The Pool Party Incident

Maya's iphone buzzed for the third time in five minutes. Another Instagram notification. Another reminder that everyone was at Jessica's pool party except her, supposedly. But here she was, standing at the edge of Jessica's massive inground pool, clutching her phone like a lifeline while freshmen cannonballed and seniors lounged on floaties.

"You coming in or what?" yelled Tyler from the deep end. He was shirtless, obviously, because Tyler was basically part fish and had zero body image issues.

"Yeah, just warming up," Maya lied, adjusting her bikini straps for the fiftieth time. Swimming in front of people wasn't her vibe. Too much exposure. Too many opportunities to look awkward.

Her phone lit up again. Mom: "Have fun! Don't forget sunscreen :)" Maya sighed. So suburban. So wholesome. So not helping.

"YO DID YOU JUST SEE THAT?" someone screamed.

Maya looked up. Jessica's golden retriever, Bear — a 100-pound fluffball who thought he was a lap dog — had somehow escaped the house and was now sprinting full speed toward the pool.

"BEAR NO!" Jessica shrieked, but it was too late.

The dog launched himself off the diving board with surprising grace for a creature that size, executing what was arguably the most epic cannonball in pool party history. Water sprayed everywhere. Freshmen screamed. Girls scrambled onto pool furniture. Tyler got completely drenched while treading water.

Bear surfaced, looking ridiculously pleased with himself, and began doggy-paddling toward Tyler like they were new best friends.

"Bro, get this bear off me," Tyler laughed, splashing away while Bear attempted to climb on his head.

Suddenly everyone was laughing. Including Maya. Like, actually laughing, not fake Instagram-story laughing. She realized she was still gripping her phone like a weapon and finally tossed it onto a chair. Then she jumped in.

The water was perfect. Bear was now paddling toward her with what looked suspiciously like a pool noodle in his mouth. Jessica was trying to coax him out with cheese curls. And Tyler — who Maya had been lowkey crushing on since seventh grade — was swimming over, grinning.

"So," he said, wiping water from his eyes. "That just happened."

"Yeah," Maya said, feeling lighter than she had all summer. "Best pool party ever."

Later, she'd post the photo of Bear mid-cannonball, mid-air, looking like a majestic flying potato. It would get 237 likes. But for now, she just floated on her back, staring up at the sky, phone forgotten somewhere on dry land, while Bear shook his wet fur all over Jessica's older sister.