The Pool Incident

Marcus adjusted his Padres hat, trying to look casual as he leaned against the chain-link fence. The community pool was packed—literally everyone from sophomore year was there. Including Jade. Who was currently laughing at something Tyler said, her hair wet and perfect from swimming laps.

"Bro, you're staring again," his best friend Rico said, appearing out of nowhere with two sodas. "Just talk to her already."

"Easy for you to say," Marcus muttered, rubbing his sweaty palm against his shorts. "You didn't accidentally confess your feelings via Instagram DM last year."

Rico winced. "Fair point. That was legendary cringe. But still—you've got insoles now. No more tripping over your own feet."

Marcus was about to respond when chaos erupted near the deep end.

"CAT!" someone screamed.

A calico cat stood frozen on the diving board, tail puffed, staring down at the water like it was lava. A crowd gathered, phones out, everyone livestreaming the drama.

"That's Mrs. Henderson's cat," Jade said, suddenly beside Marcus. She smelled like coconut sunscreen. "We have to help before it jumps."

"Um, how?" Marcus asked, already calculating the probability of embarrassing himself.

But Jade was already moving, grabbing one of those foam pool noodles. "You get that side, I'll get this side. We'll guide it down."

They were practically swimming in awkward tension as they coordinated their approach, the cat eyeing them suspiciously. Just as Marcus made his move, a golden retriever burst through the gate—"MAX! NO!"—and sent the cat scrambling.

Right onto Marcus's face.

He stumbled backward, hat flying, and landed in the pool with a spectacular splash. The whole deck went silent for exactly two seconds before exploding into laughter.

Marcus surfaced, pushing wet hair out of his eyes, ready to die of mortification. But Jade was laughing too—actually laughing, not at him, with him—and she extended a hand to help him out.

"That was literally the most extra thing I've ever seen," she said, grinning. "Wanna get snow cones?"

Rico gave him a thumbs-up from the fence. Marcus nodded, forgetting his hat was floating away in the deep end.

Some disasters were worth it.