The Orange Trunks Incident

Marcus's mom had absolutely zero chill when it came to swimwear. That's how he ended up at Taylor's pool party wearing neon orange trunks that glowed like radioactive waste. Dead.

He hovered near the snack table, clutching a red solo cup like it was a life raft, while everyone else splashed around in the pool. Taylor—the Taylor who'd moved here from California and made varsity swim team without trying—was doing laps with that effortless grace that made Marcus's chest tight.

Marcus had been kinda lowkey stalking Taylor's socials since school started. Okay, 'stalking' was strong. But he'd definitely been doing some digital recon. Followed all the accounts. Liked all the posts from 2019. Watched the swim meet highlights until his eyes burned. It wasn't creepy, it was... research.

His best friend Jace called him a 'simp.' Marcus preferred 'thoroughly informed admirer.'

'Hey.'

Marcus nearly dropped his cup. Taylor was standing there, dripping wet, towel slung over shoulders. Up close, the chlorine smell mixed with something vanilla-y. 'You gonna swim, or just hold up the wall all day?'

'Oh. Uh.' Marcus's brain blue-screened. 'I'm good. Chilling.'

Taylor's eyes dropped to Marcus's midsection. The orange trunks. 'Nice.

Marcus wanted to dissolve. 'My mom. Birthday gift. There was a. sale.'

'Bet you'd blend in at a construction site.' Taylor grinned, and—no way—was that actually genuine amusement? 'I'm kidding. They're iconic. Bold. I like bold.'

Taylor studied him for a second, like actually really looked at him. Not through him, not past him. AT him. 'You're Marcus, right? From AP Bio? You sit behind me. You always have those crazy detailed notes.'

Marcus's heart did something genuinely concerning. 'Yeah. That's me.'

'Those notes saved my butt last test. I was gonna ask—' Taylor leaned closer, 'if maybe you'd wanna study together sometime? My place, or...'

The offer hung there, shimmering like heat haze. All those months of silent observation, those carefully constructed casual hallway nods, those strategic lab partner selections—and Taylor had noticed him back. Not because of some cool-kid performance, but because he'd been quietly helpful.

'Yeah,' Marcus managed, feeling something unfamiliar and wonderful blooming in his chest. 'Yeah, absolutely.'

'Tight.' Taylor smiled. 'Now get in the pool, orange man. Before Jace dunks you again.'

Marcus dropped the cup on a table. His trunks were still ridiculous. But maybe ridiculous wasn't the worst thing to be.

Maybe ridiculous was exactly who he was supposed to be.