The Sphinx by the Pool

Maya stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, her dark hair plastered to her forehead with cheap gel. The party started in twenty minutes, and she still looked like herself. Like the girl who sat alone at lunch, who nobody noticed unless they needed homework answers.

"You going?" her brother called from the hallway. His golden retriever, Buster, nudged past him, tail wagging like crazy.

"Yeah," Maya lied. "Just fixing my hair."

She'd been crushing on Lucas since seventh grade, and tonight—Jordan's pool party—was her chance. Finally. But the thought of actually swimming? Of everyone seeing her in a swimsuit? Her stomach twisted.

Buster whined and rested his head on her knee. Good old Buster. He didn't care that she was awkward. He just wanted treats and belly rubs.

The party was already in full swing when Maya arrived. Music thumped from the backyard. Laughter. Splash. She stood by the fence for a full five minutes, working up her nerve.

"Maya!" Jordan spotted her. "You made it! Come in!"

She stepped through the gate and there he was—Lucas, shirtless by the pool, droplets of water clinging to his shoulders. He was talking to Sarah, who looked like she belonged in a magazine. Hair perfect. Makeup flawless.

Maya's throat went dry.

"Hey everyone," she managed. "I, um—"

"Swimming!" someone shouted. "Chicken fight!"

Before she could process what was happening, Lucas was wading over. "You wanna be partners?"

Her brain short-circuited. "With... you?"

"Yeah, you're pretty strong from softball, right?" He smiled, and oh god, his teeth. "Unless you're scared I'll make us lose."

"You wish."

The next ten minutes were a blur. Maya on Lucas's shoulders, Sarah on Tyler's, everyone screaming. Water everywhere. And then—she was falling. Splash.

When she came up sputtering, Lucas was laughing. "You okay?"

She wiped water from her eyes. "You're going down."

"Bring it."

They played until her fingers pruned. She forgot to be self-conscious. Forgot to overthink every move. Lucas was actually... funny. And he kept looking at her, really looking at her, not through her.

Later, they sat on the pool edge, feet dangling in the water. Maya's hair had dried into a frizzy mess. She reached for it self-consciously.

"Don't," Lucas said. "It looks good like that. Real."

She met his eyes. "Thanks."

He showed her his arm then—a tattoo she hadn't noticed before. A sphinx, wings spread, riddle written beneath in Greek letters.

"What's it mean?"

"Something my grandpa said before he died. 'Know thyself.'" Lucas traced the ink. "He said most people never figure out who they actually are. They're too busy being who they think everyone wants them to be."

Maya thought about all the times she'd held herself back. All the parties she'd skipped. All the words she'd swallowed.

"I think I'm starting to, though," she said quietly.

Lucas smiled. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Buster would've been proud. She finally took the plunge.