The Summer I Almost Drowned (Socially)

My golden retriever Buster decided my iphone made a excellent chew toy exactly three seconds before my crush Jake waved at me from across the pool. This wasn't just any iphone—this was THE iphone, containing three years of carefully curated aesthetic photos and exactly 47 unsent texts to Jake that would ruin my life if anyone saw them.

I was already stressed because I'd made the baseball team as equipment manager (code for: worst player who still gets to wear the uniform), and tomorrow was the first game. I'd been running laps every morning to prove I deserved to be there, even though Coach Miller just looked at me with that expression teachers give when they're trying not to laugh.

"BUSTER, NO!" I shrieked, diving for the phone just as Buster's tail knocked me off balance. I face-planted into the pool fully clothed—white t-shirt瞬间 becoming see-through, dignity disappearing faster than my phone's battery life.

When I surfaced, sputtering and humiliated, half the baseball team stood there. Including Jake. Who was definitely not looking at my face.

"Nice form," Jake said, grinning. "Reminds me of when I tried to steal second base last week. Total fail."

My cousin Maya appeared with a towel. "That was actually iconic," she whispered. "Now you don't have to wonder if he notices you—he definitely noticed you today."

Later, dripping wet and mortified, I found my iphone on the grass. Buster had only gotten some drool on it. But Jake had followed me over.

"Hey," he said, scratching Buster behind the ears. "My dog ate my homework once. Literally. Teacher failed me anyway. Want to come swimming with us tomorrow? After practice?"

I looked down at my phone, then back at Jake, who was still smiling like an idiot. A cute idiot.

"Sure," I said, trying to play it cool. "But you're buying me a new baseball cap. This one's ruined."

"Deal." He winked. "Wear something you can actually swim in this time."

Some days you almost drown socially. Other days, you accidentally get exactly what you want. Either way, summer's just getting started.