Pyramid of Bad Decisions

Maya's phone buzzed with another text from Chloe. "5 minutes. Don't be basic."

She adjusted her crop top for the twentieth time, checking her reflection in the gym's glass doors. The Spring Fling dance was in full swing inside, but Chloe and her squad had dragged everyone out behind the bleachers for something "way more lit."

"It's literally a pyramid scheme," Maya whispered to Leo, who was awkwardly leaning against the brick wall. "Like, an ACTUAL one. That Tyler freshman cousin is trying to get us to sell those overpriced energy drinks."

Leo cracked a gum bubble. "As long as there's free snacks, I'm chilling."

Maya rolled her eyes but followed the group toward the parking lot where Tyler's cousin set up shop. The guy looked twenty, wearing a suit that definitely wasn't from this decade. Behind him, a cardboard display formed a perfect little pyramid of neon cans.

"Y'all want financial freedom?" Tyler's cousin asked with way too much enthusiasm. "This energy drink? It's about to go viral. Get in now, build your team, you're literally set for life."

Chloe was already nodding like this was genius, but Maya felt that weird lightning-strike clarity — that sudden moment where you realize something's definitely not it.

"Hold up," Maya said, stepping forward. Everyone looked at her. "First of all, that's literally how pyramid schemes work. Second, my brother did this last semester and lost $200. Third —"

Suddenly, the school mascot — a giant bear costume — came stumbling around the corner, clearly having had too much punch inside. The bear tripped over the display and cans went EVERYWHERE.

Chaos erupted. Tyler's cousin started yelling about property damage. Chloe and her squad instantly pivoted to filming for TikTok. Maya grabbed Leo's hand.

"We should absolutely bail right now."

They ran toward the gym, dodging a very disoriented bear mascot still trying to regain balance. Once inside, away from the mess outside, Leo high-fived her.

"That was legendary, Maya. You literally saved us from MLM hell."

She smiled, realizing something else: she didn't need Chloe's validation to be cool. She could just be the person who called out BS when she saw it.

And that? That was actual main character energy.