Sweaty Palms & Chlorine Lies

Maya's palms were sweating – literally, grossly sweating – as she gripped the chain-link fence. She was spying on her own best friend, which felt pathetic even as a sophomore-in-highschool problem.

Across the pool, Chloe was laughing with THE Emma Collins (rich Emma, whose parents owned that ridiculous house with the tennis court). They'd been glued together all week at swim practice, and Maya had caught them whispering and stopping whenever she walked by.

Classic friend replacement situation.

"You gonna stand there all day?"

Maya nearly jumped out of her skin. Tyler, Chloe's older brother, leaned against the fence eating a popsicle. He raised one eyebrow.

"I'm just... waiting for Chloe."

"She's at Emma's. They've been working on that English project forever." He frowned. "Wait, did she not tell you?"

Heat flooded Maya's cheeks. She'd been sitting outside for forty-five minutes like a total weirdo while Chloe was hanging out with someone else.

"Yeah, she mentioned it," Maya lied. "Whatever."

"Maya!" Chloe's voice rang out across the pool deck. She was running toward them, chlorine-soaked hair dripping down her tank top. "I've been looking EVERYWHERE for you."

"You're with Emma," Maya said before she could stop herself. It came out way more bitter than she intended.

Chloe stopped. "What? No, Emma left an hour ago. I was inside with Tyler –" she gestured at her brother " – helping him plan YOUR surprise birthday thing for tomorrow. Which I'm not supposed to know about, so PRETEND YOU HEARD NOTHING."

Tyler groaned. "Chloe, for real?"

"Whatever, you already ruined the surprise pool party idea last week." Chloe flipped her wet hair back. "Anyway, Maya, your palms look like you're about to pass out. You good?"

Maya looked at her hands, then at Chloe, who was genuinely confused, then at Tyler, who was busy looking betrayed.

The relief hit her so hard it was almost embarrassing.

"Yeah," Maya said. "I'm good." She wiped her hands on her shorts. "But you're telling me everything about this surprise party. Like, right now."