Summer of Uncool

I stood behind the snack bar counter, the polyester uniform literally itching my soul. First day of summer job, already questioning every life choice that led here.

"You're up," Marcus said, barely looking up from his phone. He'd been working here since before TikTok was even a thing. The pool was chaos — kids screaming, parents doing that weird half-jog while pretending not to panic.

Then I saw her.

Chloe. The same Chloe who sat two rows behind me in AP English, who probably didn't know I existed until right now, walking toward the snack bar with that effortless vibe that made everyone else feel like a NPC in her main character energy. Her hair was actually flowing in the breeze. Mine was currently defying gravity thanks to humidity.

"Hey," she said, and my brain short-circuited. "Can I get some water? The vending machine's broken."

"Water. Yes. I can definitely water." I internally facepalmed so hard. "I mean, here."

Our fingers touched as I handed her the bottle. Electric? More like static shock on a dry day. She smiled — like, actually smiled — and walked back to her friends.

I was mentally replaying that moment when I heard it. The splash. Everyone turned toward the deep end.

Some kid's golden retriever had somehow gotten loose and was now paddling around the pool like it owned the place. The dog was living its best life while the lifeguard was furiously blowing his whistle like that would solve anything.

Chloe jumped in. Still wearing her sundress.

The dog made a beeline for her like she was a long-lost friend. She was laughing, hair plastered to her face, makeup definitely ruined, and she looked more beautiful than ever.

I grabbed the rescue tube and started running toward the pool, because apparently that's what you do when situations go off the rails. Marcus yelled something about the papaya smoothie machine, but I was already moving.

"Got it," I called out, sliding in next to her. The dog immediately swam to me, because of course it would choose the awkward guy over the cool girl.

We sat on the edge afterward, dripping wet, the dog shaking itself off between us.

"You jumped in a dress," I said, stating the obvious like a pro.

"It needed to be washed anyway." She shrugged, still smiling. "I'm Chloe, by the way."

"Ethan."

"Nice to officially meet you, Ethan." She pulled a piece of fruit from her bag. "Want some papaya? I swear it's better than it looks."

And just like that, my worst summer ever became maybe the best one.