Sphinx at the Pool Party

The mansion loomed like something out of a reality show, and I stood there feeling like a total poser in my Target bikini. Maya had dragged me to whatever-her-name-was's end-of-school bash, and already she'd abandoned me for the popular crew by the pool.

"Hey, you gonna swim or just hold up the wall?"

I jumped. This girl materialized beside me—dark hair, intense eyes, zero expression. She wore a black one-piece like she was at swim practice, not a party.

"Maybe," I said. "You?"

She shrugged. "Water's fine. If you like swimming in chemicals."

I laughed, surprising myself. "Who are you again?"

"Sphinx."

"That's... your actual name?"

"No. But it's what everyone calls me because I apparently look like I'm keeping secrets." She cracked a smile, finally. "I'm Leo. You're new-girl-from-English."

"Riley," I said, liking her already.

Leo pointed toward the far end of the pool where a guy sat alone, reading. "That's Jamie. Won a goldfish at the carnival yesterday. Carried it around in a baggie all through sixth period like it was his emotional support animal."

I snorted. "Is that... normal here?"

"Normal's overrated." Leo's expression shifted, serious again. "So why'd you come if you're not into the scene?"

I hesitated. "Maya said I needed to put myself out there. Make friend groups before junior year. Get it together."

"She meant find your people. Not perform for hers." Leo slipped into the pool without a splash. "Coming? The water's actually not terrible once you're in."

I watched Maya laughing with people who'd probably forget her name by September. Then I looked at Jamie guarding his goldfish like it understood him better than anyone else did.

I slid into the water beside Leo. It was cold and shocking and real.

"So," Leo said, treading water. "What's your deal?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "Still figuring it out."

"Good answer." She grinned. "Wanna help me plan Operation Goldfish Liberation? Jamie's fish deserves better than a bowl on someone's dresser."

I laughed. This wasn't the summer I'd expected. But as I swam toward the shallow end with my first real friend, I thought it might be better.

Sometimes you find your people in the unlikeliest places. Sometimes you have to get in the water even when you can't see the bottom.

And sometimes, just sometimes, the girl everyone calls Sphinx gives you better answers than all the riddles she never actually asks.