Sphinx, Sweat, and Supercars

Maya's palms were sweating through her denim shorts as she stood next to Leo near the bleachers. The baseball field lights hummed above them, casting everything in that weird golden-hour glow that makes every high school moment feel like a movie scene.

"You coming to my game Friday?" Leo asked, that crooked grin making her stomach do that annoying flip-flop thing.

"Definitely," she said, trying to sound chill. "Wouldn't miss it."

She'd been crushing on Leo since September, when he'd let her copy his chem homework after she'd left hers at home. Now it was May, and somehow she was still stuck in the talking stage—whatever that meant.

Her phone buzzed. Group chat blowing up about Jasmine's party afterward. Everyone was going. Maya should've been excited, but instead she felt like she was facing the sphinx at the MET—this mysterious, terrifying puzzle she couldn't solve. What do you wear? What do you say? How do you act like you're not completely losing your mind?

Leo dug into his backpack and pulled out a bottle of vitamin C gummies. "Want one? My mom's obsessed with immune support lately."

Maya laughed. "Sure, why not. Can't hurt, right?"

They stood there chewing gummy vitamins like it was completely normal, which somehow made it more perfect. Her dog, Buster, would've loved this moment—this weird, awkward, amazing thing that was happening between her and Leo. Buster always knew when she was happy. He'd do that little butt wiggle dance and everything.

"So about Friday..." Leo started, looking away suddenly. "After my game, maybe we could—I mean, if you're not busy—"

"YES," Maya said, way too loud. "I mean, yeah, I'd be down."

Leo's face lit up. "Cool. Cool cool cool."

As they walked toward the parking lot, Maya wiped her sweaty palms on her shorts and smiled. Some mysteries were worth solving. And sometimes, you didn't need all the answers—you just had to show up.