The last week of summer clung to the air, thick and sweet as the sun warmed my skin. I lay on my back in the pool, the water cool against my damp limbs. My brother sliced beneath me, a familiar current disturbing the lazy surface. I inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of freshly cut grass, chlorine, and the smoky tang of barbecue – a last inhale of freedom before the school year’s inevitable weight descended.
*BLING*
My phone chirped on the patio table, drawing a chorus of complaints. “Hey, can someone check that? Make sure it isn’t anything important!” My cousin, Liam, reached across the table, already investigating. “It’s a friend request… from a boy!”
A flush warmed my cheeks, and I heard my older brother, Ben, ask, “Who is it?” The question echoed my own. I kicked off my float and hurried to the edge of the pool, scrambling for purchase on the slick tiles. I sprinted across the lawn, snatching my phone from the table and pressing the home button. The screen flared to life:
FRIEND REQUEST FROM: Tyler Smith
Fifty-two mutual friends? Ben was one of them, but I had no recollection of this Tyler. I tapped his profile, curiosity overriding caution.
“Oh… he *is* cute,” I thought, a small smile tugging at my lips.
Minutes melted into scrutiny. He seemed to orbit within the same constellation of friends as Ben. A casual acquaintance, maybe? Without hesitation, I tapped the ‘Accept’ button.
The chime of a new message jolted me moments later. A notification popped across my screen. It was him. My heart skipped a beat. A message from Tyler Smith.