Sphinx by the Pool Side

The sun baked the pool deck while I felt like a total zombie—three hours of sleep will do that to you. Summer was supposed to be chill, but between my lifeguard shift and Maya's party afterward? I was running on fumes.

Then I saw her—cleared a throat that suddenly felt dry. "You're quiet."

"Just observing."

"Like the sphinx?" The words slipped out before I could stop them.

She actually smiled. "Exactly. Riddles and secrets. That's what this summer's been, right?"

My phone buzzed—Marcus, wondering where I'd disappeared to. But the zombie feeling had faded, replaced by something that felt dangerously like hope.

"Tomorrow?" she asked, suddenly shy. "Swimming again?"

"Only if you promise not to judge my form."

"No promises. But I'll bring more papaya."

I walked back to the party feeling like I'd woken up from something. Not the zombie exhaustion. The sleepwalking through life part. The friend waiting by the speakers didn't ask where I'd been. He just saw my face and grinned.

"About time," Marcus said.

Yeah. It was.