Riddle in the Palm of My Hand

My palms were sweating so bad I could barely hold my phone. Classic me, standing in the corner of Jake's basement party while everyone else looked like they'd been born knowing how to lean against walls casually.

I was basically a professional party spy by now—invisible, observing, never participating. Like that sphinx statue in the courtyard of our apartment complex. You know the one, with that "I know something you don't" expression carved into its stone face? That was my vibe tonight, except I definitely didn't know anything.

Then I saw him: Marcus from English class, standing alone near the snack table, looking as uncomfortable as I felt. His palms were actually pressed against his thighs like he was trying to stop them from shaking. I knew that move. That was the "I'm about to either leave or throw up" move.

I'd been bearing the weight of my crush on him since September, watching him from across classrooms, from cafeteria tables, from behind my phone screen. But tonight felt different. Maybe it was the way he kept glancing at the door like he wanted to escape too.

Before I could overthink it, I walked over. "Hey."

Marcus jumped like I'd shouted. His eyes went wide, then softened. "Hey. You're... you're in my English class, right?"

"Yeah, I sit behind you. I'm Maya."

"Marcus." He gestured to the door. "I was about to bail. This party's... a lot."

"Same." I held up my hand, showing him my sweaty palm. "Exhibit A: I'm freaking out."

He laughed, and it was this genuine sound that made something loosen in my chest. "Thank god. I thought I was the only one who felt like they were trapped in some kind of social experiment."

We ended up sitting on his front porch steps for two hours, talking about everything except why we'd both been so nervous to talk to each other. The sphinx in my head finally stopped asking riddles and started letting me just exist.

And yeah, I still overthink everything. But sometimes, when the moment's right, you stop spying from the sidelines and just say hey.