The Sphinx at Sarah's Pool Party

Maya pulled her baseball cap down lower, practically hiding behind the brim. Pool parties weren't exactly her vibe—especially not when half the sophomore class was already splashing around in Sarah's backyard, looking like they'd stepped out of a TikTok montage.

"You gonna swim or just stand there looking like a ghost at a beach party?"

Maya jumped. It was Riley, the new girl with the jet-black hair and the mysterious tattoo of a sphinx on her shoulder. Maya had heard whispers about her in homeroom—something about she'd transferred from three schools in two years, nobody knew why.

"I'm good," Maya said, gripping her phone. "Forgot my suit anyway."

"Mhm." Riley's eyes danced with that annoyingly perceptive look certain people had. "You're scared you'll look like a goldfish out of water. I get it."

Maya felt her face heat up. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Everyone's acting like they're not awkward as hell, but they are." Riley gestured at the pool where a bunch of kids were doing cannonballs and screaming. "It's all performance. You think Jake really enjoys showing off his dive fifteen times?"

"I mean, he seems pretty confident."

"Jake's been asking me for help with algebra since Monday. The man can barely divide fractions." Riley flipped her hair. "Point is, none of us have it figured out. We're all just pretending."

"So you're saying I should just... jump in?" Maya asked skeptically.

"I'm saying you could stop hiding under that hat and let people see you." Riley's expression softened. "Or you could stay out here watching everyone else live. Your call. But the water's actually not that deep once you're in it."

Maya looked at her phone—no notifications anyway. She thought about how exhausted she was, always watching from the sidelines, always worrying about saying the wrong thing or looking weird.

"Fine," Maya said, taking off her hat and letting her curls spring free. "But I'm not doing a cannonball."

"Deal." Riley grinned. "I'll race you to the other side. Loser has to talk to Jake."

"You're on."

As Maya hit the water, she realized something: the sphinx had been right all along. The scary part wasn't being seen—it was staying invisible.