Splash Point

Maya's **palm**s were sweating against the plastic cups, her grip turning them into crumpled messes. Jordan's pool party — the event of the summer according to Sophie's Instagram stories — and she was hiding in the kitchen like a total loser.

"You coming outside?" Sophie appeared in the doorway, already in her bikini, looking effortless. "Everyone's playing **padel** on the driveway court."

"In a minute," Maya lied, adjusting her oversized sun **hat**. The brim covered half her face, which was exactly the point.

She'd spent three hours on her hair this morning. Three hours. And now she was just going to mess it up anyway.

The backyard was packed. Jordan had that above-ground pool with the built-in hot tub section, and someone had brought one of those giant inflatable flamingos. Everyone was either in the **water** or draped across lounge chairs, drinks in hand. Someone's phone was blasting that new TikTok song that played everywhere.

And then there was Liam.

Maya's stomach did that stupid flip thing it always did when he was around. He was sitting on the pool edge with a red solo cup, his wet hair pushed back, laughing at something Tyler said.

She was about to retreat back inside when she noticed something small and orange swimming near Liam's feet.

"Is that a **goldfish**?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Liam looked up, and suddenly his attention was on her. "What?"

"In the pool," Maya said, stepping closer. "There's literally a goldfish in the pool."

Everyone stopped talking. Five people leaned over the edge to look.

"Oh my god," someone said. "How long has it been there?"

"Someone's pet got out," Liam realized, but he was smiling at Maya now. "Good catch."

For once, Maya wasn't the invisible girl in the corner. She was the person who noticed something everyone else missed.

"We should get it out," she said, and suddenly she was taking off her hat, kicking off her sandals, and wading into the pool in her sundress.

"Here," Liam said, offering her his cup to scoop it up. "Let's get this little guy rescued."

Their fingers brushed when he handed it to her, and Maya's heart didn't just flip — it launched.

By the time they'd fished out the goldfish and deposited it in Jordan's empty beach bucket (they'd named it Steve by then), Maya's dress was soaked through, her hair was a disaster, and she was sitting on the pool edge between Liam and Sophie, both of them laughing at something she'd said.

"You know," Liam said, his shoulder pressing against hers, "you're kind of adorable when you're on a rescue mission."

Maya splashed him with pool water. "Don't get used to it."

But she was grinning so hard her face hurt. And when she looked at her crumpled plastic cup on the table, she didn't care anymore.

Some days, you just had to jump in.