Riddles by the Palm

The pool party at Maya's house was supposed to be chill, but my stomach was doing backflips. I stood by the edge of the **pool**, clutching my phone like a lifeline while everyone else splashed and laughed like they hadn't a care in the world.

"Yo, Jay! Get in here!" Marcus yelled, doing a cannonball that soaked my already-damp shirt. I forced a smile, but truth was, I'd been hiding something big for weeks now.

Under the swaying **palm** tree in the corner, Maya sat cross-legged, her eyes fixed on me like she knew my secret. We'd been best friends since kindergarten, but lately? Everything felt different. The jokes landed weird, the silences stretched too long, and I couldn't stop thinking about how she'd looked at me during chemistry last week when I accidentally knocked over the beaker.

I trudged over and sat beside her. "So, about what I said—"

"You mean when you asked if I'd ever **bear** feelings for someone I've known forever?" She raised an eyebrow, and I swear my heart stopped. "Smooth transition, Jay. Really."

I groaned, face heating up. "Okay, that came out wrong. But seriously, I need to tell you something."

"Let me guess. You're finally gonna confess?" Maya's playful expression softened. "Because if you're about to say what I think you're gonna say—"

"No! Not that!" I practically shouted. Then lower: "I mean... yes. That. But also—I'm moving. To Chicago. My dad's job."

The air between us went silent. No splashing, no music, just the rustle of **palm** fronds overhead.

"Oh." Maya's voice dropped. "When?"

"End of the month."

She sat back, arms wrapped around her knees. "That's... sudden."

"Yeah. But here's the thing." I took a breath. "Whatever happens, you're still my person. You know?"

Maya studied my face like I was some ancient **sphinx** riddle she couldn't quite solve. Then she smiled—really smiled, the kind that crinkled her nose. "Jay, you idiot. You think moving to Chicago changes anything?"

"I... don't know?"

She stood up and extended a hand. "C'mon. I've got something to show you."

We ended up jumping into the **pool** fully clothed, screaming as the water shocked us. When we came up sputtering and laughing, Maya grabbed my shoulders.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily," she said. "We're doing video calls, texts, everything. You're stuck with me, Jay. Even from Chicago."

I looked at her—really looked at her—and realized maybe the **sphinx** wasn't so impossible after all. Some riddles don't need answers. They just need someone to help you figure them out.

"Deal," I said. "But you're gonna have to **bear** with me through this. It's gonna suck."

Maya splashed water in my face. "I know you will, you dork. I know you will."