Orange Cat at the Pyramid

Maya crushed another vitamin C gummy between her teeth, the sour burst matching the knot in her stomach. First day at Northwood High, and she already felt like an imposter. The cafeteria stretched before her like a social pyramid she hadn't figured out how to climb.

She spotted them: the popular table, perched at the top like they owned everything. Among them was Jordan, with hair that somehow fell perfectly and an easy laugh that made Maya's chest tight. She'd been crushing on him since summer orientation, when he'd helped her pick up her dropped orange folders.

Then she saw The Sphinx. That's what everyone called Ms. Halloway, the ancient history teacher who sat at the corner table, surrounded by stacks of papers, her sharp eyes missing nothing. Maya had heard rumors: cross The Sphinx, and your social life was over.

"Yo, you gonna stand there all day?"

Maya jumped. It was Riley, the girl from her third-period English who wore combat boots and sarcasm like armor. "That table's a social death zone."

"I—"

"Come sit." Riley jerked her head toward a back table. "Unless you're trying to get sacrificed to the cafeteria gods."

That's when it happened: The orange cat streaked through the cafeteria doors. Someone's pet? A stray? It jumped onto a table, knocked over a tray of nachos, and chaos erupted. Jordan laughed so hard he fell out of his chair. Even The Sphinx cracked a smile.

Riley grabbed Maya's arm. "Dude, did you see that? The cat absolutely destroyed Chad's lunch. This is the best first day ever."

Maya started laughing—really laughing. The vitamin C gummies suddenly seemed ridiculous. The social pyramid didn't feel so insurmountable. Maybe she didn't need to climb it after all.

"I'm Riley, by the way."

"Maya."

"Welcome to the bottom of the pyramid, Maya. Trust me, the view's better down here."