Goldfish Graveyard at Midnight

The social pyramid at Northwood High had clearly defined tiers, and I was definitely a bottom-feeder. While the popular kids ruled the upper levels, I spent most of my time avoiding eye contact and wondering if my goldfish, Bubbles, had a more exciting social life than I did.

"You coming to Maya's party tonight?" Jordan asked, bouncing a tennis ball against my locker. He was a fox in every sense — clever, adaptable, and impossibly smooth with everyone. The kind of guy who could slide into any conversation without anyone noticing the intrusion.

"Pass," I said, trying to dislodge a piece of spinach from my braces with my tongue. "I've got that history project due Monday."

"The pyramid building thing? Bro, it's Friday."

The thing was, Jordan didn't know about the bull. Not the animal — Mr. Harrison, our history teacher, who'd personally called my mom yesterday to say I was "academically coasting" and needed to "step up or step aside." Which was rich coming from a guy who wore the same beige sweater every single day and whose idea of engaging instruction was watching documentaries that were older than us.

But the real reason I couldn't party?

Bubbles had died that morning. Floating sideways in his bowl like a tiny, orange torpedo. I'd given him a proper burial in the backyard, complete with a ceremony I'd felt ridiculous performing but somehow necessary anyway. My phone buzzed — Jordan again.

"Party's overrated anyway," he texted. "Want to come over? My cousin got these new hiking boots we could test out."

I stared at the message. Jordan, at the top of the social food chain, actively choosing to hang out with me. The guy who navigated hallways like he owned them, who'd dated three of the most popular girls in our grade since September.

Maybe pyramids weren't as rigid as I thought.

"Pick me up in 10," I replied.

Some Friday nights were for parties. Some were for burying goldfish. And some were for realizing that sometimes, when you least expected it, the social pyramid did this weird little flip, and suddenly you weren't at the bottom anymore. You were just... somewhere in the middle, hiking up a dirt trail with a fox who might actually be your friend.