Zombie Pool Rules

I look like a walking corpse and I know it. Summer had turned me into a total zombie — staying up until 3am scrolling, waking at noon, repeat. My mom thrusts a bottle of vitamin gummies at me every morning like they're actual magic.

"You need these," she says, like candy-shaped supplements can fix my entire sleep schedule.

Today is different though. My best friend Mira texted me at 10:47am: POOL PARTY. JOSH WILL BE THERE. BE THERE AT NOON OR I WILL ACTUALLY MURDER YOU.

So here I am, running three blocks in 90-degree heat, myflip-flops slapping the pavement, sweat already forming everywhere. I'm practically a zombie in motion, dark circles and all, but Josh from English class might be there so apparently that's worth risking heatstroke for.

I reach the community pool, chest heaving, and spot Mira instantly. She's laid out on a lounge chair like this whole thing was her idea (it was). The pool is packed — bodies everywhere, chlorine heavy in the air, music bumping from someone's bluetooth speaker.

Then I see him. Josh. Standing by the snack bar in swim trunks, looking annoyingly fresh and awake. He waves at me and I instinctively wave back like a normal person, not someone who literally just sprinted here and looks like they haven't slept since June.

"You made it!" Mira grabs my arm. "And you look... alive-ish. Did you take those vitamins I told you about?"

"Your vitamins are literally just gummy bears with B12," I say, but I'm already heading toward the pool, toward Josh, toward whatever terrifying conversation I'm about to have. Being a zombie was easier. But honestly? Being a zombie alone in my room with my phone isn't really living at all.

"Hey," Josh says, smiling at me. "Glad you came."

I dive into the cool water and come up feeling actually awake for the first time all summer. Maybe the vitamins helped. Maybe it's the adrenaline. Maybe it's just that for once, I actually showed up.