The Hat, The Water, The Bull

The snapback was my armor. Freshman year, and I'd convinced myself that if I wore it low enough, nobody would notice I was terrified. The pool party at Jessica's house was supposed to be chill, just a few people from our grade, but my stomach was doing backflips.

I couldn't swim. Not really. Could doggy paddle enough not to die, but that was it. In middle school, nobody cared. In high school? It was social suicide to be the kid who sat on the edge while everyone else played chicken fight and Marco Polo.

The hat helped. Sort of.

"Yo Marcus, you coming in?" Tyler yelled, splashing water onto the deck. Tyler, who'd been my best friend since kindergarten but had somehow transformed into a varsity athlete while I stayed the same awkward kid who liked anime and avoided eye contact.

"Yeah, uh, just finishing my soda," I lied.

Then HE walked in. Brett. The senior who'd made my life hell last year when he'd pants me in the locker room, laughing with his friends while I scrambled to pull up my boxers. He'd graduated but was dating Jessica's older sister, which meant he was at everything now.

"What's up, little man?" Brett smirked, grabbing a solo cup. "Still rocking the hat indoors? Classy."

My face burned. I gripped the plastic cup, knuckles white.

"He's not going in," Tyler announced suddenly from the pool. "Marcus is allergic to water."

What?

Brett laughed. "For real? Like, you'll swell up and die?"

"Yeah," Tyler said, treading water. "It's super rare but basically deadly. That's why he never swims. I'm literally saving his life right now by keeping him out of this pool."

I stared at Tyler. Was he helping me or making it worse?

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," Brett said.

"It's true!" Tyler grinned. "Hey Marcus, toss me that floatie?"

He was giving me an out. A ridiculous, unbelievable out, but an out.

"Yeah, no can do," I said, finding my voice. "Doctor's orders. Plus, someone's gotta supervise so you guys don't drown."

"Whatever," Brett rolled his eyes and walked away.

Tyler swam over to the edge. "You owe me."

"Since when am I allergic to water?"

"Since today. Also, we're fixing that this summer. My cousin has a pool, I'm teaching you to swim. No cap."

"For real?"

"Dead ass." He splashed me. "But you gotta lose the hat in the pool. That's a foul."

I took off the snapback. My hair was messy. I felt exposed.

"Better?" I asked.

"Much," Tyler said. "Now grab a chair and keep watch, Aquaman. I've got your back."

And for the first time all night, I actually believed it.