Pyramid of Likes

Maya's iphone burned in her palm, screen glowing with the post that changed everything. Two thousand likes on Chloe's new "entrepreneur journey" post—skinny tea, obviously. But the caption mentioned something about "building my team" and "financial freedom at sixteen." That was MLM language.

Maya had been spying on Chloe's social media for three days since their fight. Not like, creepy stalking. Just... concerned observation. Okay, maybe a little creepy. But ever since Chloe started hanging with the senior girls who drove BMWs to school, something felt off.

Now Maya knew what it was.

The pyramid scheme wasn't just about money—it was about popularity. Chloe had to recruit people to maintain her status. And wasn't that basically high school in a nutshell? The seniors at the top, getting everyone else to do their dirty work.

Sweaty palms. That's what Maya got whenever she had to confront someone. Her heart did this thing where it forgets how to beat properly. But this was Chloe. They'd been friends since seventh grade, when Maya accidentally threw up in the locker room and Chloe brought her extra clothes without making fun of her.

Maya found her at lunch, surrounded by her new "team." They all had matching water bottles.

"Can we talk?" Maya asked, voice cracking. Not her most powerful moment.

Chloe rolled her eyes, but stood up. "Make it quick. We're doing a training session."

"It's a pyramid scheme, Chloe. My cousin got involved with one of those last year. She lost three hundred dollars and all her friends when she tried recruiting them."

Chloe's face flushed. "It's not a pyramid scheme. It's direct selling. And you're just jealous because I'm finally part of something bigger."

"I'm not jealous. I'm scared for you. These people aren't your friends—they're your upline."

Chloe looked away. Maya saw it then—the flash of uncertainty. Chloe knew. She just didn't want to admit she'd been played.

"Whatever," Chloe said, but her voice lacked conviction. "I'll text you later."

She never did.

Three weeks later, Maya saw Chloe in the hallway, alone. No matching water bottle. No senior squad. Just Chloe, looking like she hadn't slept.

"They blocked me," Chloe said quietly, sliding down against the lockers. "When I stopped recruiting people because I felt weird about it, they said I was 'negative energy' and cut me off."

Maya sat beside her. "Wanna come over? My mom made those cookies you like."

Chloe's iphone buzzed with a new notification. She turned it off without looking.

"Yeah," Chloe said. "I'd like that."

Some pyramids were meant to crumble. And sometimes, spying on your friend's social media was actually caring. Maybe. Okay, it was still weird, but whatever.