The Cable That Changed Everything

Marcus pulled his dad's old trucker **hat** low over his eyes, the brim shading him from the fluorescent lights of the cafeteria. This was day three of being the new kid at Northwood High, and he was still invisible. That was fine. Invisibility was safe.

Then he saw her. Riley. The **baseball** star who wore her jersey like a second skin, confidence radiating off her in waves. She was sitting with her friends, laughing at something Marcus couldn't hear. He reached into his backpack and his fingers brushed against the weird coaxial **cable** he'd found in his older brother's room that morning. Ethan had been acting weird lately—secretive, disappearing into the garage at odd hours. Marcus had grabbed the cable on impulse, hoping maybe his tech-genius brother could help him figure out how to talk to Riley. You know, without actually having to talk to her.

At lunch, Marcus sat two tables away. Close enough to observe, far enough to not be creepy. Okay, maybe a little creepy. He felt like a total **spy**, cataloging details: Riley chewed her lip when she was thinking hard. She always saved half her sandwich. And apparently, she was obsessed with **papaya**.

"Dude, you're staring," someone said.

Marcus jumped. It was Ethan, who'd somehow appeared behind him.

"I'm not—"

"You so are. Here." Ethan pressed a folded note into his hand. "I saw you looking at Riley. She's in my AP Bio class. She mentioned she needs help with the cable car project for history. Something about 19th-century transportation?"

Marcus stared at the note. A number. Riley's number.

"How did you—"

"I notice things, little bro." Ethan adjusted his own hat, a backward snapback that made him look impossibly cool. "Also, I might have told her you found this vintage cable in the garage and you're basically a history buff now. You're welcome."

Marcus's face burned. "I don't know anything about cable cars!"

"Google it. And maybe buy a papaya on your way home. She loves them. Weirdly loves them."

That afternoon, Marcus stood in the produce aisle, holding a **papaya** like it was an alien artifact. He texted Riley. His hands shook so badly he almost dropped his phone.

*Hey, this is Marcus. Your brother said you might want help with the cable car project?*

*Cable CAR project lol. But yeah! Want to study Saturday?*

Marcus grinned, pulling his hat down to hide his smile. Some things were worth being seen for.