Fox in the cafeteria hierarchy

Maya stared at the cafeteria ceiling

pyramid, the social structure that ruled Riverdale High like an unspoken law. At the top sat Jordan's crew—varsity jackets, perfect hair, and that effortless confidence Maya spent hours trying to fake in her bathroom mirror.

"You coming to padel today?" Leo asked, sliding onto the bench beside her. His sneakers were scuffed, his hair a controlled chaos that somehow worked.

Maya rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "You know I have zero coordination. Last time I played, I hit the ball backward."

"That's what makes it entertaining." Leo's eyes crinkled. "Besides, Emma's bringing her cousin from college. Apparently he's built like a—"

"Don't finish that sentence," Maya cut him off, though her cheeks already burned. The rumor mill moved faster than water through a broken dam, and she didn't need to add "thirsting over college guys" to her list of embarrassing moments.

The padel courts behind the school were empty except for a fox darting between the fences, its rusty coat catching the afternoon sun. Maya watched it pause, ears perked, before slipping into the woods like it owned the place.

"Did you see that?" she whispered.

"See what?" Leo was already unwrapping his racket, the grip tape worn smooth from too many practices.

"Never mind." Maya stepped onto the court, her sneakers squeaking against the artificial turf. The first serve came fast, and she swung wildly, missing completely. Leo laughed—that genuine, crinkling-at-the-edges laugh that made her stomach do weird gymnastics.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. Emma's cousin couldn't make it. Something about a flat tire.

"Everything okay?" Leo called from across the net.

"Yeah." Maya watched another fox materialize at the edge of the woods—or maybe it was the same one, watching them with intelligent eyes. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

"About how some things don't fit into pyramids." She nodded toward the forest. "Like foxes. And maybe people too."

Leo's grin softened. "Yeah. Maybe not."

The sun dipped lower, golden light spilling across the court. Maya's racket felt lighter somehow. She wasn't at the top of any pyramid, wasn't smooth or coordinated or naturally cool. But standing here with Leo and foxes watching from the shadows, she figured that might be okay.