Goldfish Secrets

I poured the last of the pepper flakes into Bubbles' bowl, watching him do that adorable wiggle-dance he always did when I brought snacks. Yeah, I named my goldfish Bubbles when I was six. Sue me. He was the only one who truly got me these days.

"You're not gonna believe what happened at lunch," I whispered, leaning over the bowl on my nightstand. "So there's this new girl, Maya? Total sphinx energy. Like, she just sits there reading in the corner of the cafeteria, all mysterious and intense. Everyone's lowkey obsessed."

Bubbles blew a bubble at me. Respect.

"Today I finally decided to shoot my shot, you know? I marched over there, heart racing like I was about to ask someone to homecoming. And I'm all, 'Hey, I like your book.' And she looks up with those eyes that literally see into your soul..."

My phone buzzed. Unknown number.

"Hey, it's Maya. From lunch. You left your backpack."

I stared at my bed. Empty. My backpack was missing. My cheeks burned. Could this day GET any more embarrassing?

"Oh my god, I am so sorry," I texted back. "I literally just realized that. I'm such a mess."

"It's chill 😅 Your phone number was on that permission slip. Want me to bring it to the library tomorrow?"

I lay back on my bed, grinning at the ceiling like an idiot. Bubbles swam over to the glass, his tiny fins moving in what looked like approval.

"I think I just made my first real friend, Bub," I whispered. "And she's not even a sphinx anymore. She's just... Maya."

The goldfish did a little flip, and I swear he winked at me. Being a sophomore wasn't so terrible after all.