Pyramid Scheme Chaos

Maya's locker wouldn't open. Again. Third time this week, and the hallway was already packed with kids trying to look like they weren't trying. She yanked the handle, but her vintage denim jacket got caught on the latch.

"Need help?" A voice behind her. Liam. The Liam who sat behind her in AP Bio and smelled like cedar and expensive cologne.

"I got it," Maya lied, face burning. Why did her cat have to choose this morning to rub against her legs and leave fuzz all over her jeans? She looked like she'd been rolling on the carpet.

Liam reached around her, his arm brushing her shoulder, and popped the locker open like it was nothing. "There."

"Thanks."

"Hey, so, about the chem project—" He leaned against the locker next to hers.

Someone shoved past them, knocking Maya's backpack. A plastic bottle tumbled out—her mom's experimental vitamin D supplements that smelled like pine needles and desperation. Great. Now she looked like a health freak AND a klutz.

"Those are... interesting," Liam said.

"My mom's into wellness stuff," Maya mumbled, shoving the bottle deeper into her bag. She was *this* close to the ground opening up and swallowing her whole.

"Cool. Anyway, chem. I was thinking—"

"LIAM!" Jessica's voice cut through the hallway like a bull in a china shop. She appeared out of nowhere, her friends trailing behind her like ducklings. "Are you coming to lunch? We're saving you a spot."

Maya knew exactly what that meant. The social pyramid at Westwood High was alive and well, and Jessica sat firmly at the apex. Maya had spent three years watching from somewhere in the middle, neither popular enough to matter nor invisible enough to escape notice.

"Actually," Liam said, "I was just asking Maya about the chem project."

Jessica's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Oh. You're partners with... Maya?"

Something shifted in Maya's chest. Maybe it was the way Liam hadn't moved away. Maybe it was weeks of watching her little sister navigate middle school with more courage than Maya had ever had. But she found her voice.

"Yeah, we're doing this cool thing about molecular bonds. You know, basic stuff you'd learn if you actually paid attention in class."

The hallway went quiet. Jessica's friends exchanged looks. Liam cracked a smile—actually smiled.

"Right," Jessica said finally. "Well. See you there, Liam."

As they walked away, Maya could feel her hands shaking. But in a good way? Or maybe she just needed to eat something.

"You know," Liam said, "I've been wanting to ask you to study together for like two weeks. I was just waiting for the right moment."

Maya looked at him—really looked at him. "So all those times you 'happened' to walk by my locker—"

"Totally coincidental," he said, grinning now. "Every single time."

"You're such a bear."

"Is that good or bad?"

She smiled, really smiled, for the first time all day. "I'll let you know."

Her phone buzzed. A text from her sister: DID YOU TALK TO HIM YET??? THE SUSPENSE IS LITERALLY KILLING ME.

Maya typed back: We're studying chem together.

Then she added: THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME TOO. But like, in a good way.