Sink or Swim

Maya stood at the edge of the pool party, clutching her phone like a lifeline. The backyard buzzed with laughter and splashing, but she felt like she was underwater already—drowning in the awkwardness of being fifteen and not knowing how to swim.

Hey, Maya! Mason waved from the pool, water droplets glistening on his abs. Come in!

Her stomach did that thing it always did when he talked to her. A combination of swoon and straight-up panic.

Maybe later! she called back, lying through her teeth. She'd been saying maybe later since seventh grade.

Her phone buzzed. A text from her mom: Did you take your vitamin D? The pediatrician said you're deficient.

Maya rolled her so hard her head hurt. Thanks, mom. RUINING MY LIFE one notification at a time.

She reached into her bag for the gummy vitamins she'd brought as a cover story. If anyone asked why she wasn't swimming, she'd claim she just ate. Solid excuse. Brilliant. Genius-level social maneuvering.

Then she heard it—the distinctive jingle of Tags' collar.

NO! she gasped, spinning around just as her neighbor's cat came tearing through the party like a furry, four-legged wrecking ball. Tags, notorious escape artist and habitual chaos creator, was headed straight for the pool.

The next three seconds happened in horrifying slow motion. Tags leaped. A perfect, majestic arc through the air. Splashdown directly into the deep end.

Maya's body moved before her brain could process what she was doing. She jumped.

The shock of cold water engulfed her. For a second, she flailed, absolutely convinced she was about to die in three feet of water at Tyler Jenkins' birthday party. Then—feet touched bottom. She pushed off, breaking the surface, Tags securely in her arms.

You saved my cat! Maya's neighbor Jenna came running. But also—you're swimming!

Maya looked down. She was doing it. Not perfectly, not gracefully, but she was doing it.

Mason swam over, grinning. That was actually pretty awesome.

Maya's face burned hotter than summer asphalt. Yeah, well. Just had to be dramatic about it, I guess.

Her phone buzzed again from her bag on the ground. Another vitamin reminder.

She smiled, treading water with Tags safely deposited on the deck. Some vitamins you swallowed. Others you just had to jump into headfirst.