Vitamin D Deficient

The social pyramid at Westwood High had been meticulously constructed long before I arrived freshman year. At the top sat the varsity cheerleaders and lacrosse bros. Somewhere in the middle were the band kids and theater freaks. And somewhere near the bottom? Me, Maya Chen, employee at GNC and professional wallflower.

"You good?" Lily asked, flopping onto my bed while I spiral-curled my hair for Tyler's pool party.

I glared at my iphone screen. Tyler hadn't replied to my text in three hours. "Why did I think inviting him to Smoothie King counted as flirting?"

"It's giving desperation, bestie," Lily said, not helping.

I shoved my phone in my pocket. Whatever. I had bigger problems. Like how I'd been taking those vitamin D gummies from work because my mom said I looked "pasty," and now my skin had turned this weird shade of yellow-orange.

"You look like a Cheeto," Lily announced.

"Thanks. Really."

Tyler's house was exactly what I expected—giant, with an inground pool and about half the junior class already there. I spotted him immediately, floating in the water with his varsity jacket on the lounge chair like a throne.

The pyramid structure remained intact even in swim trunks.

I hovered near the snack table, clutching a Vitaminwater like armor. My phone buzzed.

t why r u standing alone lol

Tyler. From the pool. He'd seen me standing there like a loser for ten minutes.

My fingers hovered over the screen. I could lie, say I was just getting food. I could pretend I was on my phone because—

You know what? No.

I typed: bc I'm awkward and I like you and this is terrifying

Send.

The panic hit immediately. What had I done? That was it. Social suicide. I was about to grab Lily and bail when Tyler swam to the pool's edge and pulled himself out, water dripping everywhere.

He walked straight toward me.

"You like me?" he asked, dripping wet.

"I—yeah?" I managed.

He smiled, and it was genuine. "Finally. I've been trying to get your attention for weeks. Why do you think I always come into GNNC during your shift?"

"GNC," I corrected automatically.

"Whatever." He laughed. "Want to swim?"

"I can't really," I said, gesturing at my Cheeto-colored arms. "Vitamin accident."

"Looks like a tan to me," he said, and grabbed my hand.

The pyramid, I realized, only existed if you believed in it.