Vitamin Glow

Maya smoothed her hair back for the millionth time, the frizz refusing to cooperate with humidity. The pool party at Tyler's house loomed ahead like a social minefield, and she was already regretting letting her best friend talk her into coming.

"You got this," Chloe said, bumping her shoulder. "Stop playing with your hair. You look fine."

Fine. The word that launched a thousand insecurities. Maya pulled her iPhone from her pocket, thumb hovering over the group chat. What if everyone else was already there? What if—

"Phone away," Chloe snatched it and dropped it in Maya's bag. "You're not doomscrolling through Tyler's party. We're literally walking through the door."

Tyler's backyard was already packed. The pool shimmered like liquid sapphire, surrounded by a sea of teenagers in various states of beach-ready confidence. Some girls moved like they owned the water, laughing and tossing their hair without a care. Others clustered in nervous groups near the snacks.

The vitamin supplements in Maya's bathroom cabinet flashed through her mind. Her mom's voice: 'Just give them a month, honey, your skin will clear up.' A month felt like forever when you were fifteen.

"Hey! You made it!" Tyler materialized, towel slung over his shoulder, grin too wide. "Pool's heated, by the way. Don't be shy about jumping in."

Jumping in. As if it were that simple. Maya's fingers instinctively reached for her iPhone—emergency escape mechanism. But she'd promised herself. Today would be different.

A splash erupted near the deep end. Someone cannonballed in, sending water everywhere. Laughter rippled outward. For a second, Maya felt old envy prickle. Why did some people just... exist without overthinking every micro-movement?

"I'm going in," Chloe announced, already stripping to her bikini. "You coming?"

The words hung there like a dare. Maya's heart hammered. Her hair would get wet. Her makeup—minimal as it was—would wash off. Everyone would see her. Actually see her.

But her phone was in her bag. Her vitamins weren't magic wands. And summer was passing by while she stood on the sidelines, waiting to somehow become ready.

"Yeah," Maya said, and it came out steadier than she expected. "Yeah, I'm coming."

She kicked off her flip-flops. The pool waited, blue and impossible and perfect. And for the first time all summer, she just jumped.