The Orange Pyramid Scheme

Marcus's grandmother had bought him the sweatshirt from a bargain bin because "orange is your color, mijo." Now he was stuck wearing a safety cone to the first day of freshman year while everyone else was busy embodying cool in their curated fits.

He sat at the bottom of the bleachers during lunch, watching the baseball players claim their throne at the very top—way up there where the view was best and the air was different. That was the pyramid, plain and simple. Varsity on top, then JV, then everyone who mattered, and finally, down here at the base, people like Marcus who hadn't figured out their thing yet.

"Nice highlighter," someone said.

Marcus looked up to see Skyler from his English class dropping down beside him, holding an actual orange like it was completely normal. She peeled it with practiced fingers, the citrus scent cutting through the smell of Teen Spirit and desperation.

"My grandma's got questionable taste," Marcus said.

"Grandmothers are allowed," Skyler said, tearing off a section. "Besides, at least you're visible. Most of us are trying so hard to blend in that we disappear completely."

She pointed up at the baseball pyramid with her orange half. "They think they're the peak, but watch." She waited until one of the varsity guys struck out swinging, then didn't even look at his teammates as he stalked back to the dugout. "Being at the top just means there's nowhere to go but down."

Marcus looked at his neon sleeves. "So you're saying being a human traffic cone is actually a power move?"

"I'm saying," Skyler said, handing him a segment of orange, "that sometimes the best view is from the bottom. You can see everything from here—including who's actually worth climbing up for."

The bell rang. Marcus stood up, orange sticky on his fingers, sweatshirt impossible to miss in the sea of neutral tones. Skyler was already walking away, but she turned back.

"Hey, highlighter. Sit here tomorrow?"

Marcus grinned, pulling at his ridiculous, perfect, orange sleeves. "Yeah. I'll be here."