The Bottom of the Pyramid

The social pyramid at Northwood High had a definite structure, and Maya had spent freshman year firmly planted at its base. The padel court was neutral territory though—or so she'd convinced herself when Tyler, the junior varsity baseball star, invited her to play.

"Your form's actually decent," Tyler said, returning her serve. His fitted baseball cap stayed perfectly in place, while Maya's vintage trucker hat kept threatening to fly off. She should've left it in her bag, but the hat was her armor. Without it, she felt too exposed, too awkward.

"Thanks," she managed, though her palms were sweating through the grip. Padel was like tennis's chill younger sister, but her heart was racing like she'd just stepped up to home plate.

Between points, Tyler's phone buzzed. A text from Kayla—top of the pyramid, head cheerleader, the girl Maya had secretly been measuring herself against since seventh grade. Tyler smiled at the screen, and Maya felt that familiar twist in her stomach. Not jealousy. Okay, maybe jealousy.

Then Tyler laughed. "Dude, check this group chat."

He tilted his phone toward her, and there it was: a photo Kayla had posted of herself in the cafeteria, with a massive piece of spinach wedged between her front teeth. The caption read: #newlips #braceslife and the comments were ruthless.

Maya's own heart dropped. She'd been terrified of moments like this—of being the person everyone laughed at. But Kayla was owning it? Even at the top of the pyramid, you could have spinach in your teeth.

"She's going to kill whoever took that," Tyler said, but he was grinning.

"Or she's going to kill it anyway," Maya found herself saying. "Because she's Kayla."

Tyler looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time all afternoon. "You know what? You're actually right."

They played another set. Maya's hat flew off on a particularly aggressive serve, and she didn't even flinch. Tyler didn't either. They kept playing, and somewhere between losing 6-2 and walking to their bikes, Maya realized something: the pyramid wasn't going anywhere, but maybe she didn't have to stay stuck at the bottom.