The Fox Who Ate My Friend Group

The cafeteria pyramid was real, and Alex was stuck at the base again.

"Dude, you've got spinach in your teeth," Marcus said, gesturing at his own front teeth. Alex wiped his mouth, missing the green completely.

"Whatever. At least I didn't lose my friend to Jordan's table."

Marcus shrugged. "Riley's moved up in the world. Can't blame her for climbing the pyramid."

"She's not climbing," Alex said. "She's being weird about it. Like, not answering texts, but then posting stories with Jordan's squad? It's giving fake friend energy."

That's when Alex noticed the fox hoodie Riley was wearing in Jordan's Instagram story. The same one Alex had borrowed and lost at the start of freshman year. The fox hoodie that represented their entire friendship origin story – they'd bonded over both being obsessed with that random fox documentary in seventh grade, and Alex's mom had surprised him with matching hoodies.

The betrayal hit different.

"Wait," Alex said, pulling up the post. "That's my hoodie. My LOST hoodie that she swore she didn't take."

Marcus leaned in. "No way."

"She literally stole my favorite hoodie and is now wearing it to impress Jordan? That's foul."

The next day, Alex confronted Riley at her locker. She was wearing the fox hoodie like it was always hers.

"Nice hoodie," Alex said. "Weird how it's the same one that disappeared from my house last year."

Riley's face dropped. "Oh my god, Alex, I can explain—"

"Save it," Alex said, walking away. "Real friends don't steal your stuff and pretend it's theirs."

That afternoon, Alex got a text: I'm sorry. Jordan's group isn't worth losing my real friends over. I'll bring the hoodie back tomorrow.

Marcus read over Alex's shoulder. "She's coming back?"

"Maybe," Alex said, grinning. "But she's definitely sitting at the bottom of the pyramid with us for a while."