The Pool Party Panic

Maya's hands shook as she stared at herself in the mirror. The orange bikini looked bright against her brown skin, but would it be too much? What if everyone else wore one-pieces? What if Jason didn't even show up?

"You've been overthinking this for two hours," her little brother called from the hallway. "Just go already."

Maya grabbed her sun hat—a wide-brimmed straw thing she'd bought specifically to hide behind if things got awkward—and stuffed it in her bag. Outside, the summer heat hit her like a wall.

When she arrived at Kayla's house, the backyard was already packed. Music thumped from somewhere near the house. The blue water of the pool sparkled invitingly, but Maya's stomach did nervous flips. She spotted Kayla holding court on a lounge chair, surrounded by the popular crowd. There was Jason, laughing at something Kayla said.

Maya's heart sank. Of course he was already talking to Her.

"Hey! You made it!" It was Tasha from chemistry, appearing beside her with two fruit cups. "Try this—my mom's recipe. It's got papaya, mango, and this killer lime dressing."

"Thanks," Maya managed, taking the cup. She'd never had papaya before—her family was more of a 'whatever's on sale' fruit household—but the first bite was like sunshine exploding in her mouth.

"So are you gonna get in or what?" Tasha asked, already peeling off her cover-up. "Water's literally perfect."

Maya glanced at Kayla's group again. Jason had noticed her and was actually... waving?

"Yeah," Maya said, suddenly tired of her own nerves. "Yeah, I am."

She dropped her bag—hat and all—on a chair and dove in.

The cool water swallowed her whole, and for a moment, everything was muffled and peaceful. When she broke the surface, Jason was treading water nearby, grinning.

"Finally," he said. "I was hoping you'd show."

Maya's heart did a completely different kind of flip. "Really?"

"Really. You coming to the bonfire later?"

Maya smiled, letting herself float on her back. "Wouldn't miss it."