Thunder Pool

The floatiePOP playlist blasted from Jordan's cracked waterproof speaker as I clutched my phone like a lifeline. Lake Travis shimmered under the July sun, dotted with enough influencers to make my introverted soul want to evaporate.

"You good?" Maya asked, floating beside me on an inflatable pizza slice. She'd been my best friend since seventh grade, back when I still wore those horrific neon headbands.

"Just vibing," I lied, adjusting my bikini top for the fiftieth time.

Suddenly, something massive breached the surface twenty feet away. A collective gasp rippled through the party like—well, like actual lightning. A black bear cub, confused and definitely not vibing, paddled confusedly toward the dock.

"OMG NO WAY," someone shrieked. "IT'S LITERALLY A BEAR."

Chaos ensued. Phones everywhere, people scrambling toward the shore. The cub looked as overwhelmed as I felt on my first day of high school. Mama bear wouldn't be far behind.

Then my eyes landed on Tyler—the Tyler who'd sat behind me in bio making puns about cellular mitosis—who was currently swimming toward the cub like he'd lost his entire mind.

"Tyler, WHAT are you doing?" I yelled, surprising myself.

"It's scared!" he called back. "Help me guide it away from everyone!"

Before my brain could process that this was objectively a terrible idea, I was already stroking through the water beside him. The bear cub made a small mewing sound that hit me straight in the feelings.

"You good, little guy?" I whispered, suddenly very aware I was barefaced and dripping wet next to the cutest boy at Lincoln High.

We gently herded the cub toward a wooded area away from the party. Behind us, I heard someone start that viral TikTok bear chant.

"That," Tyler said, nodding toward the retreating cub, "was the most unhinged thing I've ever done."

"Same," I breathed. Our fingers brushed underwater. Lightning didn't strike—something smaller, warmer did.

"Wanna get food? I'm literally starving after that adrenaline dump."

"100%."

As we swam back, Maya caught my eye and flashed a thumbs-up. Sometimes the wildest moments make the best stories. And sometimes, just sometimes, you bear witness to something magical—then get tacos with a cute boy who likes animals more than his own dignity.