The Pyramid Incident

The last thing Maya wanted to do was spend her Saturday at the community pool, but her best friend Chloe practically dragged her there. "It's the party of the year," Chloe insisted, already dressed in her designer bikini. Maya tugged at the straps of her own swimsuit, feeling like everyone would notice she'd bought it on clearance.

The pool deck was packed. Popular kids from school lounged on chairs like they owned them. Liam— Maya's crush since seventh grade— stood near the diving board, laughing with his friends. Maya's stomach did that familiar flop thing it always did when he was around.

"You should go talk to him," Chloe said, pushing Maya forward. "Unless you're chicken."

"I'm not chicken," Maya protested, though she definitely was. She decided to head to the snack bar instead, needing a moment. That's when she saw it: Mr. Henderson's golden retriever, Buster, had somehow gotten loose and was making a beeline for the pool.

Buster loved swimming. The problem was, he wasn't supposed to be in the pool area. He was already three steps from the edge when Maya moved without thinking— bolting forward and grabbing his collar just as he prepared to jump. The force knocked her backward, and she landed directly on someone.

"Oof!"

It was Liam. And her hat— her lucky vintage baseball cap that she always wore when she was nervous— had flown off and landed directly on his head.

"Nice save," he said, grinning as he handed it back. "You basically just tackled that dog."

"Buster, get down!" Mr. Henderson came rushing over. "Maya, thank you! He would've jumped right in."

The entire pool area was watching. Maya's face burned. She wanted to disappear.

Then Liam's friends started chanting. "Pyramid! Human pyramid! Put her on top!" It was apparently a thing they did— lifting someone up after something cool happened.

"No way," Maya said, but before she could protest, several hands were lifting her onto their shoulders. She found herself sitting on Liam's shoulders, elevated above everyone, her hat still in hand, Buster barking happily below.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Liam announced dramatically, "the girl who saved the pool from the beast!" Everyone cheered. Maya looked down at her crush supporting her weight, her best friend taking photos, and even Buster wagging his tail like he'd planned this whole thing.

Maybe pool parties weren't so bad after all.