I finally stopped standing on the edges watching everyone else live their best lives. Cool water swallowed me whole, chlorine stinging my eyes in the best way. Chelsea and her friends waved from the other side. Jenna finally showed up, looking weirdly relieved to see me.

And Lucas? He swam over like it was no big deal, like he hadn't just witnessed my most embarrassing moment ever.

"See?" he said, treading water beside me. "Told you it wasn't that deep."

I laughed, finally actually laughing, and realized I'd been holding my breath all summer. Time to start swimming.