Undercover at the Deep End

Maya adjusted her dad's floppy bucket **hat**, pulling the brim low over her eyes. The pool party raged behind her—music thumping, juniors she'd barely spoken to all year laughing like they'd been best friends since preschool. She wasn't even supposed to be here. But Lila had invited her. Actual Lila, with the perfect Instagram aesthetic and the kind of confidence that made Maya's chest hurt.

Maya's golden retriever, Buster, nudged her hand with his wet nose. She'd brought him as emotional support, which was objectively pathetic for a sixteen-year-old, but whatever. He panted happily, completely unaware that he was cramping her style.

"You're being a total **spy** again," said JT, appearing beside her with two sodas. "Just go talk to them."

Easy for him to say. JT was on the swim team. He knew everyone. Maya had spent the past three years building an invisibility cloak around herself so thick that even teachers forgot she was there.

"I'm observing," Maya muttered. "There's a difference."

JT rolled his eyes. "You know who's not observing? The people actually having fun."

Buster chose that moment to shake his fur out, spraying **water** all over Maya's already-doomed outfit. She sputtered as JT laughed.

"See? You're already wet. Might as well get in the pool."

A group of girls walked by—Lila included. They were carrying those mini pineapples that served as cups, looking like a literal Pinterest board come to life. Lila caught Maya's eye and smiled. Actually smiled.

"Hey! You came!" Lila waved. "We're doing palm readings in the gazebo if you want yours done. Mine said I'm gonna meet someone special tonight." She winked at JT, who nearly choked on his soda.

Maya's heart did that embarrassing flutter thing. Lila had noticed she existed. Lila was inviting her somewhere.

She looked down at her **palm**, which was sweaty and kind of gross, then at Buster, who was now aggressively sniffing a lounge chair. JT gave her a gentle shove toward the gazebo.

"Go," he said. "Before you overthink it into oblivion."

Maya took a breath, adjusted her ridiculous hat one last time, and walked toward the group that somehow felt both terrifying and exactly where she was supposed to be.

Buster barked happily, trotting beside her like he'd been the social director all along.