Riddle of the Cafeteria Sphinx

Maya stared at the cafeteria ceiling where someone had drawn a crude SPHINX in permanent marker on the acoustic tiles—probably during last year's senior prank. She gripped her tray, her knuckles white, trying to look casual.

The social PYRAMID of Miller High stretched before her in literal geography: jocks by the windows, theater kids near the stage, stoners by the exit. And there, at the apex, sat Brianna—Maya's former best friend, now the queen bee who'd decided Maya was too weird sophomore year.

Her iPhone buzzed in her pocket. Alex, the new guy from Oregon, had sent something. Probably another meme about how their AP Euro teacher was secretly immortal. Maya smiled despite herself, then quickly neutralized her expression. No need to look like a loser grinning at her phone.

"Hey, Maya."

She jumped. Brianna was standing right there. Behind her, the popular table watched like hawks circling prey. Lightning cracked outside the windows—because of course the weather matched her internal panic.

"Hey," Maya managed. Her voice squeaked. Cool.

"So, my phone died. Can I borrow yours to call my mom? She's supposed to pick me up."

This was a trap. It had to be a trap. Last time Brianna had asked Maya for anything, it ended with Maya wearing someone else's spilled lunch. But refusing would make her look pathetic.

"Sure." Maya handed over her phone.

Brianna tapped something, eyes widening. "Wait, you like SPINACH smoothies? That's actually kinda cool. My mom's all into that gut health stuff."

"Uh, yeah?"

"And this playlist..." Brianna's eyebrows shot up. "You listen to地下アイドル? How do you even find this stuff?"

Maya's face burned. That was her weird music phase, documented in texts with Alex, who had somehow discovered Japanese underground idol groups and made it his mission to convert her.

Brianna handed back the phone, but instead of walking away, she sat down. "Okay, I need to know everything. Because I've been trying to get my mom off my case about 'expanding my cultural horizons' and you might be my ticket to freedom."

Across the cafeteria, Alex caught her eye and gave an exaggerated thumbs-up.

Maya looked at Brianna—really looked at her—and realized the sphinx on the ceiling was right: sometimes the riddle isn't what you think it is. Sometimes the person who cast you out is just waiting for someone to cast them back in.

"Deal," Maya said. "But you're trying the spinach smoothie first."