Orange Soda Secrets

Marcus's palms were sweating — again. Classic him, overthinking everything like he'd been doing since seventh grade when he accidentally liked a photo from 2016 while Insta-stalking his crush.

"You good?" asked Jules, sliding into the booth across from him at Tony's Pizza, an orange soda in each hand. "You look like you're about to puke."

"Nah, I'm straight," Marcus lied, grabbing the soda. His phone buzzed in his pocket. Probably that notification he'd been dreading all week.

See, the thing was, Marcus had kind of become a low-key spy. Not like, cool spy stuff — more like he'd created a finsta (fake Instagram) just to see what people said when they thought he wasn't watching. toxic trait? definitely. necessary for survival at Northwood High? unfortunately yes.

His orange soda fizzed violently, threatening to overflow. He went to grab a napkin and knocked over Jules's drink instead.

"Bro, what is WRONG with you today?" Jules laughed, grabbing napkins. "You're acting like my dog when he sees a cat. Remember when Buster went full beast mode on Mrs. Henderson's cat and we had to literally drag him away?"

Marcus smiled despite himself. That had been iconic — Buster, this supposedly chill golden retriever, suddenly activating like some kind of undercover agent whenever he spotted that calico cat from down the street.

"I think I'm gonna do it," Marcus said suddenly.

"Do what?" Jules paused, napkins halfway to the table.

"Tell her. About the finsta. About everything. I'm tired of the whole spy game, fam. It's exhausting." His phone buzzed again. "She knows anyway. Look."

Jules leaned over to read the notification on Marcus's lock screen: *so u were the one behind that mystery account? honestly kinda impressed u played yourself so well lol.*

"WILD," Jules said, eyes wide. "So you've been out here living your best spy life and she KNEW? That's literally the most on-brand thing that's ever happened to you."

Marcus stared at the message, palms suddenly dry. The anxiety that had been riding him all week evaporated, replaced by something lighter. Something like possibility.

"Your move, bro," Jules said, grinning. "But maybe delete the finsta first. That vibe is not it."

Marcus laughed — actually laughed — and picked up his phone. The orange sunset outside caught his eye, painting everything in impossible light. Funny how the things that feel like the end of the world sometimes turn out to be just beginning.