Sphinx Cat Summer

The sphinx cat sat on Maya's chest like a wrinkled, hairless potato, purring so loudly the whole bed vibrated. Seven in the morning. Way too early for summer vacation.

"Cornelius, you're literally crushing me," she groaned, nudging him aside. He gave her that look — the sphinx breed always seemed vaguely judgmental, like they knew secrets humans weren't ready for.

Her phone buzzed. Sasha: *pool party @ 2. bring swimsuit. everyone's gonna be there.*

Maya's stomach did that thing it always did before social events. Not bad-thing nervous. Just ... thing nervous.

She'd been holding it together since the breakup with Marcus three weeks ago. Everyone expected her to be dramatic about it — they'd been the friend group's "golden couple" since eighth grade. But honestly? She was mostly just tired. Tired of performing happiness, tired of everyone watching her like she might shatter.

"You're ruminating again," said her mom from the doorway. Cornelius perked up, his bat-like ears twitching. "It's a pool party, Maya. Not a tribunal."

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one whose ex is bringing his new situationship."

"New situationship?"

"That's what the group chat says. Some girl from the summer camp he went to last year."

Her mom sighed. "Want me to come with? I can be awkward in public. It'll make you look better by comparison."

Maya laughed. "Hard pass."

She spent an hour getting ready anyway. Not because she cared what Marcus thought (she totally didn't), but because — okay, maybe she cared a little. Is that pathetic? She texted Sasha: *if things get weird I'm claiming I have to walk Cornelius*

Sasha replied immediately: *please do. he's the only cat I respect. he eats crickets and judges everyone.*

The party was exactly what she expected: too loud, too chlorine-scented, too many people pretending to be having the best time ever. Marcus showed up forty minutes late with Emily — who was, annoyingly, genuinely nice. She asked about Cornelius like she actually cared.

"He's a sphinx," Maya found herself saying. "They're basically naked cats. They need sweaters in winter."

"That's adorable," Emily said, and she meant it.

And somewhere between explaining why sphinx cats were the best cats and realizing Emily drew zines in her spare time, Maya forgot she was supposed to be miserable. By sunset, she and Emily were sitting on the pool edge, feet in the water, talking about mythology and why the sphinx was actually the coolest mythical creature.

"The riddle thing," Maya said. "She only ate people who couldn't think critically. Seems fair."

"Exactly," Emily said. "High standards."

Later, Sasha texted: *so ... you and Emily seem like best friends now?*

Maya stared at the ceiling, Cornelius curled against her side like a warm, wrinkly anchor. Things hadn't gone according to plan. They'd gone better.

*Cornelius likes her,* she typed. *that's good enough for me.*