Riddles in the Hallway

Maya's beat-up dad **hat** sat low on her forehead, her version of armor against the world. Sophomore year was hitting different—she'd gone from 'quiet but chill' to practically invisible, and honestly? She wasn't mad about it. Less drama, more fading into the lockers.

Her **iPhone** buzzed in her back pocket like it always did seventh period—Chelsea probably posting something dumb in the group chat again. But Maya didn't check. Couldn't check. Not with *him* walking toward her.

Tyler. The guy she'd been lowkey obsessed with since August. The human embodiment of 'out of your league.'

He stopped at her locker, spinning the combination lock like he owned the hallway.

'Hey, Maya.'

'Hey.' Her voice came out barely above a whisper. She pulled the hat brim lower.

'So, about the Egypt project...' He leaned against the locker next to hers. 'I know we're not supposed to pick partners yet, but I saw your sketch of the **sphinx** yesterday. That was actually sick.'

Maya's brain short-circuited. 'You saw that?'

'Yeah, you left your notebook in Mr. Harrison's room.' He grinned, and her stomach did that annoying flip thing. 'Anyway, I was thinking we could team up? Unless you already have someone.'

The words caught in her throat. This was it—her chance to stop being the girl in the oversized hat who lived through her phone screen. But then came the mental slideshow: every awkward conversation, every time she said something weird, every reason this could end in disaster.

'Earth to Maya?'

She looked up. Really looked at him. Not through her phone, not through her hat brim. Just *him*. Waiting for her answer like she wasn't some background character.

'Yeah,' she said, surprised by how steady her voice sounded. 'I'd love that.'

Tyler's smile widened. 'Perfect. Meet at my place after school?'

'Maybe tomorrow?' She adjusted her hat but didn't pull it as low this time. 'I've got... stuff.' Lame excuse, but it bought her twenty-four hours to panic properly.

'For sure. See you, Maya.'

He walked away, and Maya finally checked her phone. Thirteen notifications. None of them mattered.

Some riddles didn't have answers. Some **sphinxes** didn't have to be defeated. Sometimes you just had to look up from your screen and say yes to things that scared you.

She pulled off her hat. Her hair was messy from wearing it all day. Whatever.

Baby steps.