Chapter 1: The Push
The first thing I heard was my own scream.
“I can’t swim!””
Vanessa’s hands were still against my shoulders when I hit the water.
The pool swallowed me whole.
Cold rushed into my ears, my nose, my mouth. My champagne-colored dress dragged at my legs like someone had tied weights around my ankles. I kicked wildly, but there was nothing beneath my feet.
Above me, the sunset broke into shattered gold.
Then everything became noise.
Someone screamed.
A glass shattered.
“Get her out!”” Marcus shouted.
I tried to reach the surface, but panic made every movement useless. My arms slapped against the water. My fingers caught nothing.
I couldn't breathe.
Then two strong hands grabbed my arms.
“Hold on!”” a man's voice yelled.
Another pair caught me beneath my shoulders.
They hauled me toward the shallow edge, my dress streaming water behind me. I coughed so violently that my ribs hurt.
“Easy, easy!””
“Turn her over!””
“I’ve got her!””
I collapsed onto the wet stone beside the pool, coughing up water and sucking air into my lungs.
My hair stuck across my face.
My hands shook uncontrollably.
And through the blur of water in my eyes, I saw Vanessa.
She hadn't moved.
She stood three feet from where she had pushed me, perfectly dry in her fitted white dress.
Her sleek blonde bob was still immaculate.
Her champagne glass was still in her hand.
She looked annoyed.
Not frightened.
Not guilty.
Annoyed.
“Maya!””
Marcus came running.
His black tuxedo jacket was open, his breathing hard as he dropped to his knees beside me.
“Look at me,” he said.
“Maya, look at me.””
I grabbed his sleeve.
“She—”
My voice broke.
Marcus looked over his shoulder.
Vanessa slowly raised her eyebrows.
“It was just a joke,” she said.
Marcus stood.
“You knew she couldn’t swim!””
The music had stopped.
Every conversation around the pool had died.
Dozens of Black faces stared between the three of us.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Oh, please. She wasn't even in the deep end.””
“She was drowning,” Marcus said.
Vanessa shrugged.
“She's being dramatic.””
I stared at my sister.
Water dripped from my eyelashes.
“You pushed me.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“I barely touched you.””
“You shoved me.””
“I was playing around.””
Marcus stepped closer to her.
“Don't lie.””
Vanessa gave him a cold smile.
“Don't tell me what I did.””
Behind Marcus, one of the men who had pulled me from the pool shook his head.
“I saw it,” he said.
“She put both hands on Maya.””
Vanessa glanced at him.
“And?””
That single word made the silence even heavier.
Marcus turned back to me.
“Can you sit up?””
I nodded.
He helped me onto the edge, keeping one hand firmly behind my back.
My dress clung to me.
I was freezing.
But the cold wasn't what made my teeth chatter.
I looked at Vanessa.
“She asked me this morning,” I whispered.
Marcus frowned.
“Asked you what?””
I swallowed.
“If I still couldn't swim.””
Vanessa's face changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Her smugness disappeared.
Marcus saw it too.
“What did you just say?”” he asked.
Vanessa didn't answer.
I looked toward the table beside her.
Her phone was lying there.
The screen was still glowing.
Marcus followed my eyes.
Then he walked toward it.
Vanessa suddenly uncrossed her arms.
“Marcus.””
He stopped.
She took one step forward.
“Don't touch my phone.””
Marcus looked at her.
Then at the phone.
Then back at her.
“Why?””
Vanessa said nothing.
Marcus reached for it.
“Vanessa, don't—”
He picked it up.
The screen was unlocked.
His eyes moved across the message.
His entire body went still.
I watched the color drain from his face.
“What?”” I whispered.
Marcus didn't answer.
He turned the screen toward himself again.
At the top was Vanessa's name.
Below it was a message sent earlier that afternoon.
*She still can't swim. I'll do it tonight.*
My stomach dropped.
Marcus scrolled.
A reply appeared underneath.
*Good. Make sure everyone thinks it was an accident.*
Nobody spoke.
Marcus slowly lifted his eyes.
Vanessa was staring at the phone.
She looked terrified now.
Not embarrassed.
Terrified.
Marcus's voice was barely above a whisper.
“Who told you to do this?””
May you like
Vanessa opened her mouth.
And stopped.
