The Fox at Orange Crush Pool Party

The invitation sat on my phone screen for three days before I finally typed "maybe."

Orange Crush pool party. Saturday. Everyone's gonna be there.

I'd just moved to this town two weeks ago, and my social life was basically a blackout. Mom tried to be encouraging. "Just give it time, Maya. You'll find your people."

But I was fifteen. Time wasn't exactly something I had in abundance.

I pulled up to the house where music thumped like a second heartbeat. The backyard stretched out before me—tiki torches, string lights, and an actual in-ground pool that looked like something from a music video. Kids were everywhere. Some played padel on the makeshift court someone's dad had set up. The racquet balls popped against the concrete, a rhythmic undertone to the bass.

I felt like a fraud in my one-piece while everyone else rocked bikinis and board shorts.

"You gonna stand there all night or actually get in?"

I turned. A guy with copper hair and the kind of smile that made you forget your own name stood behind me, dripping wet. His orange swim trunks were bright enough to signal planes.

"I'm, uh, thinking about it," I managed.

"I'm Cody. Fox." He held out a hand.

"Maya."

"Fox?"

"Yeah. Last name's Foxley, but everyone calls me Fox. Like the animal, but with worse survival instincts." He gestured to the padel court. "Just lost three games in a row. My ego's basically in intensive care."

I laughed before I could stop myself.

"You play?" he asked.

"Padel? Never even heard of it until like, five minutes ago."

"Perfect. You can help me bear the humiliation of losing to my little sister again. She's twelve and she destroys me." He held up his racquet. "Come on. I promise not to judge your form. Much."

Something shifted in my chest. The tightness that had been there since my first day at Northwood High loosened, just a little.

"Fine," I said. "But if I'm terrible, you're taking the fall."

Fox's grin widened. "Deal."

The pool water was cold against my skin as I stepped in, but for the first time in two weeks, I didn't feel like I was drowning.