Sphinx at the Pool Party

The lightning crackled across the sky, perfect timing honestly, because my social life was currently crumbling beside the Miller's pool.

"You're being weird, Maya," Chloe said, flipping her hair. "Again."

I'd been Chloe's best friend since seventh grade, but ever since she'd started hanging with the popular crowd, I'd become the friend she kept around for old times' sake. The backup friend.

A cat—a grumpy, one-eyed tabby that lived down the street—strolled past the pool fence like he owned everything. He paused, looked at me with his one good eye, and kept walking. Even the cat was judging me.

"I'm not being weird," I said, my voice smaller than I wanted. "You just—you blew me off for Taylor's party, then expected me to act like nothing happened."

Chloe rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Not everything is about you, Maya. God, you're so dramatic."

The pool water rippled in the wind, little waves that looked like anxiety made visible. Someone had left a sphinx moth on the diving board earlier, dead or sleeping, I couldn't tell. Its presence felt ominous, like a warning.

"You know what?" I stood up, my legs shaky but determined. "Maybe I don't want to be the friend you keep around when your other plans fall through. Maybe I deserve friends who actually—like—value me?"

Chloe's mouth opened, then closed. Lightning flashed again, closer this time.

"Maya, wait—"

But I was already walking toward the gate, the cat watching me go with what looked like approval. The first raindrop hit my arm as I pushed through the gate, and by the time I reached the sidewalk, the sky opened up.

I walked home in the downpour, soaking wet, feeling weirdly light. Like I'd just dropped something heavy I'd been carrying forever. Behind me, through the rain and lightning, I thought I saw Chloe standing by the pool gate, maybe crying, maybe not.

The cat was still there, sitting under a tree, watching me with that one eye.

"Good choice," he seemed to say.

And you know what? It was.