Riddles in the Deep End

Maya's iPhone buzzed with the notification that changed everything: *pool party @ Jake's. U coming?*

She'd been crushing on Jake since seventh grade, when he'd let her copy his history notes without asking for anything in return. Now it was junior year, and Maya was still firmly in the "friend zone" — if she even rated that high.

"You're going, right?" Chen asked, spinning his combination lock like a fidget spinner. "Everyone's gonna be there."

Maya shrugged, trying to look casual. "I don't even have a suit."

"Bullshit," Chen said. "I've seen your Insta from that lake trip last summer. You looked fine."

Fine. The word echoed in her head. Not hot. Not amazing. Just... fine.

The party was already in full swing when Maya arrived. Jake's parents' backyard had been transformed — twinkling lights strung between trees, music bumping from portable speakers, and the pool itself, glittering like something out of a music video. But it was the statue in the corner that caught her eye: a concrete sphinx, its face chipped and mysterious, like it knew secrets about everyone who passed by.

"Hey!" Jake materialized beside her, dripping wet. "You made it!"

Maya's heart did that annoying flutter thing. "Yeah. Cool... sphinx?" Why did she sound so awkward?

Jake laughed. "Yeah, my dad got it at some estate sale. We call it the Riddle Master. Legend says if you touch its nose and make a wish, it comes true."

"That's so random," Maya said, but she was already moving toward it.

Before she could reach it, someone shoved her from behind. She stumbled forward, arms windmilling, and splashed straight into the pool.

The water swallowed her scream. When she broke the surface, gasping, the whole party was laughing.

Except Jake.

He jumped in after her, clothes and all. "You okay?"

Maya wiped water from her eyes. Her iPhone in her pocket was definitely ruined.

"Yeah," she said, suddenly furious. "Just great."

But as Jake helped her climb out, someone in a bear costume — why was there a bear costume? — started dancing to the music that had somehow gotten louder. Everyone was cheering now, not laughing at her but with them, and Jake was holding her hand like he didn't want to let go.

"Sorry about that," he said, not letting go. "Tyler's an idiot."

Maya looked back at the sphinx, its cracked face seeming to smile.

"It's okay," she said, squeezing Jake's hand. "Actually, it's kinda perfect."