Riddles at the Homecoming Dance

Maya stared at the gymnasium transformation—crepe paper streamers draped in an attempt to recreate ancient Egypt. The student council had literally built a cardboard pyramid near the punch bowl, and she couldn't decide if it was iconic or a total flop.

"You coming or what?" Jax nudged her shoulder. He was already decked out in a pharaoh costume he'd definitely thrifted last night.

"I'm literally having anxiety about the social pyramid right now," Maya muttered. "Freshmen at the bottom, seniors at the top, and I'm somewhere in the middle trying not to embarrass myself."

"That's such bull." Jax rolled his eyes. "Nobody cares about that hierarchy except people who peaked in high school. You're overthinking it."

He wasn't wrong, but that didn't stop her palms from sweating. Because across the gym stood Riley—the enigmatic senior who'd been assigned as her history project partner. Riley never spoke in class but wrote the most insightful analyses Maya had ever read. She was like a human sphinx, all mysterious silence and knowing eyes.

For weeks, they'd been working on their Egypt presentation via Google Docs and awkward library encounters. Maya had caught feelings somewhere around the third shared document, when Riley had left a comment that made her laugh out loud in the middle of a silent study hall.

"Go talk to them," Jax pushed her toward the refreshments table.

"I can't just—"

"Yes you can. Be brave, Maya." He gave her a gentle shove.

Riley stood by the ridiculous cardboard pyramid, nursing a punch like they wished they were anywhere else. Their costume was subtle—just a golden headband and eyeliner that made their eyes look impossibly deep.

Maya's heart hammered as she approached. This was it. The moment she'd been psyching herself up for.

"Hey," Riley said, and their voice was softer than Maya expected. "I was hoping you'd show."

"You were?" Maya blinked.

"Yeah. I wanted to ask you something." Riley shifted their weight. "Like, what happens after this project is done? Because I was thinking maybe we could keep hanging out. If you want."

The sphinx had finally spoken, and the riddle was simpler than Maya had imagined.

"I'd really like that," she said, and for the first time all night, her anxiety dissolved completely.