Tongue-Tied at Tyler's Pool

The neon orange gummy vitamin sat on my tongue like a betrayal. Mom swore these would help me 'grow strong bones' but mostly they just made me look like I'd been licking traffic cones. I checked my phone reflection—yup, bright orange tongue. Perfect for the biggest social event of freshman year.

Tyler's pool party. The entire grade was going to be there. Including Chloe, who smiled at me in bio yesterday and now I couldn't stop thinking about it.

"You coming?" Maya yelled from downstairs. She was already in her swimsuit, looking effortless. I was still fully dressed, debating whether to fake sick.

"Yeah, yeah, coming."

The walk to Tyler's house felt like a death march. His backyard was already packed—kids everywhere, music blasting, the pool surface glittering like broken glass in the afternoon sun. I spotted Chloe immediately. She was sitting on the pool edge, legs in the water, laughing at something Tyler said. My stomach did this horrible flip thing.

"Yo, Marcus! Get in here!" Tyler called.

I froze. The water looked terrifying. Not because I couldn't swim—thanks, Mom, for those childhood lessons—but because jumping in meant taking off my shirt, meant being seen, meant Chloe might look over and think, "nah."

Someone pushed me from behind. I stumbled forward, caught myself, and somehow ended up chest-deep in the cool blue. People were laughing. I forced a smile, treading water like my life depended on it.

Then Chloe swam over.

"Hey," she said. "You have something... orange on your tongue."

My face burned hotter than the sun reflecting off the pool's surface. "Gross vitamin. My mom's obsessed with them."

She laughed, and it was this genuine, surprising sound. "My mom makes me take these huge ones that taste like chalk. I have to hide them in peanut butter."

We floated there for what felt like forever, talking about overprotective parents and terrible vitamin flavors and how neither of us wanted to be at this party but here we were anyway. The water stopped feeling terrifying and started feeling like this secret, weightless space where everything was easier.

"Want to get out of here?" she asked. "There's a boba place down the street."

I did the bravest thing I'd ever done. I smiled back.

"Yeah. Yeah, I do."