The Fox in the Hallway

I stood in front of my mirror, smoothie in hand, choking down the neon green gummy **vitamin** my mom swore would change my life. "For focus, Maya," she'd said, like some magical cure could fix junior year. The only thing it fixed was my breakfast routine—now I gagged daily.

At school, THE **bull** of North High, Marcus Reed, slammed his shoulder into mine by the lockers. "Watch it, loser." His friends laughed like it was comedy night. I melted into my hoodie, wishing I could disappear. Same hallway, same bullying, different day.

Until HER.

Fox Riley transferred in third period, wearing a leather jacket and combat boots. Everyone whispered. "Is that a guy or girl?" "I heard they got expelled from three schools." Fox sat behind me in English, tapped my shoulder with silver-painted fingernails.

"Hey. You're Maya, right?"

"Yeah?" My voice cracked. Smooth.

"Cool. I'm Fox. Like the animal, not like attractive." They grinned. "Wanna partner for the project?"

I froze. Marcus and his crew watched from across the room, waiting for their moment. But Fox just kept talking about their favorite books and how they'd once dyed their hair purple on a dare. Something in my chest unclenched.

"You okay?" Fox asked, noticing Marcus staring.

"Always," I lied.

Fox followed my gaze. Their expression hardened. "That guy giving you trouble?"

"He's just—"

"Being a jerk. I got it." Fox stood up, walked over to Marcus's desk, leaned in close. "Hey. Leave them alone."

The whole room went silent. Marcus actually looked...

intimidated? By someone half his size?

"Whatever," Marcus muttered, turning back to his phone.

Fox returned like nothing happened. "So, Shakespeare," they said, flipping through our textbook. "Think Romeo was being dramatic or what?"

My vitamin gummy suddenly didn't seem so ridiculous anymore. Some things really did help with confidence—even if they came in combat boots instead of a chewy fruit form.