Vitamin Courage

I took the vitamin supplement with a desperate gulp of water, trying to calm my nerves before the party. Tonight was the night I'd finally talk to Maya – the girl who'd been sitting behind me in English since September, whose laugh sounded like wind chimes and whose smile could probably cure cancer. Or at least that's how it felt when you're fifteen and everything is dramatic.

The moment I walked into Sarah's backyard, I spotted Maya. She was wearing this orange sundress that made her look like a literal ray of sunshine, and my stomach did this embarrassing backflip thing. I immediately remembered my mom telling me to "just be yourself" but like, which version? The awkward version who couldn't form complete sentences around pretty girls, or the slightly less awkward version who had rehearsed exactly three cool things to say in the mirror?

I made a beeline for the snack table, obviously. Safe territory. But before I could even grab a chip, Sarah's golden retriever, Cooper, came barreling out of nowhere and tackled me from behind. I went flying into the kiddie pool, fully clothed, while half the party watched.

"Cooper!" someone screamed, but I was too busy dying inside to care who.

Then I heard it – Maya's laughter. Not the fake polite kind, but genuine, doubled-over, can't-breathe laughter. And when I looked up, water dripping from my hair like a drowned rat, she was standing there holding out a hand.

"That was literally the most amazing thing I've ever seen," she said between giggles. "Are you okay?"

"Never been better," I lied, taking her hand. Her cat, Luna, was watching from a nearby lounge chair with what I swear was judgment in its yellow eyes.

Maya helped me up and somehow we ended up talking for two hours about everything from her obsession with vintage horror movies to why I'd taken that vitamin supplement (spoiler: my mom's idea, not mine). She even gave me her flannel to wear over my soaked shirt, which smelled like vanilla and something I couldn't identify but wanted to bottle.

When my ride showed up, Maya walked me to the gate. "Hey," she said, leaning against the fence, "you should come over tomorrow. We could watch that movie I was talking about. If you want."

"Yeah," I said, trying to play it cool but probably failing. "I'd like that."

"Cool," she smiled. "And maybe wear a swimsuit this time? Just a suggestion."

I laughed all the way home, wet clothes and all. Sometimes the worst moments become the best ones, and sometimes you have to fall into a pool to find what you're looking for.