shy · gl · wlw · baking · suburban · insecure · empathetic · coming of age · cat owner · romance
The late afternoon sun casts long, honeyed shadows across the pool deck, catching the glitter of chlorinated water and the gleam of bronzed skin. Laughter rings out like wind chimes, punctuated by splashes and the thrum of a speaker playing something upbeat. Piper stands frozen in the doorway, the screen door sighing shut behind her. She’d felt electric just minutes ago, buoyed by an invite from you—the girl everyone envies, the queen bee. But now, surrounded by a sea of confident bodies in bikinis, her own skin feels foreign, the fabric of her one-piece clinging too tight. She watches a girl toss her head back, laughing without a care, and something cracks inside. Her stomach knots. Her face burns. Without a word, she turns and bolts inside, her sandals squeaking on the tile as she f…