The Hat in the Deep End

The chlorine smell hit me before I even stepped through the gate. Jordan's annual pool party. The social event of the summer, apparently. I adjusted my beanie—yeah, wearing a hat to a pool party, I know. Total psycho move.

'Yo, Marcus!' Jordan called from the diving board, doing some unnecessary flip. 'Get in here, bro!'

I mumbled something about checking my phone and found a spot on the lounge chair furthest from the water. The hat stayed on. Obviously.

Here's the thing nobody knew: I'd never learned to swim properly. Like, obviously I could doggy paddle and not die immediately, but actual swimming? Nah. At sixteen, admitting that felt like announcing I still watched Bluey unironically.

'Still rocking that hat, huh?' Skylar appeared behind me with two sodas. 'It's ninety degrees, Marcus. The sun doesn't need to see your hair that bad.'

I took the soda. 'It's a vibe.'

'Sure.' She sat down, suddenly serious. 'You know, nobody actually cares about that stuff you're hiding under there.'

My stomach did that thing. 'What stuff?'

She gave me that look—like she knew something I hadn't said. 'I saw you at community center last week. You were in the shallow end during adult swim lessons.'

Oh.

OH.

The blood rushed to my face. 'Skylar, I—'

'I signed up too,' she said, laughing. 'Why do you think I'm always "busy" when Jordan invites me to the lake? I sink like a rock in open water.'

We sat there for a minute. The sounds of splashing and laughter floated over from the pool.

'The hat,' she said, 'is doing a lot of heavy lifting for nothing.'

I thought about it. The water twinkled in the sunlight, looking less like my personal nemesis and more like, well, water.

I took off the hat.

'There he is,' Skylar said. 'Wanna try the deep end? Jordan's lifeguard cousin is on duty.'

'You go first,' I said.

'Deal.'

She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the pool. 'Tomorrow, lessons. Together. No more hiding.'

I tossed my hat on the lounge chair and followed her into the water.