The Bear in the Bathroom

Maya pressed herself against the lockers, holding her breath like she was underwater. Her mission: **spy** on Tyler and Jenna at the fall dance. The ultimate social reconnaissance operation.

She'd been crushing on Tyler since seventh period English — when he'd actually laughed at her terrible presentation on "The Symbolism of Gatsby's Green Light." But now here he was, leaning in close to Jenna by the punch bowl. Maya's stomach did that awful clenchy thing, like someone was wringing out a wet towel inside her.

Then she saw it: the school mascot costume stuffed behind the bleachers. The Brown Bear head, its fuzzy fur matted from years of sweaty drama kids. A terrible, brilliant idea struck her like **lightning**.

"What are you doing?" whispered Zara, her best friend since they'd bonded over shared trauma in PE volleyball.

"I'm going to **bear** witness," Maya said, already pulling on the oversized costume. "No one can reject a mascot."

"You are actually unhinged," Zara said, but she was already helping adjust the foam head.

The costume smelled like middle school awkwardness and vanilla air freshener. Maya lumbered toward Tyler and Jenna, each step a carefully orchestrated waddle. She could see them laughing at something Jenna said — probably something effortlessly cool and not at all planned three days in advance like Maya's greetings.

She reached them. Tyler looked up, startled.

"Uh... hey, bear?" he said, confused.

Maya did her best mascot nod.

"That's weirdly random," Jenna said, but she was smiling.

Inside the bear head, Maya was sweating through her carefully applied mascara. But then Tyler started laughing. Not polite laughter — actual laughing. Jenna joined in. They both gave the bear high-fives.

"Best dance ever," Tyler said.

Maya waddled back to Zara, heart hammering against the foam.

"So?" Zara asked, pulling off the bear head. Maya's hair was smashed flat, mascara slightly smudged. She probably looked ridiculous.

"Tyler thinks I'm hilarious," Maya said, grinning. "Okay, technically he thinks BEAR-ME is hilarious. Baby steps."

"You know," Zara said, "you don't need a costume to talk to him."

"Obviously," Maya said. "But where's the drama in THAT?"

Outside, real lightning flickered across the sky as Maya texted Tyler: "Hey, this is Maya. The bear. From literally just now. Want to get boba tomorrow?"

Three dots appeared. Then: "lol absolutely."

Sometimes the cringiest plans work out. Or maybe Maya just got lucky. Either way, she was definitely keeping the bear head.