The Pool Party Incident - Every Minute a Story

TheinvitationtoChloë'spoolpartysatonmyphoneforthreehoursbeforeIfinallyrsvp'dyes.I'dbeenspyingonherInstagramforweeks,watchingherpostswiththepopulargroup—lacrosseteam,perfecthair,alwayslaughing.Mynewlifegoal:don'tdrowninfrontofthem.

Saturdayarrivedwithsunthatpromisedtomakeupformyeightyearsbeingbasicallyinvisible.Iborrowedmybrother'spadelracketfromthetrunkofhiscar—hisplayediteverySaturdayatthecountryclub—whichseemedlikethethingthatmightimpressChloë'screw.PretendedIplayedallthetime.NoonehadtoknowIbarelyknewtherules.

Herbackyardlookedlikesomethingfromamovie—Infinitypool,waterfallfeature,cabana.Nailedit.

"Hey!"Chloëcalled,waivingmelikeI'dbeenpartofthegroupforever."Youplaypadel?Mydad'sobsessed."

"Yeah,"Isaid,casual."Allthetime."

Smooth,Leo.Reallysmooth.

Watercannonsstartedgoingoffeverywhere.Peoplejumpedinfullyclothed.Someoneradioshowedup.Iwrestledwithmyselfonthepatioedge—jumpinorstaydry?—whenJake,Chloë'sex-boyfriend,shouted,"Leo!Watervolleyball!You'reonmyteam!"

Thenexthourblurred.SplashfightssogoodIcouldn'tbreathe.Cannonballs.Chloeë'slaugh.Whattimedidthisevenend?Forgotaboutpadel.Forgotaboutbeingthene whokindakindabelonged.Just...lived.

Later,soggyandexhausted,IcollapsedonaloungechairnexttoJake."So,"hesaid,grinning,"same timenextweek?"

Ilookedaround—atChloëhigh-fivingherfriends,attheripplesinpool,atthewayno-onewaslookingatmelikeIdidn'tfitanymore.

"Yeah,"Isaid,andmeantit."Definitely."

Mondayatschool,Chloëslidanoteonmydesk:Poolpartytraditionnow.You'restuckwithus.:)

Sometimesyoujusthavetojumpin—evenifyou'retotallyfakingitalongtheway.