Sphinx in the Spinach

Maya's golden retriever, Buster, chose that exact moment to shake himself off like he'd just emerged from a lake — sending a wave of droplets flying across the coffee shop. Because apparently destroying her dignity was part of his job description.

"Nice dog," Jordan said from the next table.

Jordan. The Sphinx of Northwood High. The senior who sat in the back of AP Bio wearing headphones, speaking maybe three words per semester, existing in a fog of mystery that had half the school convinced he was either deep in thought or deep in depression.

Maya's face burned hotter than a stolen vape pen. "Sorry, he's—"

"Perfect timing, actually." Jordan nodded at her open backpack. A Ziploc of spinach leaves had escaped onto the table, looking like the world's saddest salad explosion. Her mom's obsessed-with-healthy-eating phase had struck again.

Because nothing says romance like your crush watching your dog fling water droplets while your brain becomes one giant panic button.

"I was studying ancient Egypt for history," Jordan continued, like this was a normal conversation and not Maya's personal hell. "The Sphinx. Riddles, secrets, things that don't make sense until you look closer."

He slid a sketchbook across the table. Inside, a drawing of a sphinx — but modern. Street artist style. Banksy meets hieroglyphics.

"Your turn," Jordan said. "Riddle me this: what's green, embarrassing, but maybe the best thing that happened today?"

Maya stared. The spinach. The chaos. The fact that Jordan was suddenly talking to her like they'd been friends for years.

"The spinach," she guessed.

"The spinach," Jordan agreed. "Because without it, I'd still be the weird senior who never talks to anyone. And you'd still be the girl who thinks she's invisible in AP Bio."

Buster chose that moment to sneeze.

Jordan laughed — actually laughed, and wow, he should do that more often.

"Same time next week?" Jordan asked, standing up. "Bring the dog. He's got good instincts."

Maya watched him walk away, already pulling out her phone to text her best friend: omg you will NOT BELIEVE what just happened.

Sphinx riddles solved: 1. Social anxiety survived: 1. Spinach redeemed: 1.

High school was weird. But maybe weird was the whole point.