The Vitamin Caper

I popped the vitamin in my mouth, swallowed it without water like a total boss. Or at least, that's what I told myself.

"You good, Ty?" Marcus asked, eyeing me like I'd grown a second head.

"Yeah. Just... getting ready." I stared at the pool where half our sophomore class was already splashing around like they owned the place.

Bear Lake. The name sounded intimidating, but the reality was worse. It was the party of the year, and I'd spent three weeks convincing myself I was ready. Three weeks of "confident vitamins" (multivitamins from the discount aisle, but whatever, placebo effect is real).

My brain knew how to swim. My body knew how to swim. Apparently, my nerves didn't get the memo.

Then I saw her. Chloe, sitting on the dock like some kind of sphinx, watching everything and saying nothing. She'd transferred in three months ago and already owned the school's social hierarchy without even trying. Her legs dangled in the water, totally chill.

"Just dive in, bro," someone said behind me.

I turned. It was Jake, looking like he'd never experienced a second of insecurity in his life. Big as a bear, varsity jacket, probably woke up perfect every morning.

"Yeah," I said. "Any second."

My phone buzzed. My mom. Of course. "Rex got into the trash AGAIN. Dog is currently wearing the empty pizza box like a hat. Thought you'd want to know."

I actually laughed. Out loud. At a pool party.

Chloe looked over. For the first time all night, she smiled. Just a little.

"What's so funny?" she called out.

"My dog," I said, surprising myself. "He's currently wearing a pizza box. As a hat."

She laughed. Actually laughed. And patted the spot next to her on the dock.

Suddenly the pool didn't seem so terrifying. The vitamins in my pocket stayed unused. Sometimes confidence doesn't come from a pill. Sometimes it comes from a trash-eating dog and a girl who finally looks at you like you're actually worth talking to.

I walked toward the dock, toward the sphinx who wasn't so mysterious anymore, toward the first real conversation of the night.

The water could wait.