Summer of Second Chances

My palms were sweating so bad I could barely grip my phone. This was it — the first pool party of freshman year, and I was currently hiding in the bathroom like a total coward.

Outside, I could hear everyone laughing. Chad's house. Obviously. The one with the massive pool and somehow even bigger ego. I'd been crushing on Maya since seventh period English, and tonight was supposed to be my moment. Instead, I'd spent twenty minutes hyperventilating over whether to wear my swim trunks or pretend I forgot them.

"Bro, you good?" My best friend D Marcus texted. "Maya's asking about you."

I groaned and stared at myself in the mirror. Running away wasn't an option this time. Last summer, I'd bailed on Tyler's party because I was scared I'd look stupid playing beer pong. Spoiler: I looked stupider not showing up at all.

My bear of a older brother had texted me earlier: "Just be yourself, little dude. Maya either digs you or she doesn't. Can't fake it forever."

Easier said than done when "yourself" felt like the most awkward version of human possible.

I walked out to the pool area, my heart doing gymnastics. Maya was sitting on the edge, her legs in the water, laughing at something Chad said. My stomach dropped like a stone.

Then she saw me. "JAX! Finally!" She waved me over, and next to me, D Marcus mouthed "YOU GOT THIS" with way too much enthusiasm.

"Hey," I managed, sitting beside her. "Sorry, I was..."

"Nervous?" Her grin was knowing. "Me too. First party. Almost didn't come."

Wait. WHAT?

"You?" I blinked. "But you're... you."

"I'm what?" She splashed water at me. "Just a person who overthinks everything and has like zero chill when it comes to social situations. Sound familiar?"

I laughed, and for the first time all night, my palms weren't sweating anymore.

"Wanna make Chad's life weird?" she whispered. "I heard he can't swim."

I grinned. "I think we're gonna get along."

Sometimes the scariest moments are the ones that change everything. And sometimes, the person you've been running toward has been waiting for you to stop running from yourself.