The Goldfish Prophecy

Leo's vintage bucket **hat** sat askew on his head, defying the fluorescent lights of the school cafeteria. Someone had tagged it with sharpie during third period—LEO THE LEO, which honestly? Kinda a power move.

"You're actually wearing it," said Maya, sliding onto the bench across from him. She was the kind of pretty that made Leo's stomach do that weird fluttery thing, like when you accidentally swallow gum. "Brave choice."

"It's irony," Leo said, though they both knew it wasn't.

The caf had a giant papier-mâché **sphinx** propped in the corner—ancient Egypt meets budget cuts. Its painted-on gaze watched everyone with judgment. Leo avoided looking at it directly, which was stupid because it was literally made of newspaper and glue.

"So," Maya said, poking at her salad. "The carnival is this weekend. Everyone's gonna be there."

"Yeah." Leo's throat felt dry. "Everyone."

They both knew what that meant: Jenna, his ex-best friend, would be there. The one who'd outed him to the whole grade as having a crush on her last October, then laughed when he turned red. The whole school had known within hours.

"Hey, aren't you worried about your **goldfish**?" Maya asked suddenly. "The one you did that presentation on?"

Leo blinked. "Mr. Glub? No, why?"

Maya shrugged. "I heard they only have three-second memories. Like, what's the point of being alive if you can't even remember being alive?"

Leo stared at her. "That's a myth. They actually have months-long memories. They can recognize faces. They're smarter than people think."

Maya's eyes widened. "Wait, really?"

"Yeah." Leo adjusted his hat. "They're just underestimated because they're small and quiet and don't make noise. But they're paying attention."

Something changed in Maya's expression. "That's... actually deep."

Leo's face heated up. "I mean, it's just fish facts."

"No, it's—you're like them. Underestimated." She smiled, and Leo's heart did that fluttery thing again. "Hey, at the carnival, if Jenna tries anything, just remember: you **bear** it like a boss. Or I'll push her into the dunk tank."

Leo laughed, really laughed, for the first time in months. His hat felt straighter on his head somehow.

"Deal," he said.

And maybe it was the hat or maybe it was Maya calling him deep, but Leo found himself actually looking forward to the carnival. Even with the sphinx watching. Even with Jenna there.

Maybe being underestimated wasn't the worst thing. Maybe it just meant you were the one with the surprise up your sleeve.