The Party Sphinx

Marcus adjusted his beanie for the third time, the lucky hat his grandma gave him feeling less like armor and more like a target. The bass thumped through someone's garage walls as he stood on the sidewalk, clutching a vitamin water like it was admission to a secret club.

"You good, bro?" Jade asked, looking like she belonged at house parties every weekend instead of studying AP Chem with him on Fridays.

"Yeah. Totally. Just ... mentally preparing."

Inside, the air smelled like cheap body spray and desperation. Marcus spotted HER across the room—Maya, leaning against a wall like she was posing for a photo she couldn't see. She wore this crown braid thing that took actual skills. He'd been working up to talking to her since October, and tonight was supposed to be THE night.

His phone buzzed. Mom: Don't forget to take your vitamins! Love you!

Marcus groaned. So much for being mysterious and cool.

He grabbed a spinach artichoke dip from a snack table, anything to look busy. That's when he saw it: Tyler, the varsity quarterback, cornering Maya near the speakers. Tyler who called everyone "dog" unironically. Tyler who had zero respect for personal space or social cues.

Maya looked trapped. Like a sphinx with all the answers but nobody asking the right questions.

Marcus's brain short-circuited. This was it. The movie moment. He could play it safe, keep watching, or...

"Hey!" he heard himself say, way too loud. "Maya!"

Tyler turned. "What's up, dog?"

"She promised to help me with this... bio project," Marcus lied smoothly. "About actual dogs. It's due Monday."

Maya's eyes widened, then she caught on. "Oh! RIGHT. The dog presentation. Let's go."

She practically dragged him toward the garage door.

"Spinach," she whispered, cracking up once they were outside.

"What?"

"You have spinach in your teeth."

Marcus wiped his mouth frantically. "Are you serious?"

"No." Maya grinned. "But that was the most heroic thing I've seen all night. You saved me."

"I guess I did." He adjusted his hat, finally feeling like it fit. "Wanna walk to 7-Eleven? I could go for a vitamin water."

"Only if you promise to tell me everything about this dog project."

"Deal."

His phone buzzed again. Mom: Did you take them?

Marcus smiled and typed back: Already did. Everything's going to be fine.