Decoding Lucas

The cafeteria **pyramid** was brutal—jocks at the top, theatre kids somewhere in the middle, and me, Maya, floating near the bottom with the other anime club rejects. But lately, I'd been plotting my ascent.

My target wasn't popularity. It was Lucas.

Everyone called him "the **Sphinx**" behind his back. Not because he was mysterious in a cool, brooding way, but because the guy literally never spoke. Two years of rumors—mute, traumatized, secretly a vampire—and nobody knew the truth. He sat alone at lunch, wearing those oversized headphones like armor against the world.

I'd been watching him for weeks, noting how his jaw tightened when someone laughed too loud, how his fingers traced invisible patterns on his notebook. I was becoming a creep, but I couldn't stop.

"You're staring again," said Janelle, sliding into the seat across from me. She pushed her tray aside. "Also, your grandma's **goldfish** died? I saw your post. Sorry, dude."

"Yeah. Bubbles." I sighed. "Lived for seven years, then decided to peace out on a Tuesday. Classic."

"What's the deal with you and Sphinx Boy anyway?"

"There's no deal."

"Girl, please." Janelle raised an eyebrow. "You've been lowkey stalking him since homecoming. Just go talk to him."

"I can't just—"

Then Lucas stood up.

My heart did something embarrassing. He was walking toward our table. The cafeteria noise seemed to dim. Every thought I'd prepared—every cool, casual line—evaporated.

He stopped in front of me. Those dark eyes, unreadable as always.

"You're in Mr. Harrison's English class," he said. His voice was deeper than I expected. Rougher.

"Yeah."

"You finished The Great Gatsby early." It wasn't a question. "Last week. During free period."

I blinked. "You... noticed?"

"I sit behind you."

Oh. Right. I'd never looked back.

"You highlighted everything green," he continued. "Like, literally everything."

My face burned. "It's my system."

Lucas's mouth twitched. The ghost of a smile. "Can I sit?"

Janello's eyes went wide. She scooted down the bench without a word.

"Sure," I managed.

For the next twenty minutes, Lucas talked about books. How he hated Gatsby but loved the symbolism. How he thought green represented impossibility—something always just out of reach. He asked about my color coding system. He laughed when I explained my theory about why Harry should've ended up with Luna.

He wasn't a Sphinx. He was just quiet.

"Why do you never talk at school?" I asked, feeling bold.

"Social anxiety," he said, like it was nothing. "Also, people make assumptions. Easier to let them."

"So why talk to me?"

"You're the only one who reads during free period instead of scrolling TikTok." He shrugged. "Figured you might be interesting."

The bell rang. Lucas stood up, then paused.

"Hey, Maya?"

"Yeah?"

"Your highlighting system? It's actually brilliant. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

He walked away, and somehow, the cafeteria pyramid didn't seem so brutal anymore.

That night, I replaced Bubbles with a new fish. Named him Gatsby. Some things are worth reaching for, even if they feel impossible. Even if you have to climb alone.

The next day, I wore green. Lucas noticed. He smiled—a real one this time.

And just like that, I wasn't at the bottom anymore.