Riddles in the Dark

Maya stood frozen outside the gym doors, bass from the spring formal vibrating through her sneakers. Her best friend Priya grabbed her arm. "You good? You look like you're about to yak."

"I'm fine," Maya lied, clutching her phone. Inside, her crush Jake was probably dancing with someone who wasn't socially awkward.

A cat skittered across the parking lot—some stray that lived behind the school. Maya almost laughed. Typical. Even the universe was telling her to bail.

"Come on," Priya said. "What's the worst that happens? You bear witness to some cheesy dancing and drink questionable punch?"

Maya groaned. "Your slang is terrifying."

"It's called being cultured."

The gym was packed. Purple and gold streamers everywhere. The DJ was playing that song everyone pretended to hate but secretly bopped to. And there was Jake, laughing with his friends near the speakers.

Maya's stomach did that thing where it felt like a sphinx was sitting on it, demanding she solve an impossible riddle before she could approach him. *What's smooth but makes you act like a total dork? Answer: Your crush.*

"I can't do it," she whispered.

"Yes, you can." Priya gave her a gentle push. "I'll be right here. If things get weird, I'll swoop in like the ultimate cockblock."

"Priya!"

"What? It's a service."

Maya took a breath. Her heart was hammering. She walked toward Jake, each step feeling heavier than the last. He looked up, spotted her, and actually smiled.

"Hey! Maya, right? You sit behind me in bio."

"Yeah," she managed. "That's me."

"Glad you came. This song's actually fire." He motioned to the DJ booth. "You wanna grab some snacks? I heard they have those weird pizza rolls everyone loves."

The sphinx on her chest vanished. "Pizza rolls sound clutch."

"Clutch," Jake repeated, grinning. "I see you."

As they walked toward the refreshment table, Maya caught Priya's eye across the gym. Her friend gave her two thumbs-up. Maya almost couldn't believe it—she was actually doing it. Talking to Jake. Being normal.

Sometimes the scariest riddles had the simplest answers. Just show up. Be brave. Bear the awkwardness.

Outside, the stray cat yowled at the moon. Inside, Maya laughed at something Jake said. For the first time all night, she wasn't nervous.

She was just a girl at a dance, finally living her own life instead of watching it from the edges.