Vitamin Gummy Bear Summer

Maya stared at her phone screen, thumb hovering over Jake's Instagram for the third time today. She'd been vibing with him at camp all week, and the text read: "u free 2morrow?"

"Who's that?" Chloe asked, appearing in Maya's doorway like she'd materialized from thin air. Her sister's perfect face was already full of judgment.

"No one," Maya said, shoving her phone under her pillow. But the vitamin gummies on her nightstand caught her eye—her mom's latest attempt to fix everything that was "wrong" with her. Take these, you'll grow taller. Take these, your skin will clear up. Take these, and maybe you'll stop being so awkward around boys.

"Whatever," Chloe said, flipping her hair. "Mom says you need to walk the dog. And take your vitamins."

Maya grabbed her phone and marched outside. Buster, their ancient golden retriever, waddled toward her with zero urgency. The summer sun beat down on her driveway as she attached the leash, her heart still racing from Jake's text.

At the park, Buster decided he absolutely needed to investigate every single tree. Maya tugged the leash, but Buster planted himself like a stubborn mule. That's when she saw them—Jake and his friends hanging out by the basketball courts.

Her breath hitched. She looked down at her outfit: oversized sweatshirt (she'd been too self-conscious to wear anything revealing since... everything), yoga pants with a tiny hole in the knee, and her hair in a messy bun. Not exactly Instagram-ready.

Then Jake spotted her. "Hey! Maya!"

He was jogging over, and suddenly Buster decided this was his moment. The old dog lunged forward, wrapping the leash around Maya's legs. She went down hard—faceplant directly onto the concrete.

Everything went quiet. Then she heard laughter—not mean laughter, but the genuine kind.

Maya pushed herself up, tears stinging her eyes. But Jake was there, offering her a hand. "You good?"

"I'm a bear," she mumbled. "A clumsy, awkward bear."

Jake grinned. "Nah, you're solid. Buster's just got main character energy."

Her phone buzzed in her pocket—her mom, probably wondering where she was. But for the first time all summer, Maya didn't feel like checking it. She dusted off her knees, looked at Jake, and realized maybe she didn't need those vitamins after all.

"Wanna play H-O-R-S-E?" she asked, surprised by her own confidence.

Jake's smile widened. "Only if you can actually make a shot."

"Watch me."

As they walked toward the court, Buster trotting happily behind them, Maya thought maybe this summer wouldn't be so bad after all.