Pyramid Schemes & Tabby Cats

The social pyramid at Northwood High wasn't built with stone but with rumors, followers, and whoever threw the best parties. I hovered somewhere near the middle invisible to the elite but safe from the bottom.

Working at Smokescreen Vapes gave me front-row seats to everything. My boss, Gary, had this bear-like presence all gruff voice and lumbering movements but he paid under the table so I couldn't complain.

"You're missing out, kid," Gary said for the fifth time that week, shoving a brochure across the counter. "These essential oils? They're not just products they're a lifestyle. You recruit three people, they recruit three people..."

A pyramid scheme. Classic.

"I'm good, Gary," I said, already running through my mental playlist of excuses. "School's killing me lately."

My phone buzzed. Mia.

PARTY TONIGHT. BRING YOUR A GAME OR DONT COME

The pressure hit like a physical weight. This was it my chance to climb the pyramid or crash trying.

After work, I ran three miles just to burn off the nervous energy. My tabby cat, Barnaby, watched from the windowsill like I was crazy. When I got back, he rubbed against my legs purring like a tiny motor.

You're lucky, I thought, scratching behind his ears. No social hierarchy. No expectations.

The party was already raging when I arrived. Mia found me immediately. "You came! Okay, listen, Tyler's here and he's been asking about you—"

Bullshit. Tyler was at the tippy-top of the pyramid. Girls like me didn't even register.

But then he appeared, shirt rumpled, eyes bright. "Hey! You're Gary's employee, right?"

I nodded, suddenly hyper-aware of everything my heartbeat, the sticky floor, the way his bear-like frame seemed to take up all the air in the room.

"My little brother wants those vapes you guys stock," he said. "Think you can hook me up?"

And just like that, the pyramid didn't matter. The bull in my head stopped charging. I wasn't running anymore—I was exactly where I needed to be.

Later that night, Barnaby greeted me at the door like nothing had changed. But everything had. The pyramid was still there, but I wasn't looking up anymore. I was looking forward.