The Bear in the Closet

Maya's mom stood in the doorway, holding out the orange bottle like it was a peace offering.

"Your hair vitamins, honey. Remember what the dermatologist said?"

Maya grabbed the bottle and shoved it in her backpack. "Mom, please. Not today."

"It's picture day," her mom called as Maya headed out.

Maya's pocket buzzed. Her iphone lit up with three notifications from the group chat. They were all at Sarah's house already, getting ready together. Without her. Again.

Ever since middle school started, the friend group that had been tight since elementary school had been doing this thing where they'd "forget" to invite her, then act all confused when she asked why they hadn't included her. As if Maya didn't notice.

She stopped at her locker and opened it, and there it was — the bear. Mr. Paws, the ratty old teddy bear her grandma had given her when she was five, with the missing eye and the homemade sweater. She'd kept him hidden in the back of her locker since September, her secret comfort object, the one thing that still felt safe when everything else felt like it was falling apart.

"Hey Maya," said a voice behind her. It was Sophie, her former best friend, who now sat with the popular girls at lunch.

Sophie's eyes went to the open locker. To the bear.

Maya's face burned. She slammed the locker shut, but she was too slow.

"Is that..." Sophie started, then stopped. A weird look crossed her face. Not mean. Just remembering.

"My grandma gave it to me," Maya said defensively, grabbing her math book. "I was just clearing out my locker."

Sophie nodded. "I still have Bunny," she said quietly. "From when I had surgery in second grade. He lives under my bed now."

They stood there in the hallway, students rushing past to first period.

"You do?" Maya asked.

"Yeah." Sophie bit her lip. "Look, about the group chat..."

"You don't have to explain," Maya said, even though she desperately wanted her to.

"I do," Sophie said. "It's not — I mean, it's weird, right? Growing up? Everyone's trying so hard to be cool, and I'm just tired."

Maya looked at her. Really looked at her. Sophie's perfect hair and trendy outfit and the way she always said the right thing.

"I take hair gummy vitamins," Maya blurted out. "My mom makes me. They taste like artificial strawberry."

Sophie laughed. It was a real laugh. "I still sleep with a nightlight."

"No way."

"I'm scared of the basement," Sophie admitted. "My brother chases me down there and I literally scream."

Maya smiled. "I still watch Bluey when I'm sad."

"Me too," Sophie said. "Last week."

The first bell rang.

"Want to come over after school?" Sophie asked. "We can study for the math test. And... I don't know. Be uncool together?"

Maya felt something warm in her chest that had nothing to do with the hair vitamins she'd forgotten to take.

"Yeah," she said. "I'd like that."

As they walked to class, Maya's phone buzzed again. But this time, she didn't need to check it to know she belonged exactly where she was.