Orange Sphinx at Midnight

Chase hated pool parties. The humidity, the chlorine mixing with cheap cologne, the way everyone's laughter felt amplified in that weird echo-y space. He clutched his orange soda like a lifeline, standing by the deck while his so-called friend Marcus showed off cannonball skills for the freshman girls.

The only interesting thing here was the orange sphinx statue perched dramatically by the diving board—some artsy thing Maya's artist dad had installed. Its painted surface gleamed almost unnaturally in the string lights.

"You gonna stand there all night?" Maya appeared beside him, hair damp from swimming. "Marcus is embarrassing himself. Again."

Chase shrugged. "Not like I can stop him."

"Sphinx riddles:" Maya said suddenly, tapping the statue. "What's the one thing everyone wants but nobody admits to wanting?"

Before Chase could answer, lightning cracked the sky open. Rain dumped down like someone upended a bathtub. Everyone screamed and scrambled toward the pool house—everyone except the orange sphinx, which seemed to smile mysteriously through the downpour.

Hours later, cramped between sleeping bags and stolen pillows, Chase found himself beside Marcus in the dark.

"Sorry about earlier," Marcus whispered. "I just... I don't know. Trying too hard again?"

Chase exhaled. "Yeah. But also—maybe stop trying so hard with people who don't matter?"

"Yeah." Marcus paused. "Hey. You're my best friend. That stuff shouldn't matter."

The orange sphinx watched through the windows, its riddle answered. Everyone wanted to be seen—really seen—by someone who mattered.

Maybe pool parties weren't so terrible after all.