The Friend Algorithm

Maya stared at her phone, thumb hovering over Jordan's profile picture for the third time today. This wasn't creepy. This was research. Totally normal fifteen-year-old behavior.

"You're spying again," Riley said from across the lunch table, not looking up from their own phone. "I can practically feel the stalking energy radiating off you."

"I'm not spying. I'm... conducting background investigations." Maya scrolled through Jordan's Instagram posts from six months ago. "It's called being thorough."

"It's called being obsessed." Riley finally glanced up. "You know what you need? You need those vitamin D gummies my mom keeps buying me. She swears they boost confidence. They're basically edible charisma."

Maya laughed. "Right, because gummy vitamins are the key to my romantic success."

"Hey, don't knock it until you try it." Riley reached into their backpack and tossed a bottle across the table. "I'm your best friend. I've got your back, even if it means enabling your weird crush rituals."

Maya caught the bottle. The label promised "Immune Support + Mood Boost." Desperate times, she thought. She popped two orange gummies into her mouth, chewed thoughtfully. "Okay, I've consumed the magic. Now what?"

"Now you stop being a social media spy and actually talk to him," Riley said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Or her. Or them. I still don't know how Jordan identifies."

"That's part of the mystery!" Maya defended. "But fine. I'll do it. Tomorrow at the game."

The next afternoon, Maya stood near the snack stand at the soccer game, heart hammering. Jordan walked by, and Maya opened her mouth to say something — anything — but her throat closed up.

Then Jordan stopped. Turned. Those lightning-blue eyes locked onto hers. "Hey, you're Maya, right? From English class?"

The words came out before Maya could overthink them: "Yeah! I love your presentations. You're really funny."

Jordan's smile was genuine. "Thanks! I've been wanting to talk to you too." They pulled out their phone. "Can I get your number?"

Walking home later, Maya typed out a text to Riley: "THE VITAMINS WORKED."

Riley replied instantly: "TOLD YOU. Also, you're welcome for being the world's greatest friend."

Maya grinned. Maybe coming of age wasn't about having all the answers. Maybe it was about finding the right friends to help you fake it until you made it — and occasionally, just occasionally, getting struck by lightning when you least expected it.