The Riddle of Midnight Pool

Maya's older sister Kayla had dragged her to the party, claiming Maya needed to "stop being such a cat and actually exist socially." Which was rich coming from Kayla, who'd spent the last hour flirting with Tyler by the deep end while Maya hovered near the snack table, nursing a lukewarm soda.

The pool glowed with those floating LED lights Kayla's friend Jamar had set up—goldfish-shaped lanterns that bobbed like confused spirits. Someone's actual cat, a calico belonging to the neighbors, had claimed the patio chair nearest the snacks and regarded everyone with judgmental eyes.

Then Leo appeared. He had that quiet confidence that made everyone automatically like him, like he was some kind of sphinx who knew something the rest of them didn't. He settled on the pool edge, dangling his feet in the water, and caught Maya staring.

"You're not swimming," he said. It wasn't a question.

Maya's brain short-circuited. "I—I don't have a suit."

"Neither do I." Leo kicked off his flip-flops. "Watch this." He slid into the pool fully clothed, surfacing with wet hair plastered to his forehead and an absolutely unhinged grin. "Your turn."

"I'm good here," Maya said, but her voice squeaked.

Leo swam to the edge and extended a hand. "Come on. I won't tell anyone you can't swim if you can't swim. Or that you can if you can. Zero judgment zone." His palm was open, waiting, water dripping from his wrist.

The cat meowed, like, what are you waiting for?

Maya looked at Kayla, still laughing with Tyler. She looked at Jamar and his goldfish lights. She looked at Leo, waiting in the water like this wasn't the most terrifying moment of her fifteen years.

"Fine," Maya said, kicking off her sandals. "But if my phone dies, you're buying me a new one."

"Deal." Leo's smile shifted, something more genuine beneath it. "Also, you should know: I've been trying to talk to you all night. This pool thing was just strategy."

"Your strategy sucks," said Maya, waist-deep in chlorinated water, feeling suddenly electric.

"Yeah," Leo said. "Yeah, it really does."

Somewhere above them, the real sphinx of the night—Jamar's cat—stretched and closed its eyes, satisfied with a job well done.