The Bear at the Party

The pool water glowed that fake blue from underwater LED lights, the kind that makes everyone look like they're swimming in a sports drink. I sat on the edge, feet dangling in, clutching my red solo cup like it was a lifeline.

"You gonna hop in or what?"

I looked up. It was Maya—of course it was Maya—standing there in that bikini that made my brain do that stupid glitchy thing it always did around her. Her hair was wet, slicked back like some kind of magnificent water creature.

"I'm good," I mumbled. "Don't wanna get my phone wet."

Lame excuse. My phone was waterproof.

The truth was, I couldn't swim. Not really. I could flail around in the shallow end like a dying fish, but actual swimming? Nah. And at sixteen, admitting that felt like confessing I still slept with a nightlight.

"You're such a bear sometimes," she said, splashing water at me. "All brooding on the sidelines. Come on, I'll teach you."

My face burned. A bear. That was new. Usually it was "quiet kid" or "that one guy who sits in the back."

"Maya, seriously, I—"

"Fox!" someone shouted from across the pool. "Truth or dare?"

That was her nickname. Fox. Because she was clever and quick and honestly, kind of sly in the best way. She'd given it to herself freshman year and it just stuck.

She looked at me, then back at the group, then grinned. "Truth!"

"Who's your crush?"

My heart straight-up stopped.

Maya's eyes flicked to me for like, a microsecond. Then she shrugged. "Pass. Next question."

I exhaled. And then I realized—she'd looked at me.

Later, when most people had migrated inside for pizza, Maya sat next to me on the pool edge.

"So," she said. "About the swimming thing."

"Yeah. I'm pathetic, I know."

"No," she said softly. "I think it's kind of cute."

The water rippled between us. Everything inside me rippled too.

"My dad never took me to lessons," I admitted. "He said sports were for people with something to prove."

"Screw that," she said. "I'll teach you. We'll start in the shallow end. No judgement zone."

She reached for my hand. Her fingers were cool from the water.

"What if I drown?" I asked, only half joking.

"Then I'll give you mouth-to-mouth," she said, deadpan for exactly three seconds before cracking up.

I laughed too. And then, hand in hand, we slid into the water together.