The Night I Didn't Drown

Maya's hair was supposed to be sun-kissed caramel highlights. Instead, it looked like someone had taken a match to a Barbie doll and called it art.

"You look... distinctive," her mom offered, which was parent-speak for "that's a disaster."

Maya spent forty-five minutes staring in the bathroom mirror, debating between a beanie and shaving her entire head. Neither seemed like great options for Tyler's pool party.

"You coming or what?" Maya's best friend Jenna texted. "Tyler's cousin is here and he's actually cute for once."

Maya groaned. Jenna had been trying to set her up with someone since seventh grade, when Maya had thrown up cherry slushie on Tyler's trampoline and everyone decided she was "that girl" for the next three years.

She felt like a zombie already, and the night hadn't even started. Third-period Pre-Calc, then cross-country practice, then the hair appointment from hell. Her brain was mush. But Jenna was right—she couldn't hide in her room forever.

The backyard hummed when Maya arrived. Bodies cannonballed into the pool while Drake played from somewhere too loud. Tyler's cousin Ethan sat on a lounge chair, looking as unimpressed with everything as Maya felt.

"Your hair," he said, when Maya accidentally made eye contact.

"Yeah, I know." Maya crossed her arms. "It's... happening."

"No, I mean it's sick." He grinned. "Like, actually cool. Mine's just boring brown."

Maya blinked. "Wait, really?"

"Dude, you look like a mermaid who discovered punk rock." Ethan stood up. "I'm gonna get in the pool. You coming?"

"I didn't bring a suit," she lied. She had one. She just didn't want to be judged.

Ethan shrugged. "So jump in your clothes. Live a little."

He didn't wait for an answer. Just cannonballed, splash erupting like chaos incarnate.

Maya looked at her hair—her terrible, ridiculous, beautiful hair. Looked at Jenna dancing with some sophomore. Looked at the pool, catching moonlight like something out of a dream.

She jumped.

The water swallowed her whole, cold and shocking and perfect. When she broke the surface, sopping wet and laughing for real, Ethan was waiting.

"Took you long enough."

"Shut up," she said, and splashed him straight in the face.

Being a zombie was fine and all. But sometimes, you had to remember you were still alive.