Orange Nikes and Impossible Riddles

Maya's orange Nikes pounded against the track, the rhythm matching the thunder in her chest. Cross country practice wasn't supposed to be this intense, but today everything felt like way too much.

Because Jordan was watching.

Again.

He stood by the bleachers like some kind of Egyptian sphinx—mysterious, unreadable, impossibly gorgeous. Their eyes met for exactly three seconds before Maya tripped over her own feet and nearly face-planted. Smooth. So smooth.

"Yo, you good?" Her best friend Lena caught up, barely winded. "You've been running like you're being chased."

"I'm fine," Maya lied, wiping sweat from her forehead. Her orange-dyed curls escaped her ponytail, sticking to her neck in the most unflattering way possible.

Jordan started walking toward them, and Maya's heart did that stupid fluttery thing it always did lately. He'd transferred to their school three weeks ago and already had half the track team swooning. But he never really talked to anyone. Just watched everything with those intense dark eyes, like he was solving some puzzle no one else could see.

"Your form's off," he said, stopping in front of them. His voice was deeper than Maya expected. "You're overthinking it."

The sphinx speaks.

"Oh, thanks?" Maya winced. Why did she sound so awkward?

Jordan tilted his head, studying her. "You run like you're waiting for permission to be fast. Stop that." Then he just walked away, like that was normal advice to give someone.

Lena's jaw dropped. "Okay, what was THAT?"

"No clue." But Maya's legs felt lighter somehow.

Next practice, she ran faster than she ever had in her life. Jordan watched again, and this time she didn't trip. She just let herself be fast, no permission needed.

At the meet that weekend, Maya won her heat. As she caught her breath near the finish line, Jordan appeared out of nowhere with a water bottle.

"Better," he said, almost smiling. Almost. "Riddle me this—what's the only thing faster than your new PR?"

Maya grinned, finally getting it. "Me realizing I should've asked for your number weeks ago."

Jordan's smile widened. "Took you long enough."