The Vitamin D Summer

Maya stood at the edge of the community pool, clutching her phone like a lifeline. Three months ago, she'd have been the first one in, doing cannonballs and challenging anyone to a race. But that was before eighth grade ended, before her friend group splintered, before she realized high school was coming and she had no idea who she was anymore.

"Maya! You coming in or what?" It was Leo, the boy she'd had a crush on since the seventh-grade science fair. He was holding a padel racket—apparently the new sports craze had finally hit their suburb.

"Yeah, just...," she started, but her brain short-circuited.

"She's probably doing her morning vitamin ritual," called Jade from the pool deck, doing an impression of Maya's mom. "Remember how she used to bring those gummy vitamins to every sleepover?"

Everyone laughed. Maya felt her face burn. That was TWO YEARS AGO. Why did Jade have to bring up ancient history like it defined her?

Her dad's voice echoed in her head: "You gotta be the bull in the china shop sometimes, May. Break stuff. Make noise. Otherwise you're just watching from the sidelines."

He'd said that last night, after she'd spent dinner picking at her spinach salad, silent while her little brother talked about his summer plans.

Maya looked at the pool—chlorine-blue and glittering in the July sun. She looked at Leo, smiling that slightly crooked smile. She looked at Jade, who was actually kind of lonely lately if the rumors were true.

The old Maya would have stayed silent, safe in her awkwardness.

"Actually," Maya said, her voice steadier than she felt, "I was waiting for someone to challenge me to padel. I've been practicing."

Leo's eyebrows shot up. "For real? I'm terrible."

"Terrible?" Maya grinned, stepping fully into the sunlight. "I'll go easy on you. But only because I'm feeling generous."

As she walked toward the padel court, her phone still in hand but no longer a shield, Maya felt something shift. Maybe high school wouldn't be so scary after all. Maybe she didn't have to figure everything out today.

She took the racket Leo offered, her heart pounding like it was the first day of school all over again. But this time, she wasn't watching from the sidelines.

Game on.