The Cable Guy Conspiracy

I've been running from it all week — mostly literally, because track practice is the only thing keeping me sane since my best friend started ghosting me. Three days of unanswered texts. Three days of watching her stories live while my messages stay permanently unread. It's brutal.

So when I see the cable guy's van parked outside Maya's house for the third time this week, my brain goes full detective mode. I'm not proud of this, but I basically become a spy. I circle the block, pretending I'm just doing extra laps, but really I'm scoping out the situation. Why would they need cable work three times in five days?

That's when I notice it — a flash of orange fur in Maya's bedroom window. Her cat, Mango, who's supposedly staying with her aunt because of Maya's mom's allergies. But nope, there he is, clear as day, pressed against the glass.

I text Maya: Saw Mango. Nice try with the allergy story.

Two minutes later, she responds: Omg stop spying on me!!! Come over.

Turns out the cable guy isn't a cable guy at all — he's Maya's older brother's friend, and they've been secretly working on a YouTube channel in the garage. The repeated visits? Equipment delivery and setup. Mango? Maya's been hiding him in her room because her mom threatened to give him away if she caught him again. And the ghosting? Maya was terrified I'd accidentally spill her secret on our group chat, which I totally would have because I have zero filter.

"I didn't know how to tell you," Maya says, passing me a controller. "You know how you get when you're excited."

She's not wrong. I do get loud.

We're sitting there, Mango puring between us, watching her brother's terrible gaming footage, and I realize something important: friendship isn't about knowing everything. It's about knowing when to ask and when to wait until someone's ready to tell you.

"Your secret's safe with me," I say. "But you owe me boba. Large. Extra pearls."

"Deal," she grins. "And next time you're running laps past my house? Maybe just come inside like a normal person."