The Bear in the Orange Room

Maya's first college party wasn't exactly what TikTok made it out to be. She stood by the kitchen counter, nursing a lukewarm cup of **water**, watching Jordan—that ridiculously tall junior with the perfect smile—laugh with someone else across the room.

"You look like you're plotting murder," said Kayla, appearing beside her with an **orange** solo cup. "Drink this. It'll help."

Maya took it tentatively. "What is it?"

"Virtually nothing. Just liquid courage." Kayla winked. "So, Jordan?"

"No. Maybe. I don't know." Maya gestured helplessly. "I'm just—this is stupid. I'm nineteen and I've never even"

"Held hands? Had your first kiss?" Kayla grinned. "Same. We're all pretending to be something we're not. See that guy?" She pointed to a guy in a hoodie who'd been awkwardly leaning against the wall all night. "That's Leo. He's been here two hours and hasn't spoken to anyone."

Something in Maya softened. "I think I went to high school with him."

"Perfect. Go save him from himself." Kayla pushed her forward.

Maya hesitated, then crossed the room. Leo looked up, startled, as she approached.

"Hey," she said. "Remember me? We had English together."

"Maya?" He blinked. "Yeah. The **bear** project sophomore year."

She laughed. "Oh my god, I forgot about that. We had to rewrite Goldilocks from the bear's perspective and I made it all tragic and emotional."

"It was actually really good," Leo said sincerely. "Way better than my attempt."

They talked for twenty minutes about everything and nothing—the way high school felt endless until it didn't, how college was terrifying and exhilarating, how they both missed their childhood pets.

"I had this **cat** named Luna," Maya said. "She slept on my face every night. It sounds gross but I loved it."

Leo's phone buzzed. His face fell. "I have to go. My roommate needs a ride home from work."

"Oh," Maya said, disappointed. "Okay."

"But." He pulled out his phone. "Could I—maybe—get your number? For real this time?"

Later, walking home under streetlights, Maya realized she'd spent the whole night waiting for Jordan to notice her while someone actually worth knowing had been three feet away. Sometimes the thing you think you want isn't the thing you need at all.

Her phone dinged. A text from Leo: "Thanks for saving me from the wall tonight. :)"

Maya smiled. Maybe being nineteen and clueless wasn't so bad after all.