Goldfish in the Pyramid Scheme

The social pyramid of Northwood High had me somewhere near the bottom, probably between the kids who ate lunch in the library and the ones who wore socks with sandals. But tonight, at Tyler Hartman's legendary start-of-summer rager, I was climbing.

"You good, Maya?" Chen asked, handing me a red cup.

"Peachy," I lied, smoothing my dress for the thousandth time. My crush, Tyler's older sister Jordan, was across the room looking like effortless perfection in a vintage band tee. I was trying to play it cool, not desperate, definitely not someone who'd practiced conversation starters in her mirror.

Then I felt it. The spinach. From the pizza I'd inhaled earlier. Wedged between my front teeth like a giant green flag announcing my awkwardness to the world.

I bolted for the bathroom, dodging through bodies until I reached—well, not freedom. A pyramid of solo cups cascading everywhere. Someone's beer pong championship had literally collapsed.

"Watch it!" some lacrosse bro yelled.

"My bad!" I scrambled, cupping my hand over my mouth. Spinach crisis deferred, not solved.

The bathroom line stretched down the hall. Perfect. I slipped outside instead, where Tyler's ridiculously expensive goldfish pond glowed with underwater lights. I leaned over the railing, checking my teeth in the reflection.

A fish surfaced, staring at me with what looked like judgment.

"Yeah, I know," I whispered. "This isn't my scene either."

"Talking to fish now?"

I spun around. Jordan. Standing there like she hadn't just caught me having a moment with a goldfish.

"They're good listeners," I managed.

Her laugh was like lightning—sudden, bright, electricity down my spine. She moved closer, leaning against the railing beside me. "I hate these things too. Everyone performing, you know?"

"Yeah." I hesitated. "I have spinach in my teeth, don't I?"

Jordan's lips curved. "Honestly? Yeah. A little."

My face burned. I started to turn away.

"But it's kind of endearing," she said softly. "Like you're not trying too hard. Unlike everyone in there." She nodded toward the house where bass thumped against the windows.

Water rippled below us as another fish surfaced. The moment felt suspended, charged with possibility.

"I'm Maya, by the way."

"I know." Her smile was genuine now. "You're in my history class. You always sit by the window."

My heart did something embarrassing. "You noticed?"

"Jordan! Tyler's looking for you!" someone yelled from the back door.

She rolled her eyes. "Duty calls." She glanced at me. "You heading back in?"

"In a minute."

"Cool." She paused. "Hey, Maya?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't change. The spinach thing? It's working for you."

I watched her go, grinning like an idiot, somewhere between the bottom of that pyramid and exactly where I wanted to be.