The Pool Party Confidence Crisis

Maya pulled her baseball cap down lower. Like, way lower. Basically over her eyes. If she couldn't see anyone, they couldn't see her, right? Perfect logic.

The Moreno's pool party was already popping. Music bumping, people laughing, and—yup, there was Tyler. Looking annoyingly perfect in his swim trunks, doing that thing where he pushed his wet hair back.

"Hey! You playing padel?" someone shouted. Maya froze.

Padel. Of course they'd set up a court. She'd barely touched a racquet since PE sophomore year, when she somehow managed to hit herself in the forehead with her own backswing. The video had lived on TikTok for approximately three glorious weeks before the platform banned it for cringe terrorism.

"Sure!" her mouth said. Her brain screamed WHAT ARE YOU DOING.

She grabbed a racquet from the pile. Positioned herself like she knew what she was doing. Nailed the serve. Okay, actually kind of crushed it. Tyler was watching. This was fine. Everything was—

*Whoosh.*

Her iPhone, tucked earlier for safe keeping into her hat like a GENIUS, launched itself into the air during her follow-through. A perfect arc. Like, honestly, better form than her actual swing.

Time slowed. She watched it descend toward the pool.

No. No no no.

*SPLASH.*

Water erupted. Everyone turned. The music stopped. A guy nearby was like, "...Damn."

Maya just stood there. Racquet in one hand. Her phone bubbling gently in three feet of water. Tyler staring.

And then—she started laughing. Like, couldn't-stop, shoulder-shaking laughter. Because WHAT was her life?

Tyler was already in the pool, retrieving her iPhone with the casual energy of someone who retrieved dumb things daily. He held it up, dripping. "Well. That's one way to make an entrance."

Someone passed her a towel. Another person handed her a Ziploc bag for her phone. Someone else put on her backup playlist from their phone like nothing had happened.

"You're actually hilarious," Tyler said, climbing out.

Maya adjusted her hat. Finally smiled for real. Whatever. She'd figure out the iPhone situation later.

"So," she said. "Who wants to get destroyed at padel?"