The Pool Party Prophecy

Maya's sneakers squeaked against the concrete as she carried the tray of sliced fruit toward the pool party. The humidity already had her curls frizzing—a classic bad hair day in the making.

She spotted him immediately: Liam, leaning against the fence where the goldfish pond glittered in the afternoon sun. He was laughing at something Chloe said, his effortless confidence making Maya's stomach do that annoying fluttery thing.

"Hey, Maya!" Jake called from the padel court. "We need a fourth for mixed doubles!"

She almost said yes—almost pretended she knew how to play—but then she remembered last month's tennis incident. Her athletic coordinator had literally suggested she "explore non-athletic hobbies."

"Maybe later!" she called back, setting the fruit tray on a table. Her hands were literally shaking.

A piece of papaya slid off the plate and landed with a wet plop near the pond. A goldfish surfaced, nibbling at the edges.

"Smooth," said a voice behind her.

Maya turned to find Liam standing there, smiling. Like, actually smiling at her.

"I'm literally the least smooth person alive," she blurted, then wanted to dissolve into the atmosphere.

But he laughed. "Remember last year in Mr. Harrison's class? You built that sphinx for the Egypt project and forgot to give it a nose?"

Heat rushed to her face. "Ancient Egyptians broke noses off statues all the time. It was historically accurate."

"Totally." His eyes crinkled. "Hey, want to help me feed these guys?" He gestured at the pond.

They crouched by the water's edge, sprinkling fish food as the goldfish churned the surface into gold flashes. Maya's hands stopped shaking. Liam told her about his mom's aquarium hobby. She told him about her grandmother's backyard pond in Mexico.

"You should come over sometime," he said, so casually, like it was nothing.

Maya's heart did this actual gymnastics routine. "Yeah," she managed. "I'd like that."

The papaya sat forgotten on the concrete. Chloe was still by the fence, watching them. Maya didn't care.

Sometimes the best moments weren't the ones you planned for. They were the ones that found you when you stopped trying so hard to be someone else.

"Race you to the deep end?" Liam asked.

Maya stood up, grinning. "You're going down."