The Goldfish Incident

The last thing Maya wanted was to be at Jessica Hart's pool party. The invite had said "casual gathering" but everyone knew Jessica's gatherings were basically social hierarchy audits. Maya stood by the edge of the pool, clutching her phone like a lifeline, watching clusters of popular kids laugh at inside jokes she'd never understand.

"You gonna swim or just judge everyone from the sidelines?"

Maya jumped. It was Leo, the guy from her AP Bio class who always drew comics in the margins of his notes. He was wearing the most ridiculous bucket hat she'd ever seen, patterned with tiny tropical pineapples.

"I'm good," she said, tucking a strand of frizzy hair behind her ear. Humidity was already turning it into a pouf.

"Your loss." Leo gestured toward a giant inflatable goldfish floating near the deep end. "I call dibs on that beauty."

"You're seriously going to ride that?" Maya couldn't help smiling. "In front of everyone?"

"Maya, life is short." Leo cracked his knuckles. "If you can't embrace your inner goldfish at a pool party, when can you?"

Before she could respond, he sprinted toward the pool and launched himself onto the inflatable with zero coordination. The goldfish tipped instantly, sending Leo flailing into the water with a spectacular splash. Half the party turned to stare.

Maya's stomach dropped. She knew that feeling—the sudden silence, the barely-concealed giggles, the heat rushing to your face. She braced for Leo to look humiliated.

Instead, he surfaced, spat water like a fountain, and yelled, "TEN OUT OF TEN WOULD RECOMMEND."

Someone laughed. Then someone else. Jessica herself actually applauded.

Leo climbed out, dripping wet, pineapple hat completely ruined, and caught Maya's eye. He made an ridiculous bow.

Maya's palm tingled. Something shifted in her chest, like a door clicking open. The party noise seemed to soften around the edges. She realized she'd been holding her breath.

She kicked off her sandals.

"Wait for me," she said, and for the first time all summer, she actually meant it.