Goldfish Memory at the Costume Party

Riley's hands shook as she adjusted the faux fur ears on her head. The fox headband had seemed like a good idea when she bought it—sly, cunning, maybe even a little hot—but now, standing outside Tyler's house while bass thumped through the door, it just felt extra.

"You good?" Maya asked, already reaching for Riley's hand. "You look like you're about to bolt."

"I'm chill," Riley lied, though her heart was doing gymnastics. "Just vibing."

The costume party had been Maya's idea. Of course it had. Maya was dressed as a lumberjack—flannel, suspenders, a fake beard penciled onto her chin because she refused to buy a costume from Spirit Halloween like a normie. She looked ridiculous and perfect.

Inside, the air smelled like cheap body spray and something fruity. People had claimed spots throughout the house—a pirate playing beer pong in the kitchen, a vampire making out with someone dressed as a banana on the couch. In the corner, two guys argued about whose cable provider had better internet, as if that was the most important debate happening on a Friday night.

Then Riley saw him.

Tyler stood near the DJ setup, wearing a bear costume that was basically a brown hoodie with rounded ears sewn on. He looked soft and silly and exactly like the guy she'd had a crush on since seventh period English, when he'd slipped her a note that just said "your writing slaps." Her goldfish memory had almost made her forget it, but she still had that note folded in her wallet.

"He's wearing a hat, Riley," Maya whispered, like that explained everything.

Tyler had pulled a beanie over his bear ears. It was absurd. It was perfect.

Riley adjusted her fox headband. In that moment, she realized the whole night was ridiculous—everyone pretending to be something else, even when they were just wearing costumes. Maybe she didn't have to be the confident girl who belonged at parties. Maybe she could just be Riley, fox ears and all, holding her best friend's hand and hoping the bear in the beanie would notice her.

She took a breath. "Okay. Let's do this."

Maya squeezed her hand. "That's my fox."