Dog Days and Secret Lies

Maya stood in front of her mirror, her curly **hair** defying every attempt to tame it. The Spring Fling was in three hours, and her frizz was having other plans.

"You look amazing," said Leo, her best friend since forever, lounging on her bed with her ancient golden retriever, Buster. "Buster thinks so too."

Buster thumped his tail, clearly unconcerned with Maya's crisis. The **dog** had witnessed her panic attacks, heartbreaks, and disastrous fashion choices since he was a puppy.

"Easy for you to say," Maya grumbled, attacking her hair with straightener. "You're not the one who has to **bear** Jordan's judgment tonight. He probably only invited me because his mom made him."

Jordan—the popular senior with the mysterious eyes and devastating smile—had somehow noticed Maya in the cafeteria last week. She'd been trying to figure out why ever since.

"Or maybe he actually likes you," Leo said, rolling her eyes. "Not everything's a conspiracy."

"Then why did I catch him whispering about me with his friends yesterday?" Maya demanded. "I had to **spy** on them from behind the library shelves. I heard him say something about 'the girl with the interesting hair.'"

Leo snorted. "That's not suspicious, that's flirting. You're overthinking this like you always do. You're like my mom's garden **sphinx** statue—always mysterious, always brooding, never actually saying anything."

"I am not!" Maya protested, but she paused. The sphinx had been a garage sale find, its stone face perpetually frozen in an enigmatic smile. Her mom claimed it added 'mystique' to their suburban front yard.

The doorbell rang.

Maya's heart stopped. Jordan stood on her porch, looking nervous, holding a corsage made of wildflowers instead of roses.

"I, um," Jordan rubbed his neck. "I wasn't sure what you'd like. These seemed more... you. Interesting. Like your hair. I meant that as a compliment, by the way."

Maya stared. Then she started laughing.

"You're ridiculous," she said, but she was grinning. "Come in. Leo and Buster are judging my outfit choice."

Some things didn't need solving. Some mysteries—like a boy who brought wildflowers and a **dog** who loved you unconditionally—were better left unexplained.