Orange Peels & Open Secrets

Lena's spiraling again. Three hours deep in Maya's Instagram stories, feeling like a total creep. She's a goldfish in a bowl, watching the party from outside glass—Maya at Jake's house, actual red solo cups, Lena in her bedroom doomscrolling.

"You good?" Kai texts. Kai, who's probably actually at the party.

Lena types: "totally fine" then backspaces. Her mom knocks, poking her head in with that look. The one that means she's trying something new. Again.

"Honey, try this." She holds out a slice of papaya. "It's supposed to help with... you know."

Anxiety. She means anxiety. Like papaya is magical. Lena's mom has been on a wellness kick since the divorce—vitamin regimens, meditation apps, random exotic fruits. Last week it was activated charcoal lemonade that tasted like drinking a sidewalk.

"Thanks, Mom." Lena takes it, waits until the door closes, drops it in the trash.

Her phone buzzes. Chloe's story: Jake's kitchen counter. An orange bowl of chips. Someone's hand reaching. The vibe hits her suddenly—the FOMO is physical, a knot in her chest.

Then she sees it. In the background of Chloe's story. Her orange hoodie. The vintage one she thrifted last month, the one Maya said looked sick. Someone's wearing it.

Lena freezes. She zooms in. Not Maya. Some sophomore she doesn't recognize. And next to that sophomore, talking way too close, is Jake. The same Jake Maya's been orbiting for months.

Her stomach drops. Maya doesn't know. Maya's in the bathroom probably fixing her eyeliner, completely clueless.

She could tell her. But that would mean admitting she's been spy-level obsessing over everyone's stories all night. That she's the type of person who analyzes social media like she's hunting for evidence.

The goldfish memory kicks in—everyone forgets social media posts in hours anyway. Maya would never know she saw it. But that's not the point.

Her mom returns. "Did you like the papaya?"

"Actually," Lena says, "can I have another piece?"

Her mom's eyebrows go up. "Really?"

"Yeah. It's... growing on me."

She eats the papaya while opening Maya's DM. "Heads up," she types. "Saw something on Chloe's story. Not sure if it means anything but..."

She attaches the screenshot.

Three minutes later: "omg ty"

Lena exhales. Not in the party. But not outside it anymore either. Somewhere in between.

Her mom pauses in the doorway. "You want some vitamin C drops? Found these organic ones—"

"Sure," Lena says. "Why not."

She's still the goldfish. But maybe the bowl's getting bigger.