Summer of Riddles and Frizz

The humidity had already declared war on Maya's curls by 10 AM. She stood before the bathroom mirror, her hair expanding like a science experiment gone wrong. First pool party of the summer, and she looked like a human tribble.

"You good, Maya?" her mom called from downstairs. "The **pool** opens in twenty!"

"Coming!" Maya grabbed her beach bag, shoving her phone and sunscreen inside. Her fingers brushed something fuzzy at the bottom—Mr. Buttons, the stuffed **bear** she'd somehow neglected to remove since seventh grade. She froze. Then shoved it deeper. If anyone saw that, her social life was officially over.

The country club was already buzzing when she arrived. Tyler waved from the **padel** court, racket in hand, sweat making his shirt stick to his chest in a way that made her stomach do unauthorized gymnastics.

"Maya! You playing?" he called.

"Maybe later!" She headed toward the pool, where half the sophomore class seemed to be congregating.

And there she was.

Leah, perched on the lifeguard stand like she owned the entire summer. Everyone called her "the **Sphinx**" behind her back—beautiful, mysterious, and completely unreadable. Maya had spent the entire school year trying to decode her. Was she nice? Mean? Interested? Impossible to tell.

Suddenly, Maya's bag chose that exact moment to tip over. Mr. Buttons tumbled out, landing dramatically near Leah's feet.

Time stopped.

Leah picked up the bear, examining its button eye with thoughtful consideration. Maya considered faking a seizure to escape.

"Mr. Buttons?" Leah said, one corner of her mouth quirking up. "Classic."

Maya's face burned hotter than the pavement. "I... it was in my bag from..."

"Still sleep with stuffed animals?" Leah's expression was suddenly, wonderfully mischievous. "Me too. Mine's a narwhal named Cornelius."

Maya blinked. "Wait, really?"

"No, I'm messing with you." Leah tossed the bear back. "But that would've been cool, right?" She slid down from the stand. "You playing padel? Tyler's been asking if you're coming."

"He... what?"

"Since last week." Leah's smile was real this time. "He's not exactly the Sphinx, you know? Some of us actually say what we mean."

Maya's **hair** was still a disaster. She'd almost died of embarrassment. But somehow, none of that mattered anymore.

"Teach me how to play?" Maya asked.

Leah grinned. "Finally. Let's go."