Pyramid Schemes and Stuffed Bears

Maya had spent the entire summer studying the social pyramid of Northwood High like it was gonna be on the exam. Freshman year was her chance to reinvent herself, to climb from middle school nobody to varsity somebody. She had the outfits planned, the playlist curated, the practiced nonchalance down to a science.

But three weeks in, she was still stuck at pyramid level basement—eating lunch with the debate team kids who smelled like library books and desperation.

"You joining track?" Chase asked, sliding onto the bench next to her. Chase, who sat at the very tippy-top of the pyramid. Chase, whose smile made Maya's stomach do that uncomfortable fluttery thing.

"Maybe?" Maya said, trying to sound casual instead of absolutely losing it. "Why?"

"We need a distance runner. You're always running to catch the bus." He winked. "Think about it."

Maya thought about it. She thought about it while she was literally running around the neighborhood in her brother's old sweatshirt, getting ready for tryouts. She thought about it while FaceTiming her best friend Kiana, who was at her dad's for the weekend and kept making fun of her for "chasing varsity clout."

The stuffed bear sat on Maya's dresser—Mr. Snuffles, her most embarrassing possession, a relic from when she was seven and still believed in love and magic and that her dad would come back from his "business trip." Kiana had given it to her before everything fell apart. Maya couldn't throw it away, but she also couldn't let anyone see it. She hid it in her closet whenever friends came over.

Track tryouts happened during a thunderstorm. Coach had them running intervals in the rain because "champions don't melt." Maya's lungs burned, her legs felt like jelly, but she kept going because Chase was watching from under the awning, and for the first time since middle school, someone like him was actually seeing her.

Lightning cracked across the sky, closer this time. Everyone scattered. Maya grabbed her bag and sprinted toward the school, slipping in the mud, her heart pounding—until she realized her backpack had somehow unzipped.

Mr. Snuffles lay in a puddle at Chase's feet.

He picked it up, gave it a little wave. Maya wanted to die. She wanted to dissolve into the rain, become one with the mud, never show her face at Northwood High ever again.

"Nice," Chase said, but he didn't laugh. He just... handed it back, rain dripping from its stupid fuzzy ear. "I had a blanket named Blankie until seventh grade. My sister still threatens to post the pictures."

Maya froze. "Seriously?"

"Dude, everyone has stuff." He grinned. "Welcome to the team, Bear."

Later that night, Maya put Mr. Snuffles back on her dresser—not in the closet anymore. The social pyramid could wait. Some things were more important than being cool.