Orange Sphinx at the Party

The bass thumped through Maya's chest as she stood in the corner of Jordan's basement, clutching her red Solo cup like it was a lifeline. First party of sophomore year, and she was already contemplating a strategic exit.

Then she saw him—Leo, leaning against the pool table, laughing with his friends. Her stomach did that embarrassing flutter thing.

"You look like you're solving a riddle," a voice said beside her.

Maya jumped. It was Riley, Jordan's weird cousin with the half-blue hair. "What?"

"You've got that sphinx face on. All mysterious and unreadable." Riley grinned. "Relax. You're not the only one who feels awkward at these things."

Outside, lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating the basement windows. Everyone flinched.

"That's our cue," Maya started.

"Wait." Riley's phone buzzed. "Jordan's dog got into the pantry again. Can you help me catch him before he destroys everything?"

They found Barnaby—a golden retriever with a history of dietary decisions—looking guilty beside an overturned fruit bowl. Most of an orange lay gnawed on the carpet.

"Did he... eat an orange?" Maya asked.

"Whole thing last time," Riley sighed. "We call him the orange sphinx now because it's a mystery why he keeps doing it."

Lightning flashed again, closer this time. Thunder shook the house. The power died.

In the confusion, someone bumped into Maya from behind. Strong hands caught her shoulders to steady her.

"You good?" Leo's voice, right by her ear.

Her heart stopped. Started again at double speed. "Yeah. Just... dog situation."

He laughed, and she could feel it. "That's Barnaby for you. Total weirdo."

In the dim emergency lighting, Maya realized something: Leo wasn't some untouchable god of the sophomore class. He was just a guy standing in a dark basement with orange-scented dog breath and zero cool left to lose.

"Hey," she said, surprising herself. "Want to help us clean this up before the power comes back and everyone sees how un-freaking-believably lame this party actually is?"

Leo's smile was visible even in the near-dark. "Only if you tell me what you were thinking about over in the corner earlier. You looked deep."

"Trying to decide if parties get less weird," she said honestly. "Verdict: still pending."

His laugh was warm and genuine. "Yeah. They really don't."

And just like that, the sphinx riddle was solved. Everyone was faking it. Even Leo.

Especially Leo.