Zombies at the Pool

Jordan adjusted their binder for the third time, feeling like a total zombie after staying up until 3am doom-scrolling through TikTok. The Hamiltons' pool party was supposed to be the event of the summer, but honestly? Their social battery had been dead since homeroom.

The pool glittered like something off an Instagram feed, complete with a waterfall and those fancy LED lights that changed colors. Everyone looked so effortless in their swimsuits, while Jordan felt like they were wearing a sign that said DEADNAMED AT BIRTH.

"Yo Jordan, get in here!" Marcus called, doing a cannonball that sent water everywhere.

"Nah, I'm good," Jordan mumbled, sinking into one of the lounge chairs.

They pulled out their phone, opening that zombie apocalypse game they'd been obsessively playing. At least digital monsters couldn't misgender them.

"You really gonna play video games at a pool party?"

Jordan looked up. It was Riley, the pretty trans girl from AP Bio, wearing a swim jersey over her bikini like Jordan wished they'd thought of.

"It's my emotional support zombie apocalypse," Jordan said, then immediately wanted to die.

Riley laughed, though. "Cool. Can I play?"

They ended up sitting together, killing pixelated undead while everyone else splashed around in the pool. Riley talked about how she felt like a zombie too sometimes — how performing gender 24/7 was exhausting, how coming out had meant bearing her soul to everyone she met.

"It's like," Riley said, pausing the game, "we're all just zombies trying to pass for humans, you know?"

Jordan nodded, something loosening in their chest. "Yeah. But at least we're zombies together."

"True," Riley grinned. "Hey, you should come to GSA next week. We're doing a gaming night."

"For real?"

"Deadass."

Jordan smiled, really smiled, for the first time all day. Maybe they could bear this party after all. Maybe, just maybe, they could start bearing their real self to the world instead of hiding behind screens and carefully curated vibes.

"Let's do it," Jordan said. "But first — you're totally carrying this round. I keep getting bit."