Riddles at the Deep End

Maya's phone pinged with the address. Another summer pool party at Jasmine's house. The social **cable** that connected their friend group had been fraying since freshman year ended - everyone picking colleges, picking sides, picking who they wanted to be.

Maya arrived late, as usual. The pool already teemed with bodies glistening under string lights. She spotted Jordan immediately, perched on the edge of the diving board like some sort of enigma. They'd been playing this will-they-won't-they game since eighth grade, and Maya was tired of guessing.

"Hey." Jordan slid into the water beside her, sudden and smooth. "You came."

"Wasn't gonna miss the last party before everyone scatters." She dunked underwater to hide her flushed cheeks. When she surfaced, Jordan was watching her with that sphinx-like expression - unreadable, knowing, like they were in on some cosmic joke Maya hadn't heard yet.

"So," Jordan said, splashing water her direction. "I have something to tell you."

Her heart did that stupid thing it always did. "Yeah?"

"I'm not going to NYU."

Maya froze. "What? But - you've been talking about it since middle school."

"I know." Jordan swam closer. "I'm taking a gap year. Going to Egypt. My aunt has this fellowship program, studying... I don't know, archaeology stuff. Ancient riddles. Like the Sphinx, you know?"

"The Sphinx?" Maya laughed. "Really?"

"Hey, someone has to solve the riddles, right?" Jordan's smile faltered. "Are you mad?"

"No." And she wasn't. Not really. Just... hollow. "Are you ever coming back?"

"That's the riddle." They treaded water in silence for a moment. "But I was hoping - maybe you'd visit?"

The cable connecting them pulled taut. Not fraying, just stretching.

"Egypt's far, Jordan."

"Not that far." They reached for her hand under the water. "So? Will you?"

Maya looked at the pool lights reflecting in Jordan's eyes. Some riddles don't need answers. Just the asking. "Send me the coordinates, sphinx. I'll be there."