The Last Party Before Summer

Maya stood at the edge of the pool, clutching her red solo cup like it was a lifeline. The water lapped gently against the tiles, casting rippling reflections across everyone's faces. This was supposed to be the kickback of the year—Jake's parents were out of town, their backyard transformed into something resembling a low-budget music video setup. But Maya felt like she was watching everything through a thick sheet of glass.

"You good?" asked Chloe, sliding up beside her. Chloe had been Maya's best friend since sixth grade, back when friendship bracelets were still currency and the biggest stressor was who got the swing first at recess.

"Yeah," Maya lied. "Just... vibing."

"You look like a zombie, no cap," Chloe said, grinning. "Did you actually sleep last night, or were you doomscrolling until 4 AM again?"

Maya managed a weak smile. Chloe knew her too well. The truth was, she'd been up half the night overthinking whether to even come tonight. Social battery drained before she even arrived.

Then she saw him across the pool—Leo, talking to some seniors like he'd known them forever. His palm tree tattoo peeked out from his rolled-up sleeve, something he'd gotten on some "soul-searching trip" over spring break that everyone pretended wasn't just him being basic.

Maya's palms started sweating. She'd been crushing on Leo since bio class, when he'd let her copy his homework despite Mr. Harrison giving them both death glares. They'd talked a few times since—mostly about music, sometimes about how much they both hated group projects. But tonight felt different. Tonight felt like...

She didn't even know what it felt like. That was the problem.

"Go talk to him," Chloe said, reading her mind like she always did.

"I can't."

"Yes you can. You're Maya 'Bad Energy Only' Chen. You literally called out Mr. Peterson's BS PowerPoint in front of everyone last week." Chloe paused. "Okay, fine, I'll come with. Wingwoman duties activated."

Before Maya could protest, Chloe was already steering her through the crowd, past couples grinding way too close to the pool edge, past someone doing a keg stand that was definitely going to end in disaster. The smell of chlorine mixed with cheap cologne and something suspiciously like watermelon vape smoke.

Leo looked up as they approached. His eyes found Maya's, and for a second, everything else—the noise, the pressure, the constant overthinking—just... faded.

"Hey," he said, smiling. Like she was someone he actually wanted to see.

"Hey," Maya managed back. And for the first time all night, her palms stopped sweating.