Sphinx at the Pool Party

The spinach in my teeth felt like a flashing neon sign of social suicide. I'd been hyperventilating about Maya's pool party for three days straight, running on zero sleep and pure existential dread — basically a zombie with a crush.

"You good?" Marcus asked, eyeing me like I might actually die.

"Never been better," I lied, staring at my reflection. "Just mentally preparing to drown in shame."

"That's bull." He snorted. "Maya invited you, didn't she?"

"Yeah, because she's nice. That's literally her whole personality."

The pool party was already in full swing when we arrived. Water splashed everywhere, laughter echoed off the concrete, and there she was — Maya, perched on the edge like some kind of sphinx, watching everything with these knowing eyes that made my stomach do backflips.

I tried to be cool. I really did. But then someone decided it would be hilarious to play Truth or Dare, because apparently seventh-grade humiliation rituals never die.

"Truth or dare, Leo?"

"Truth," I said, because I have zero survival instincts.

"Who's your crush?"

The question hung there like something dead in the water. Everyone went silent. Maya turned to look at me, and suddenly I couldn't breathe.

"Pass," I croaked.

"Bull," someone shouted. "You gotta answer."

And then — because the universe has a twisted sense of humor — Maya stood up. "Let him pass."

She walked over, dipped her hand in the pool, and flicked water at me. "Besides, I already know."

My brain short-circuited. "You what?"

She grinned. "You're not exactly subtle, Leo. You've been staring at me since September. It's kinda cute."

The world tilted on its axis. Someone wolf-whistled. Marcus punched my arm so hard it actually hurt.

"So?" Maya asked, suddenly looking less like a sphinx and more like just a girl in a swimsuit who was waiting for an answer. "You gonna ask me to homecoming, or what?"