Riddles in the Spinach

Maya regretted the healthy smoothie immediately. The spinach chunk wedged between her front teeth was basically a social death sentence, and she'd only been at Jordan's party for twelve minutes.

"You good?" asked Riley, her lab partner from AP World History, who was currently wearing way too much body spray.

"Fine," Maya said, covering her mouth with a red Solo cup. "Just thinking about how Mr. Henderson said we'd need to solve riddles like a sphinx to pass the mythology final tomorrow."

Riley nodded sympathetically. "Dude, that test is gonna wreck me. I've been studying, but it's like my brain just... buffers."

Maya laughed, then remembered the spinach situation and stopped. She needed a mirror, like, yesterday.

The bathroom line was basically a convention. She waited, checking her phone, until her friend Sam appeared beside her with knowing eyes.

"You've got green stuff in your teeth," Sam whispered. "And I'm pretty sure it's from that kale smoothie you made us try at lunch."

"It was spinach, and yes, I'm aware," Maya groaned. "I've been hiding my smile all night like I'm some kind of mysterious brooding artist instead of a socially anxious sophomore with leafy greens in her braces."

Sam laughed. "You know what? Own it. That's what my cousin says—lean into the awkwardness, make it your thing."

Suddenly, a junior named Leo appeared behind them. Leo, whom everyone called "the fox" because he was impossibly clever and somehow always knew the answers before anyone else, like he had insider information on the universe.

"Spinach?" Leo asked, gesturing to Maya's mouth with a grin. "Bold choice. Very 'I'm comfortable with myself' energy."

Maya's face burned. "It's called trying to be healthy before finals week."

"Respectable," Leo said. "Hey, about that mythology test—Mr. Henderson's riddles aren't actually that deep. The sphinx thing is mostly about confidence. You just gotta commit to your answer."

He winked and disappeared into the crowd.

Sam raised her eyebrows. "Did the fox just give you advice? And validate your spinach lifestyle?"

Maya checked her reflection in her phone camera, picked out the spinach, and actually smiled for real. "I think he did. Also, I'm never drinking a green smoothie before a party again."

"Deal," Sam said. "But you're still helping me study mythology tomorrow."

"Obviously," Maya said. "I've got riddles to solve."