The Pool Party Hierarchy

The hat was stupid. A neon pink bucket hat that screamed 'I try too hard.' But Maya's mom had made her wear it—'you'll burn, Maya, you're pale as a ghost'—and now she was stuck wearing it at Jessica's pool party, surrounded by the most popular kids in sophomore year.

The pool shimmered blue and perfect in the July heat, but Maya stood at the edge, fully clothed, clutching her phone like a lifeline. Around her, the social pyramid revealed itself in terrifying clarity: Jessica and her minions at the shallow end, laughing at something that wasn't funny; the jocks doing cannonballs and spraying water everywhere; and everyone else desperately pretending they belonged.

'Nice hat.'

Maya jumped. A girl with curly hair and mismatched sunglasses stood beside her, holding a red plastic cup.

'It's not,' Maya said.

'No, it's really not.' The girl grinned. 'I'm Sam. Jessica's cousin. I was forced to come.'

'Maya. Forced by maternal sun protection concerns.'

They watched as Jessica's golden retriever, Buster, bounded toward the pool, toy in mouth, slipped on wet concrete, and face-planted into the water with a magnificent splash. The popular girls shrieked. Someone started filming.

Buster emerged, paddling happily toward the deep end, toy forgotten.

'That dog has more game than I do,' Sam said.

'He's not wearing the hat, though.'

'True.' Sam set down her cup. 'You know what Jessica said about me when I got here? She asked what happened to my hair, like my curls are some kind of mistake she could fix with enough product.' She gestured at the pool. 'I'm about to jump in fully dressed. Want to come?'

Maya looked at the hat. At the pyramid of kids who'd never accept her. At Sam, standing there like she didn't care what any of them thought.

'I can't swim in this,' Maya said.

'Take it off.'

'I'll burn.'

Sam shrugged. 'So burn. At least you'll be free.'

Maya pulled off the hat. Her hair flattened against her head. She kicked off her flip-flops.

'Last one in is a rotten egg,' Sam said, and grabbed Maya's hand.

They jumped together, screaming, into the cool blue water, while Buster paddled beside them like he'd been waiting for someone to finally make some real waves.