Zombies at the Pool Party

Maya stood at the edge of the pool, clutching her red solo cup like it was a lifeline. The sophomore summer party raged around her—girls in bikinis flinging themselves into the water, guys showing off their cannonballs, someone blasting Doja Cat from a portable speaker. Maya felt like a zombie, running on three hours of sleep and pure social anxiety energy.

"You look like you're about to jump off a cliff," said Leo, appearing beside her with an easy smile that made her stomach do that annoying flip thing.

"Just plotting my escape," Maya admitted, taking a tiny sip of her lukewarm soda. "Also, I think I'm allergic to forced fun."

Leo laughed. "Want me to read your palm? My aunt thinks she's psychic, taught me last summer."

Maya extended her hand before she could overthink it. Leo's palm was warm against hers as he traced the lines with surprising gentleness. "Okay, so this line means you're going to pass AP Bio, and this one..." He paused dramatically. "This one says you're secretly judging everyone's cannonball form."

She cracked up. "Guilty. What's this one?" She pointed to a deep crease.

"That's the zombie apocalypse survival line," Leo said solemnly. "You're gonna make it."

"Good to know."

Their moment was interrupted by a splash—Chelsea, the queen bee of sophomore year, had just done a perfectly executed cannonball that soaked everyone within a ten-foot radius. Including Maya and Leo.

"Perfect," Maya said, dripping wet. "Now I'm a wet zombie. This is peak high school experience."

Leo's T-shirt was plastered to his chest. "Hey, at least we're in this together." He gestured at his soaked clothes. "Zombie squad?"

Maya looked around—really looked—at the party she'd been dreading all week. The water shimmering under fairy lights. Leo's ridiculous hair plastered to his forehead. Chelsea already plotting her next splash attack. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.

"Zombie squad," Maya agreed, and for the first time all night, she actually meant it.