Riddles in the Kitchen

Maya's mom was dating someone new again, which meant another awkward dinner with strangers. This time it was Professor Halloway, an archeologist with actual artifacts in his living room and a kitchen that smelled like incense and expensive cheese.

"Try this," Professor Halloway said, sliding a bowl toward her. "Fresh papaya from my last dig in Belize."

Maya poked at the orange fruit with her fork. It looked like alien food. Across the table, his daughter Lena smirked, like she knew exactly what Maya was thinking. Lena had that effortless cool vibe—curly hair piled in a messy bun, vintage band tee, eyeliner sharp enough to cut glass. The kind of girl who'd have no problem eating mysterious fruit.

"It's good," Lena said, not unkindly. "Unless you're allergic to surprises."

Maya took a bite. Sweet, kind of musky, different but not bad. "It's... interesting."

"Interesting," Lena repeated, like testing the word. "You go to Northwood High?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Same school." Lena stood up. "Come here. I want to show you something."

Maya followed her to the sunroom, where a massive cat—a sleek black Egyptian Mau with golden eyes—was curled on a velvet window seat like it owned the place.

"That's Sphinx," Lena said. "Because she's judgmental and ancient."

The cat opened one yellow eye, looked Maya over, and closed it again. Rude.

"Your dad's an archeologist?" Maya asked, trying to make conversation. "Like, actual tombs and stuff?"

"He studies legends. Myths. The way stories change as they travel through time." Lena leaned against the window frame. "He says every generation remakes the old stories into something they need. That's why myths never really die."

Outside, crickets were starting up. Maya felt suddenly weirdly exposed. "That's deep."

"Or he's just justifying digging up stuff for a living." Lena grinned, and Maya felt something click into place. "You want to see what he brought back from Egypt? Real gold leaf on papyrus. I'm not supposed to touch it but whatever."

"Rebellious," Maya said. "I like it."

"You haven't seen anything yet." Lena's phone buzzed. She checked it, rolled her eyes. "My friends are blowing up my phone. Typical Friday night drama. You do anything fun?"

Maya thought about lying, saying yes, she had plans. Something cooler than awkward dinners with archaeologists and papaya. But Sphinx chose that moment to jump onto her lap, purring like a motorboat, and Maya realized she didn't want to be anyone else right now.

"I eat exotic fruit with strangers and pet judgmental cats," she said. "That's pretty cool, right?"

Lena smiled—not the smirk from dinner, something realer. "Yeah. Actually, it is."

"交换号码？"

"交换号码。"

And just like that, Friday night didn't feel so awkward anymore.