Riddle Under the Orange Sky

The party raged in full force, and I stood frozen like the stupidest sphinx ever, guarding the door instead of secrets. Everyone else moved with this effortless flow — dancing, talking, existing — while I calculated twelve different ways to bail without looking like a total loser.

"Yo, you gonna stand there all night or actually come inside?" Marcus grinned, holding out a solo cup. His dog Hammer was literally wearing a tiny party hat, and somehow the golden retriever had more rizz than I did.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," I muttered, smooth as sandpaper.

Inside, the kitchen smelled like stale chips and something orange — probably that sketchy fruit punch everyone said to avoid. Jordan leaned against the counter, looking like they'd just stepped out of a Pinterest board. They caught my eye, and my brain short-circuited.

"Hey!" They wove through the crowd, palm trees swaying on their Hawaiian shirt in time with the bass. "You made it!"

"Yeah, finally." I gestured vaguely at nothing. "The lineup outside was... yeah."

"Tell me about it." Jordan rolled their eyes. "I've been bearing the weight of hosting duties for two hours straight. My sister's friends already broke a vase."

Their sister. Noted. I stored that intel away like I was collecting Pokémon cards.

"Wanna grab some air?" Jordan nodded toward the backyard. "It's getting warm in here."

Outside, the sky had turned this deep orange-pink, the kind that made everything feel cinematic and important for no reason. We sat on the back porch steps, and I realized my hands were actually steady for once.

"So," Jordan said, "random question: what's something nobody knows about you?"

I thought about it. The real answer — that I'd spent the last three months overthinking every interaction we'd ever had — felt way too intense for night one of talking like actual human beings.

"I, uh," I laughed, "I still sleep with this ancient stuffed bear from when I was six. His name's Professor Cuddles. Don't judge."

Jordan cracked up. "Okay, first of all, the name is iconic. Second — Professor Cuddles is safe with me."

The sphinx in my head finally cracked a smile too.