Sphinx Mode

Maya's iPhone lay face down on the bench, its screen flashing with notifications she refused to check. Friend group drama at 3 PM on a Friday? Hard pass.

"You coming?" Leo called from the padel court. His racket cut through the air, a bright yellow blur against the chain-link fence.

"In a minute!" Maya yelled back, though she had zero intention of moving. Her best friend since seventh grade, Chloe, had been acting weird all week—distant texts, cancelled plans, and now she was posting Instagram stories with Jessica, the girl who'd made fun of Maya's outfit in gym last Monday. The betrayal stung like lemon on a paper cut.

The padel ball smacked against the glass wall. *Thwack.* Leo's friends erupted in laughter. Maya felt like she'd entered sphinx mode—cryptic, ancient, totally unreadable. That's what she called it when she shut everyone out, turning into a stone mystery with zero explanations. Her brother said it was annoying. Maya said it was necessary armor.

Her iPhone buzzed again. This time she flipped it over.

*Chloe: we need to talk. can you come to the spot?*

The spot. Behind the old equipment shed, where they'd shared secrets since they were thirteen. Maya's stomach did that thing where it felt like it was dropping through the floorboards.

She grabbed her backpack and ducked under the padel court fence, ignoring Leo's confused "Hey!"

Chloe was already there, twisting a charging cable around her finger like a lifeline. Her eyes were red-rimmed.

"Jessica's been saying stuff about you," Chloe burst out. "About your brother, and—"

"And what?" Maya's voice came out sharper than she'd intended.

"And she said you told people about her dad losing his job. But I KNOW you didn't." Chloe stepped forward. "I defended you. Then she got mad and said I had to choose between you guys."

The cable slipped from Chloe's fingers. They stood there in the awkward silence that only happens between best friends who've known each other too long.

"I didn't tell anyone," Maya said quietly. "You know I wouldn't."

"I know." Chloe wiped her eyes. "That's why I'm here. Not with her."

The sphinx mask cracked. Something warm and familiar bloomed in Maya's chest. "Wanna go back? Leo's probably lost his mind by now."

"Yeah." Chloe managed a weak smile. "But first—" she held up the cable—"I think my phone's about to die. Again."

Maya laughed. Some things never changed.