Sphinx in the Hallway

Leo pulled his beanie down lower, hoping it would somehow make him invisible. Which was ridiculous, because the neon orange knit hat was basically a beacon. But it was his security blanket, and he wasn't ready to face the world without it.

His dog Buster sensed his anxiety, nudging Leo's hand with that wet, concerned nose. "I know, buddy," Leo sighed. "Today's the day."

The day he finally talked to Maya.

The problem wasn't just Maya — though she was beautiful in that way that made his brain short-circuit. The problem was Jason. Jason, who lived to make Leo's life miserable. Jason, the school's resident bull in every sense: stubborn, aggressive, and always charging.

Leo headed toward his locker, heart doing that nervous flutter thing. And there she was: Maya, standing alone by the ancient library bulletin board that nobody ever looked at. But she wasn't looking at the flyers. She was staring at this weird Egyptian poster — a sphinx with that creepy riddle smile.

"Cool poster," Leo heard himself say before he could chicken out.

Maya turned, and suddenly Leo was trapped in her eyes. "My grandpa gave it to me. Said the sphinx represents life's biggest questions." She gestured to the hieroglyphics. "Though I'm pretty sure 'what should I wear to the spring formal' wasn't what the Egyptians had in mind."

Leo laughed before he could stop himself. Then felt his face burning.

But Maya was smiling. "So, Leo..." She knew his name? "You going?"

"I —" Leo started, but then Jason's voice cut through.

"Well, if it isn't the wonder twins." Jason swaggered over, that aggressive energy rolling off him like heat off asphalt. "Discussing nerd stuff again?"

Leo felt himself shrinking. But then Maya's expression shifted — from amused to something steelier.

"Actually, Jason, we were discussing how some people never grow out of middle school drama." She turned to Leo. "So, about that dance..."

Leo's hat suddenly felt too hot. But he didn't pull it down. He didn't shrink away. He looked at Maya's waiting expression and somehow found his voice.

"Yeah," Leo said, and it came out stronger than he felt. "Yeah, I think I am."

That night, as Buster curled up beside him on his bed, Leo pulled off the orange hat and set it on his nightstand. Maybe he wouldn't need it tomorrow.