Undead at the Pool Party

I felt like a freaking zombie—running on three hours of sleep and panic. Finals week had turned my brain into mush, but somehow Maya, the girl I'd been crushing on since September, had invited me to her pool party. This was it. My chance to finally be part of the cool group at Northwood High.

"You coming in or what?" Tyler called from the diving board, doing a perfect cannonball that splashed water everywhere. Everyone laughed. I stood there frozen in my swim trunks, clutching a red Solo cup like it was a lifeline.

The real disaster had happened an hour earlier. My mom, in her infinite wisdom to make me "eat healthier," had packed me a spinach smoothie for the road. I'd chugged it in the car, desperate for any energy that wasn't pure caffeine. But now, every time I caught my reflection in the sliding glass door, I could see tiny green flecks stuck in my braces. I was literally the kid with spinach in his teeth at the most important social event of the year.

I ducked into the bathroom to scrub my teeth for the third time, my hands shaking. Outside, I could hear everyone talking about senior prank ideas. Someone suggested a zombie apocalypse simulation in the main hallway.

"That would be sick," someone said. "Imagine walking into third period and everyone's just..."

I stared at myself in the mirror, green toothpaste foam around my mouth. I looked ridiculous. I looked exhausted. I looked like I didn't belong.

Then Maya appeared in the doorway behind me. "Hey, you okay? You've been in here forever."

I swallowed hard. "Yeah. Just... you know how it is. Finals killed me."

She leaned against the doorframe, smiling. "You always study so hard. It's kind of adorable."

Adorable? Was she serious?

"Come outside," she said. "We're doing a contest. Who can hold their breath underwater the longest. I bet you'd win. You know, since you're basically undead anyway."

I laughed. For the first time all day, the knot in my chest loosened.

Later, as the sun set and everyone sat around the pool eating pizza, Maya sat beside me. Her shoulder brushed mine. I realized I'd survived. The green flecks were gone. The zombie feeling had faded. And somehow, I'd actually made it.

"Same time next week?" she asked quietly.

I grinned. "Absolutely."